Hemal Parikh is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2016 and previously spent 14 years with Metlife Financial Services. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, delivering collaborative, goal-based advice using proprietary software tools.

Christian Brogan is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Equitable Advisors, Equitable, TPS Financial, and the University of Delaware. Outside of finance, he has experience working at Bonds Tavern. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and model-driven investment implementation through a network of investment adviser representatives.

David Gallello is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various Fidelity entities since 2013, including Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a process that combines fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is noted for its systematic investment approach, regulatory registrations, and advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies.

Hasnain Mir is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of The Mir Group. Since launching his Merrill career in 2005, Hasnain has developed integrated financial strategies and portfolios primarily for business owners, focusing on defined benefit and defined contribution plans. He works closely with plan sponsors, their families, and employees to provide education on plan specifics and investment choices. Hasnain also facilitates clients’ access to banking services including cash management, debt consolidation, and lending solutions through Bank of America, N.A. Hasnain’s client base includes self-made entrepreneurs, medical and legal professionals, corporate executives, and multi-generational families across New Jersey and 15 additional states. His expertise covers a range of financial planning areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, liquidity management, retirement income, and small business strategies. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Middlesex County. Outside of his professional role, Hasnain is an avid golfer, cyclist, and fitness enthusiast residing in Somerset, New Jersey with his wife. He and The Mir Group engage in pro bono work and support various charitable organizations as part of their commitment to giving back to the community.

Debra Shipps is a financial advisor at Merrill with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has been with Merrill since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the Fundraising Chair for Boy Scouts Pack 140 and is the Mayor of Knowlton Township, New Jersey. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Ronald Kovac is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority and integrating planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.

Thomas Capozzi is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Woodbridge, NJ. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, his background includes various roles at companies such as Raider's Walk, Castrol, and Blue Verse, as well as attendance at Texas Tech. Equitable Advisors serves individuals ranging from non-high-net-worth to high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party managers.

Alan Brum is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Ameriprise, Kestra Investment Services, and TD Ameritrade. 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 municipal advisory services.

John O'Donnell is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Princeton, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He is the sole owner of JacAcq LLC, a business focused on managing practice operations. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with significant investable assets, providing written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary advice through a centralized consulting team.

Rickie Santana is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in North Bergen, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2015. Outside of advising, Santana is involved in independent insurance brokering with several providers including Horizon BlueCross BlueShield and Metlife. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service tailored to individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and algorithmic automation overseen by a dedicated consulting team to deliver personalized, non-discretionary retirement advice.

John Garretson is a CFP® with 42 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial. He previously worked at Ic Advisory Services, Inc. and The Investment Center. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business focused on college financial aid. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides access to model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting its network of over 22,800 advisors.

Katharine Biernacki is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2006 and also works with Bank of America, N.A. since 2012. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Mark Van Ness is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on developing investment strategies for high net worth individuals and business owners, providing goals-based wealth management alongside a team of specialists. Mark's work includes managing portfolios that may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. Mark has been in the financial services industry since 1999 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. He holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and earned an Associate's Degree from Devry University. His client focus areas include education planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and retirement income. Residing in Westfield, NJ, Mark lives with his wife, Roseann, and their two daughters, Gabriella and Sabrina. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys baseball, boating, fishing, football, traveling, sport fishing, and Italian food.

Jordan Toma is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding a Series 65 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at The Prudential Insurance Company of America since 2013 and was with Pruco Securities, LLC from 2013 to 2024 before joining LPL Enterprise. Outside of his advisory work, Jordan provides speaking engagements and workshops to schools and organizations through a separate business, I’m Just A Kid With An IEP LLC. LPL Enterprise, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs model-driven investment implementation and provides access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and insurance product sales through affiliated entities.

Nikolas Keszthelyi is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes positions at Joyce Honda and Zumiez Inc. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a variety of asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party managers.

Gary Nesta is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with five years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations as well as a Series 66 license. Prior to joining Mass Mutual Investors Services in 2020, he worked in various roles including positions at Retro Fitness and Ramapo College of New Jersey. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved software tools to deliver written recommendations as part of annual, collaborative planning engagements.

Debra Bruno is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding the Series 63 designation and bringing 37 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ic Advisory Services, Inc. and The Investment Center, Inc. Additionally, she is involved in insurance sales on a non-variable basis. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a broad range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by technological tools for research and operations.

Roger Mahfouz is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, Citi Private Advisory, Citigroup Global Markets, iA Financial Group, Evolve ETFs, and Sentry Investments. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized manager due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Donald Martine is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2014 and Bank of America since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in trade work for Peppler Funeral Home. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of individual and institutional clients.

Steven Gappa is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, having worked in various roles at asset management firms prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2010. Steven holds a Bachelor's Degree from Kean University and has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He has been married to Lisa since 2002, and they have two daughters.