Kristopher Van Stralen is a financial advisor at Evidencial Financial Consulting in Orinda, CA, with nine years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and a Series 63 license. His prior roles include positions at VR Advisors, Creekside Partners Financial Advisers, and the American College of Financial Services. Evidencial Financial Consulting provides personalized financial planning and non-discretionary asset management to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm uses fundamental analysis and a combination of long- and short-term strategies with a predominately non-discretionary management approach, allowing clients to retain trading authority.

Faruk Jaffer is a CFP® and ChFC® with nine years of industry experience, affiliated with Index Gurus, Inc. He has previously taught at UC Berkeley and UCSC Extension Silicon Valley. Index Gurus, Inc. is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and certain institutional clients. The firm focuses on passive, asset-class investing using ETFs, index funds, and fixed income, offering comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

James Audley is a financial advisor at Argent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Lafayette, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Argent Wealth Advisors since 2014. Argent Wealth Advisors is an independent, fee-only investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm applies academically grounded principles and Modern Portfolio Theory to develop diversified portfolios primarily using institutional no-load mutual funds and ETFs, focusing on non-discretionary management and client-approved transactions.

Sumit Sarkar is a financial advisor at Bent Creek Capital LLC with 9 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Bent Creek Capital since 2017, having previously worked as a self-employed advisor. Bent Creek Capital LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services and portfolio management mainly to high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. The firm employs a fundamental analysis approach focused on long-term thematic ideas, particularly in the energy sector and North American equities, using a proprietary hub-and-spoke trading model that aligns the manager’s personal accounts with client portfolios.

David Gold is a financial advisor at Newleaf Wealth Management, LLC in San Ramon, CA, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 designation and has been with Newleaf Wealth Management since 2013. Newleaf Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and consulting services for individuals, trusts, corporate and not-for-profit retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, global diversification, and tailored manager/fund selection, with a notable focus on retirement-plan and pension consulting as well as advisory services for charitable organizations.

Steven Willis is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has operated Willis Financial Services, Inc. in Clayton, CA since 2010. Willis is also registered as an insurance agent, though he spends minimal time in this capacity. Willis Financial Services, Inc. provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm employs an asset-allocation-driven investment approach focused on passive index funds, cost control, and tax efficiency, while also integrating accounting, tax-preparation, and insurance services.

John Gough is the Managing Member of KTE Capital Management, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Kensington, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at Wells Fargo Bank and leadership positions at True North Capital Management LLC and Inner City Advisors. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as Chief Investment Officer at ICA.Fund, a venture-capital community development financial institution supporting women and minority-owned businesses, and acts as a guest lecturer on impact investing at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. KTE Capital Management provides discretionary investment portfolio management to individuals, families, and trusts, typically managing accounts of $100,000 or more. The firm follows an active, downside-focused investment approach emphasizing diversification and exposure to essential-service businesses, utilizing individual equities, ETFs, derivatives, and other strategies tailored to client preferences.

Frank Gavidia is a CFP® professional with 32 years of experience in financial advising. He currently leads Globe & Anchor Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC, an independent firm he has been with since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Nissim & Gavidia Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Globe & Anchor Wealth Management & Financial Planning provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a fiduciary approach, tailoring portfolios to client goals and risk tolerance, and incorporates derivatives, primarily options, in client accounts—a practice that is relatively uncommon among peer firms.

John Callagy is the principal of Asage Financial LLC and holds a Series 65 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has served as a CPA since 2009 and has operated Asage Financial since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he maintains a sole practitioner CPA practice, dedicating a portion of his time to accounting and tax services. Asage Financial LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals and entities including irrevocable trusts and limited liability companies. The firm manages approximately $29.9 million on a discretionary basis and employs an efficient-market philosophy with diversified, asset-class-focused portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Caedmon Bear is a financial advisor at On the Trail Financial Planning, LLC in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his current firm in 2019, he worked at Honeycomb Financial and Charles Schwab, where he spent over two decades. On the Trail Financial Planning, LLC provides holistic financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a low-cost, passive investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs and operates a fee-only, single-advisor model with about $83.8 million in discretionary assets under management.

Stoyan Panayotov is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has worked at Dunston Financial Group and Individual Asset Management while serving as president of Babylon Wealth Management LLC, an independent firm based in Walnut Creek, CA. Panayotov provides financial planning and investment management to individuals and families. Babylon Wealth Management is a single-advisor independent registered investment adviser managing approximately $35.8 million across about 45 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, 401(k) plans, and charitable foundations, employing fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory within a long-term trading discipline.

Troy White is the sole advisor at Hoodoo and holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. He concurrently works as a collateral analyst at the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, where he has been employed since 2012. Hoodoo Financial serves under-banked individuals, novice investors, and small businesses by providing financial education, comprehensive planning, retirement and portfolio management, as well as tax planning and preparation. The firm utilizes a virtual Educator/Advisor platform with interactive e-learning, videos, and live meetings, emphasizing Modern Portfolio Theory and allowing clients the choice between discretionary and advisory arrangements.

Eric Kho is the sole advisor at RO2 Wealth, an independent firm based in Berkeley, CA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience, including roles at BlackRock and Takeoff Technologies, as well as periods of self-employment. RO2 Wealth provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to client households and related entities. The firm's investment approach is primarily long-term and guided by Modern Portfolio Theory, using index mutual funds and ETFs for diversification along with fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic analysis when appropriate.

Rory Vanderheyden is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Intelligent Investing. He has been associated with Intelligent Investing since 1995. Intelligent Investing is a fee-only independent advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach using a core-and-satellite framework with a combination of passive index funds and selective active funds, managing approximately $38 million in client assets across about 66 accounts.

Travis Kauzer is the sole advisor at Kauzer Capital Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Walnut Creek, CA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has nine years of industry experience, including prior roles at Fort Point Capital Partners and The Grupe Company. Kauzer Capital Management provides individualized portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, employing a variety of analytical methods and trading strategies. The firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis, utilizing both traditional and higher-risk investment techniques.

Robert Shaye is a CFP® and principal of Fireside Finances with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at FutureAdvisor, Inc. and served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Since 2023, he has also been a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, teaching personal finance. Fireside Finances provides employee financial wellness programs, public seminars, and hourly financial planning and investment consulting. The firm emphasizes education and consulting without managing client assets, focusing on diversification, low-cost funds, fee minimization, and tax awareness.

Eric Etu is a financial advisor at ETU Financial in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 65 designation. He has less than one year of industry experience and previously worked at firms including SAP Concur and Ocrolus, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he operates AlwaysOnTax, LLC, a tax-related business. ETU Financial serves individuals, families, self-employed individuals, and small business owners, providing discretionary investment management integrated with tax planning and standalone financial planning. The firm uses a long-term, strategic asset-allocation approach focused on low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating tax-aware strategies and limited use of individual securities and exchange-listed options governed by written policies.

I'm the founder of Jane Financial in Oakland, CA. I work with tech professionals who need help with their stock options and RSUs. The typical Jane Financial client is a Director or VP in Big Tech or a late-stage startup on the cusp of an IPO. Does this sound like you? "This is my first job in tech, and I don't know what to do with my RSUs" "My company is preparing to IPO. What should I do to get ready?" "How does the tax part work?" "I’m excited but I don't want to blow this opportunity – help!” I help tech professionals figure out when to exercise options, sell shares, and plan for taxes. What’s even more important is deciding what to do with the money. Money is a tool to help you flourish and stay resilient. Financial freedom comes from what you do next. A windfall from stock options and RSUs opens a world of possibilities, which I’ll help you navigate. I'm a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®). I previously worked at Aspiriant, a leading independent wealth management firm, serving corporate executives who needed help with their stock options and RSUs. I also have professional experience at the Social Security Administration, and Vanguard. I obtained an AB in Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College, and an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Julie Brim is a financial advisor at Spiegelman Wealth Management, Inc. in Walnut Creek, CA, with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and Northwestern Mutual in various capacities over a combined 18 years. Spiegelman Wealth Management, Inc. provides personalized investment management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, foundations, retirement plans, and corporations. The firm employs fundamental analysis and client-specific asset allocation guidelines across a mix of mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, and bonds.

Elaine Kwei is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently an advisor at GKV Capital Management Co Inc and has previously worked at Jefferies & Company, Inc., Meta Platforms, and Lucid Motors. GKV Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, tailoring portfolios through a combination of top-down macro analysis and bottom-up fundamental research. The firm manages approximately $357 million with a three-advisor team and integrates held-away accounts and estate-planning support using third-party technology.