Andrew Schwartz III is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors, holding a Series 63 designation and 30 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner for tax matters at Landpoor Ltd. and operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in long-term care and life/accident/health insurance through Hart Financial Group. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers and proprietary research to construct diversified portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and custom indexing.

Steven Maurer is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at B. Riley Wealth Management, B. Riley Wealth Advisors, and National Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of Z.Pug.com, Inc., a passthrough S-Corp. Kestra Advisory provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, including plan sponsors. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advice, supporting a variety of management platforms and serving a diverse client base that includes sovereign wealth funds.

Michelle Bender is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory since 2017. She previously worked at INVEST Financial Corp. for seven years. Bender also holds board trustee positions with the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the MDRT Foundation. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, including very large institutional investors. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and advisor-managed accounts, supported by due diligence on recommended investments and a variety of management platforms.

Steven Cox is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for LPL Financial from 2006 to 2023 before joining Kestra in 2023. Cox is the managing member and 50% owner of SHC Financial, LLC, where he oversees financial operations and tax compliance. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a wide range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design and compliance, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions, serving clients that include large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Christopher Bafus is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MSI Financial Services, Inc., Commonwealth Financial Network, Pillar Financial Group, LLC, and BAFUS Financial Group. He is also co-owner of BAFUS Financial Group Inc. and is involved in fixed insurance sales. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as plan design, fiduciary consulting, investment advice, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves a diverse client base, including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Kelly Apple is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Her prior experience includes roles at BlackRock Investments, LLC, and Van Kampen Advisors Inc. She serves as a board member of the Expect Miracles Foundation, a nonprofit focused on fundraising and governance. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a broad mix of institutional and individual clients. The firm supports services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and offers access to multiple management platforms and third-party managed solutions.

Mark Hamelmann is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. for 25 years and has owned and operated Circle City Wealth Advisors, LLC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional plan sponsors and individual investors, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves a range of clients, including sovereign wealth funds.

Matthew Hollosy is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. He has held positions at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and USAA Financial Planning Services, among others. Hollosy is based in Austin, TX. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program or referred by Charles Schwab & Co. The firm utilizes Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and research tools, offering at-least-annual reviews and tailored recommendations without exercising discretionary trading authority.

Michael Pedlow is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at H. Beck, Inc. since 2017 and has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016, with prior experience at Kestra Investment Services, LLC starting in 2010. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a range of institutional and individual clients, offering services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Aaron Connolly is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo and Stifel. &PARTNERS serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement-plan consulting through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis and provides services under dual registration as a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

William Johnson Jr. is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding a Series 66 designation and 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at B. Riley Wealth Management, National Securities Corp, and Morgan Stanley, spanning both advisory and private banking capacities. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm serves a broad client base that includes large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Elizabeth St Paul is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at New York Life and NYLife Securities LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an unpaid member of the State Board of Directors for Texas CASA, a nonprofit organization that trains volunteers to mentor children in Texas' foster care system. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focuses on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups chosen by plan sponsors.

Brian Hart is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and eight years of industry experience. He has worked with Inspire Financial Group and US Retirement & Benefits Partners DBA Inspire Financial Group since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Hart serves as an elder of the Saginaw Church of Christ. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary and offering participant-level investment options through asset allocation portfolios. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios, supported by education and support services for plan sponsors and participants.

Mireya Jimenez is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials, and has two years of industry experience. She has worked with Penwell Treta Wealth Management and operates a separate business selling Medicare, life, and healthcare insurance. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, focusing on ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary roles, education, and support. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach with risk-based mutual fund portfolios, offering a range of investment options from conservative to aggressive.

Joseph Fishella is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at UBS Financial Services and Morgan Stanley DW Inc. Fishella is president of Bluelake Wealth Advisors, where he manages his book of business and operates the office. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients. The firm offers a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and utilizes multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

Matthew Baldeck is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having four years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Hightower Securities, Securities America, Arbor Point Advisors, and positions at Western Kentucky University and the University of Michigan. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm’s advisory approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, supported by proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Kurt Skvarla is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Kestra Advisory Services LLC and Kestra Investment Services LLC and has prior experience at Wells Fargo Advisors and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his primary advisory roles, he is the sole owner of K2 Wealth Management, LLC, an independent practice based in Gibsonia, PA. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including plan sponsors, institutional investors, and individuals. The firm offers a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and discretionary trading within a supervisory framework, managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Hunter Smith is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Kestra Advisory Services, LLC and Kestra Investment Services, LLC since 2023. Prior to joining Kestra, he worked for Securities America Advisors, Securities America, Inc., and LPL Financial LLC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including plan sponsors, institutions, and individuals. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advice, and serves a range of clients from individual investors to sovereign wealth funds.

Svante Rocabado is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones and Kestra Investment Services. Outside of finance, he has worked in various food service positions, including catering and serving at multiple Austin-area establishments. Kestra Advisory is an enterprise firm with over 1,200 advisors, providing financial services to a broad client base.

Noah Lee is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Schwab Wealth Advisory Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Elkwood Capital, and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that offers financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement-plan services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines model portfolios and technology-enabled tools with both in-house and external strategists, delivering services through a large network of investment adviser representatives.