Mark Levenson is a financial advisor at Value Monitoring, Inc. in Menlo Park, CA, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Value Monitoring since 2014. Value Monitoring, Inc. provides investment management and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through separately managed accounts and acts as sub-advisor to the H & L Insurance Fund. The firm utilizes proprietary quantitative technology and momentum-based models across multiple strategies, including fixed income and equities, with a focus on model-driven rebalancing and active trading.

Cliff Shum is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Shum Financial Group, Inc. since 2016. He previously operated as a sole proprietor and worked at Girard Securities, Inc. from 2013 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains a limited insurance practice. Shum Financial Group serves individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm employs a fundamental analysis approach with written investment policies and quarterly reviews, and it is notable for permitting the use of derivatives and margin in separately managed accounts.

Randa Hoffman is a financial advisor at Radiant Wealth Planning with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and Liberty Mutual Group. In addition to her advisory role, Hoffman is the CEO and tax preparer at RADIANT Tax Services, LLC, where she applies her Enrolled Agent (EA) credential. Radiant Wealth Planning serves individual clients with investment management and comprehensive financial planning, including cash flow, retirement, estate, and tax-aware strategies. The firm integrates tax services through its affiliated tax business and offers employer retirement plan support as well as educational seminars.

Miho Hatori is a financial advisor at Asset Planning and Protection LLC (APP) with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2022. Hatori is also involved in non-variable insurance services through multiple insurance agencies. APP is a small independent registered investment adviser serving individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and pension plan services, employing a range of analytical methods and focusing on long-term investment strategies.

Stephen McCarthy is a CFP® professional with 20 years of experience in financial advising. He has led McCarthy Asset Management, Inc. since 2004 and has operated a CPA practice since 1986. McCarthy Asset Management serves individuals, trusts, small businesses, and pension plans, managing approximately $378 million in discretionary assets. The firm offers customized portfolio management and financial planning, integrating tax preparation and planning through its principals’ CPA credentials.

Heather Knuff is a CFA® charterholder and principal at Knuff & Company LLC with five years of industry experience. She has worked at Knuff & Company since 2018 and previously spent 19 years at Fiduciary Trust Company. Knuff & Company advises high-net-worth individuals, families, charities, endowments, and an affiliated private pooled investment vehicle. The firm uses a goals-driven asset allocation process with a focus on value-oriented and event-driven strategies, combining discretionary portfolio management through Unified Managed Accounts with private fund management.

Roger Debock is a financial advisor with Shepherd Investment Management in Palo Alto, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 17 years of industry experience. He has led Shepherd since 2026 and has operated RDB Consulting since 2015. Shepherd Investment Management provides fee-based portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm uses a long-term, fundamental, long-only approach focused on Growth-at-a-Reasonable-Price, emphasizing global technology and adjacent sectors with high-conviction, optimized portfolios tailored to client objectives.

Soumyalakshmi Parasuraman is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation, with three years of industry experience. She has worked at Griffin Black, LLC since 2025 and previously held roles at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America. Outside of her financial advisory work, her background includes entrepreneurial ventures with Ascendency Interlinks Pvt Ltd and Ennsignn Advisory Services Pvt Ltd. Griffin Black serves individuals, retirees, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, with experience assisting Silicon Valley technology and bio-tech professionals as well as clients with cross-border or international ties. The firm offers Holistic Wealth Management, Investment Management, and ongoing financial planning, tailoring investment programs to clients’ goals and risk profiles.

Ka Ki Leung is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Beyond Financial Services in Fremont, CA. He was previously with Millar Financial Group and has a longstanding affiliation with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Beyond his advisory work, Ka Ki Leung is also the president of a support company associated with his firm. Beyond Financial Services provides investment advice and financial planning primarily to individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients and special needs trustees. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary portfolio management and offers estate, charitable gifting, and conservatorship guidance, with a client-centric approach requiring approval before implementing recommendations.

Anthony Pontes is the sole advisor at Marathon Retirement Planning in Dublin, CA, with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Arkadios Capital and Investment Architects, Inc. Pontes is also a licensed insurance agent and serves as a trustee of a family estate. Marathon Retirement Planning primarily serves individual investors along with qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, often incorporating third-party money managers and insurance products.

James Salter is a financial advisor at Blossom Wealth Management, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Blossom Wealth Management since 2009, following nine years at KW Securities Corporation. In addition to his advisory role, Salter is an independent insurance agent specializing in term and life insurance products. Blossom Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and multi-generation family office services to individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm manages a substantial asset base with a small team, employing a range of investment strategies including ETFs, mutual funds, and options, while also offering tailored financial planning and family office services.

Michael Hsu is a financial advisor at Asia Global Asset Management, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and previously worked at Vision Wealth Management, Inc. from 2015 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder and president of the Center for Marketplace Ministries, a nonprofit organization focused on training Christian entrepreneurs. Asia Global Asset Management serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients by providing financial planning and facilitating co-advisor relationships with independent third-party investment advisers. The firm’s approach centers on aligning client needs and risk tolerance to third-party platforms and model portfolios through non-discretionary advisory support and ongoing oversight.

Terrence Palazzolo is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Griffin Black, LLC since 2020. His prior roles include positions at The Void, LLC, JLFranklin Wealth Planning, and Invest By Doing, LLC. Griffin Black, LLC provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services primarily to individuals, retirees, executives, professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, with specialized experience serving Silicon Valley technology and bio-tech clients as well as those with cross-border or international ties. The firm offers tailored investment programs, consolidated reporting, and employs AI tools to support advisor judgment.

Nathaniel Lane is a financial advisor at ClearPath Capital Partners LLC with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with ClearPath since 1997 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of ClearPath Opportunities Fund, LLC, a pooled investment vehicle established in 2021. ClearPath Capital Partners LLC provides investment management, financial advisory, and financial planning services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as institutional clients such as foundations and endowments. The firm employs a research-intensive, tactical asset allocation approach and manages private funds focused on later-stage technology companies.

Jack Tayan is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Tayan Capital Management, LLC since 2006, where he is one of two advisors. Tayan Capital Management serves investors through Tayan Partners, LP, a private pooled investment vehicle, and separately managed accounts for individual clients. The firm employs an opportunistic, value-oriented investment approach focused on capital preservation and after-tax returns, managing discretionary equity and fixed-income portfolios for a small client base.

Chui Wa Leung is a financial advisor at Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Voya Financial Advisors and Center Pillar Wealth Management. Leung is also an independent insurance agent involved in the sales of fixed insurance products. Pacific Excel Wealth Advisors provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as small businesses, trusts, estates, pooled vehicles, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and offers tiered service levels ranging from core financial planning to private client services.

Mark James is a financial advisor at Alexander Beard (USA) Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Alexander Beard (USA) LLC since 2014. Alexander Beard (USA) Inc. advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and retirement plan sponsors. The firm provides pension transfer reports, discretionary and limited non-discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting, often managing accounts on a discretionary basis with a combination of analytical approaches and third-party sub-advisors.

Kevin Kennedy is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and the principal of Kevin Kennedy, LLC, where he has worked since 2004. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Bank of Marin Bancorp. Additionally, he has been employed by the City of Alameda since 2000. Kevin Kennedy, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, pension plans, and not-for-profit organizations, utilizing SEI-managed account programs and model portfolios for asset allocation and investment selection. The firm primarily offers non-discretionary services and focuses on retirement plans and institutional clients.

Flora Dong is a financial advisor at Arden Global Family Offices with 27 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley. Ardenwood Advisors, LLC provides wealth management and advisory services primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, trusts, estates, and certain institutional clients. The firm offers customized investment portfolios across a range of asset classes and delivers holistic family office administrative services alongside private fund and co-investment opportunities.

Brian Tayan is a financial advisor at Tayan Capital Management, LLC in Menlo Park, CA, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Tayan Capital Management since 2006 and previously worked at UBS Financial Services for one year. In addition to his advisory role, Mr. Tayan serves as a Research Associate at Stanford University. Tayan Capital Management serves individual investors, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients, by providing discretionary portfolio management and managing a private fund, Tayan Partners, LP. The firm employs an opportunistic, value-oriented investment approach focused on capital preservation and long holding periods, with a unique operational structure for its size.