Laura Ward is a financial advisor at William Blair with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at First Republic in various capacities from 2005 to 2023 before joining William Blair. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models, third-party sub-advisers, and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Eli Sakov is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation, based in Berkeley, CA. He has no prior industry experience but has been involved in technology and insurance-related consulting and entrepreneurship since 2018. Sakov is the founder and operator of Better Leads, Inc., a software company focused on developing tools for insurance lead identification and data management. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm uses a top-down strategic asset allocation approach to manage risk-based mutual fund portfolios and offers education, personalized retirement planning, and support services to plan sponsors and participants.

Cliff Duester is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including MML Investors Services, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to his advisory role, he is the founder of Private Label Wealth Management, an insurance brokerage. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm integrates advisory services with broker-dealer capabilities and utilizes third-party asset managers to manage client portfolios.

Vernon Yu is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Orinda, CA, holding a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Hightower in 2023, he worked at Stoic Partners Consulting Ltd from 2020 to 2023. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment vehicles and strategies.

Nelson Tan is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and also has roles in software development and martial arts coaching. Outside of advising, he is involved in software development and teaches martial arts. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach and third-party managers to implement its advisory services through multiple platforms.

Jessica Gardner is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at City National Rochdale and Whittier Trust Company. IEQ Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm focuses on separately managed accounts and integrates alternative investments through an extensive private-investment platform.

Scott Sprague is a CFP® professional with 37 years of industry experience, currently associated with Private Advisor Group, LLC. His prior roles include tenures at LPL Financial and Mariner Independent Advisor Network, among others. He is also involved in managing Sprague Wealth Solutions and New West Insurance, which provide non-variable insurance products. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, combining in-house portfolio management and third-party strategist selections, supported by technology platforms and a variety of investment strategies.

Eric Lau is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Fremont, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, BMO Bank NA, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, Lau serves as a board member of the Chinese Realtor Association of America and the SF BARE Lions Club, and he is co-chair of the Business Leadership Council at Asian Health Services, engaging in community advocacy and event planning. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs serving individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations, with investment approaches that combine strategic and tactical asset allocation across various risk profiles. The firm manages both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios and distinguishes itself through a range of program options and operational registrations.

Alexandra Leahy is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining IEQ Capital, she held roles at Third Bridge, Amazon/Shopbop, and several other organizations. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as trusts, foundations, endowments, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach combines centralized macroeconomic research with client-specific Investment Policy Statements and includes a mix of liquid strategies, third-party independent managers, and private alternative investments.

Shelby Stahr is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Cerity Partners LLC since 2021. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Shelby worked at B|O|S, Private Ocean, and Mosaic Financial Partners. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a diverse national clientele, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm employs a tailored investment approach combining proprietary quantitative screens with third-party managers and individual securities, and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to alternative investments.

Julio Barrientos is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets in San Francisco, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a merchandising associate at Total Wine and More in Pleasant Hill, CA. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by internal standards and oversight committees.

Anna Dearborn is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. She currently works at Principal Financial Services and has held roles at Principal Bank, Principal Trust Company, and Principal Securities since 2023. Prior to that, she was with Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, and Merrill. She also serves as a bank and trust officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company, supporting retirement plan account relationships. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

David Coleman is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Fremont Group, First Republic Bank, and Salvona Technologies among other firms. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and non-profit organizations. The firm’s investment approach incorporates centralized macroeconomic research and client-specific Investment Policy Statements, utilizing a blend of liquid strategies, third-party independent managers, and private alternative investments.

Matthew Halick is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and is also involved with Garaventa Accountancy Corporation and David White & Associates. Outside of advisory roles, he serves as Treasurer of the Sacramento Safari Club, a chapter of Safari Club International focused on environmental conservation. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a variety of managed account programs and fee-based management of variable products, supported by third-party partners and multiple custodial platforms.

Victoria Dixon is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Robinson & Cole. Victoria also has a background associated with the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Association. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, endowments, and non-profit organizations. The firm’s investment approach includes centralized macroeconomic research, client-specific Investment Policy Statements, and portfolios constructed from liquid strategies, third-party managers, and private alternative investments.

Troy Ganter is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise and Equitable Advisors. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm employs a centralized investment process that incorporates independent managers and alternative investments, managing approximately $35.4 billion in assets.

Justin Mambaje is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in San Mateo, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2013 and is involved with LSPN Pro, LLC and the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, where he provides Social Security analysis as a free service. Transamerica Financial Advisors offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers in its advisory approach. The firm operates an integrated retirement plan ecosystem and supports clients through multiple program platforms and a large advisor network.

Amir Atabaki is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Frontier Investment Management Co, CMY Fiduciary Services, and Upside Options. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes multi-manager solutions and manager selection, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, with services spanning portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Jenna Steinhauer is a financial advisor at IEQ Capital, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase Bank, First Republic Securities Company, JPMorgan Securities, and UBS Financial Services. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as trusts, foundations, endowments, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is centered on centralized macroeconomic research and client-specific Investment Policy Statements, with portfolios constructed from a blend of liquid strategies, third-party independent managers, and private alternative investments.

Aaron Price is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently with IEQ Capital, LLC, where he has worked since 2019. Prior to this, he held positions at First Republic Investment Management, Inc., FIRST REPUBLIC Securities Company, LLC, and Fisher Investments. IEQ Capital provides portfolio management and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as trusts, foundations, endowments, and non-profit organizations. The firm’s investment process is centered on macroeconomic research and client-specific Investment Policy Statements, utilizing a blend of liquid strategies, third-party managers, and private alternative investments.