Kurt Carlson is a CFP® and CFA® with 35 years of industry experience. He is currently with Raymond James & Associates and previously worked at Robert Baird & Co. and Hefren-Tillotson, Inc. Raymond James & Associates is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutions, and various organizations, offering financial planning and investment consulting through a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research resources.

Chris Simakas is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Sewickley, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley in various capacities since 2005, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning and managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning process uses structured discovery and firm-approved tools, though clients are responsible for implementation and updates.

James Fitz Simmons is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities and ADP, and he is also the owner and producer at Beaver Valley Independent Insurance Group LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, research, and technology-driven strategies.

Steven Kantz is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cetera Advisors LLC, Private Advisor Group, LLC, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory work, he is licensed to sell life, disability, and fixed annuities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party money managers.

Patrick Bransome is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies.

Gregory Podufal is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at PNC Bank from 2015 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he has a 50% ownership interest in a coffee truck business in Bridgeville, PA. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broad range of financial product offerings including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Rush Hodgin is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at La Roche University from 2016 to 2020 before joining Ameriprise. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendations and ongoing planning focused on retirement income, tax-aware withdrawal strategies, and Social Security options.

Sarah Miller is a financial advisor at Merrill with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at BNY Mellon and PNC Bank. She serves as an executor and successor trustee for family estate matters. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Leslie Hewitt is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Monroeville, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2022, Hewitt worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Allison Plutt Jr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Financial Services since 1991 and PFS Investments Inc. since 1987. Prior to his financial career, he worked for the City of Pittsburgh from 1982 to 2017. He also receives compensation for part-time referrals of home security and automation products, as well as other home-related services, through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors is an institutional firm serving primarily individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm offers a wrap-fee asset management program that relies mainly on model-delivery strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and provides custody and trade execution support through Pershing.

Max Crownover is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. He has five years of industry experience, including prior roles at Pensionmark Financial Group and Penn State University. Outside of his primary advisory work, he is involved with several other financial services activities, including serving as an agent in insurance and benefits and managing client assets through affiliated firms. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, offering a range of strategies across multiple custody platforms.

Keith Colonna Sr. is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley who holds a Series 66 designation and has 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, in addition to prior experience at Citigroup Global Markets dating back to 2006. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing advisory programs and tailored financial planning services to both individuals and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes firm-approved planning tools and modeling techniques in its financial planning process.

Joseph Thompson is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Raymond James & Associates and Hefren-Tillotson prior to joining Robert Baird. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers a range of consulting and portfolio services tailored to client goals, utilizing both in-house and third-party managers across traditional and complex investment strategies.

Bavneet Makkar is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Charles Schwab in Cranberry Township, PA. Prior to Schwab, he worked at TD Ameritrade and has experience in various roles including behavioral specialist work through Gene Cook Supports, where he assists a client with autism focusing on personal development and emotional expression. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and managed-account services, offering a combination of non-discretionary advisory recommendations and access to discretionary separately managed accounts within a large, integrated operational framework.

Daniel Joseph is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2014, previously associated with Axa Advisors. Equitable Advisors serves a wide range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs. The firm employs a model that assesses client information and risk tolerance to match them with appropriate advisory programs, utilizing a mix of third-party asset managers and internally managed strategies.

Jill Baker is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Pittsburgh, PA, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in business ownership through JKBS, a consulting entity. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeting individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary retirement recommendations, supported by a large institutional platform offering advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions.

Elise Yanders is a Wealth Management Advisor and the founder of The Yanders Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She leads a diverse team of financial professionals focused on managing clients' financial resources with an emphasis on socially responsible investment strategies. Her practice incorporates access to investment insights from Merrill as well as banking and lending solutions from Bank of America, providing clients with comprehensive wealth management services. Elise's expertise covers a wide range of areas including college education planning, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, philanthropic planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, and services tailored to sports and entertainment professionals. She and her team collaborate closely with clients to create personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing long-term goals. She holds a Master's Degree from the University of Illinois System and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Tennessee System. Elise maintains several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment (SE). Committed to community involvement, she participates in volunteer activities such as the MS Walk and Susan Komen Race for the Cure and serves on boards and organizations including the Allegheny YMCA, Urban League of Pittsburgh, and Women's Sports Foundation Committee. Elise's personal interests include cooking, dancing, interior decorating, reading, running, yoga, and spending time with her family.

James Reed is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Sewickley, PA, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2021, he worked at Gradient Securities and Five Points Frontier, and he has been involved with the George A. Reed Insurance Agency since 1991, where he is a part owner and agent specializing in property and casualty insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services through its national network of investment adviser representatives, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and advanced technology-driven investment strategies.

Joseph Betten Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Warrendale, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. He worked previously at Cco Investment Services Corp for seven years before joining LPL Financial in 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with several insurance agencies affiliated with his business activities. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diversified advisory programs and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by research from internal and third-party sources.

Grant Mellon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He worked at Bank of America, N.A. for 11 years before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2023. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s approach includes investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.