David Hamlin is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. and also works with Empire Retirement Plans, LLC. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as a notary public. Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. serves individual clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering services including asset management and financial planning. The firm uses model portfolios based on modern portfolio theory, investing primarily in mutual funds and ETFs, and manages approximately $249 million in assets across 104 client relationships.

Chad Carstensen is a financial advisor at Ballast Capital Advisors, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Ballast since 2016. He is also a board member of the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, a nonprofit organization based in Utica, NY. Ballast Capital Advisors primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients through discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes a liability-driven investment approach focused on fixed income and offers bespoke, bond-centric portfolios to a concentrated client base.

Clinton Kane is a financial advisor at Kane Financial with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Kane Financial since 2017, following five years at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and Strategic Financial Services. Kane Financial serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and small businesses by offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach, combining fundamental analysis with index mutual funds and ETFs, and provides financial planning to all investment management clients without additional charge.

Gregory Mclean is a financial advisor at Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. in Utica, NY, with 45 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. since 1988, as well as with Osaic Wealth, Inc. since 1989 and Empire Retirement Plans, LLC since 2025. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Thousand Island Land Trust, a nonprofit organization. Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. serves individual clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering asset management, consulting, and financial planning services. The firm employs five model portfolios based on modern portfolio theory, primarily investing in mutual funds and ETFs, and manages approximately $249 million in assets across about 104 client relationships.

Kevin Conway is a financial advisor at Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. since 2013. Conway serves as associate treasurer on the Clinton Central School Foundation board and holds trustee and board member roles with several nonprofit organizations in the Utica, NY area. Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. serves individual clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses modern portfolio theory to construct portfolios across five model allocations, primarily investing in mutual funds and ETFs, and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Stephen Caruso is a financial advisor with Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. in Utica, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. since 1996 and also works with Empire Retirement Plans, LLC. Caruso McLean & Co., Inc. serves individual clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities, managing approximately $249 million in assets. The firm employs five model portfolios ranging from Conservative to Aggressive, applying modern portfolio theory with a focus on mutual funds and ETFs, and manages accounts primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Wayne Brooks is a financial advisor with One Hopper Asset Management in Utica, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at One Hopper Asset Management since 2013 and has been associated with Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC since 1997. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing member of a car wash business partly owned by his son. One Hopper Asset Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, using long- and short-term positions and options strategies, with ongoing portfolio management subject to written discretionary authority and regular account reviews.

Joseph Speciale is a financial advisor with One Hopper Asset Management in Utica, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. since 2000 and joined One Hopper Asset Management in 2022. Outside of advising, he is the owner of Speciale Fireworks Inc., a retail fireworks business. One Hopper Asset Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, incorporating long- and short-term positions and options strategies, with regular portfolio monitoring and client-imposed investment restrictions.

Joseph Summa is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 14 years of industry experience. He currently works at Ascent Wealth Partners, LLC and previously spent five years at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member and treasurer at Teugega Country Club and is an adjunct professor at Utica College. Ascent Wealth Partners provides wealth management, customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach is long-term, focusing on large-cap equities and high-grade fixed income, supplemented by mutual funds and ETFs, with occasional use of options strategies and private fund investments.

Shannon Cool is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Chapter Aesthetic Studio, Mohawk Valley Community College, Hannaford Supermarkets, and Utica University. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combined with fundamental analysis and uses digital planning tools to support its client programs.

Tobias Jeralds is a Series 65 credentialed advisor at Strategic Financial Services with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Utica University and Irish Trucking. Strategic Financial Services advises individuals, families, institutions, corporations, and retirement plans through wealth management, institutional portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a largely model-based investment approach with discretionary management, offering customized planning and fiduciary consulting tailored to various client types.

Douglas Bissonette is a financial advisor with Ascent Wealth Partners, LLC, where he has worked since 2014. He has six years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he provides tax preparation services to clients. Ascent Wealth Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis, focusing on large-cap equities and high-grade fixed income, and uses customized option strategies.

Christopher Lai is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Ascent Wealth Partners, LLC since 2011 and is based in New Hartford, NY. Ascent Wealth Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with wealth management, customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach focused on large-cap equities and high-grade fixed income, supplemented by mutual funds, ETFs, and options strategies.

Stephen Basile is a financial advisor at Ascent Wealth Partners, LLC in New Hartford, NY, holding a Series 66 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Ascent since 2018 and previously spent two years at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Ascent Wealth Partners provides wealth management, customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term investment approach focused on large-cap equities and high-grade fixed income, utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis.

Melissa Fernalld is an advisor with Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY, where she has worked since 2007. She holds five years of industry experience. Strategic Financial Services advises individuals and families, institutions, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering wealth management, institutional portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services through model-based investment management with case-by-case customization.

Judith Vicks Sweet is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY. She has been with the firm since 1988. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the governing board of Lifetime Care Companies and participates in finance committees for several nonprofit organizations, including Save the River, ITOG, and the Episcopal Diocese of Central NY. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combined with quantitative and fundamental analysis and supplements portfolio management with digital planning tools to support client financial plans.

Matthew Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY, bringing two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Grove Point Investments, Cadaret Grant & Co., and several other financial and non-financial organizations. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, fiduciary retirement plan services, and institutional advisory to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach combining quantitative factor analysis, fundamental research, and the use of sub-advisors, supported by advanced digital planning tools.

Michael Panzer is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY, holding a Series 65 credential with eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mid Atlantic Capital Group and Community Bank NA, among others. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, institutions, and corporations. The firm employs a largely model-based, discretionary investment approach with customization options and integrates tax-aware planning alongside fiduciary consulting and participant education.

Alan Leist is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services since 2005. He previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for 13 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of AAA Northeast, providing strategic guidance and oversight to senior leadership. Strategic Financial Services offers wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combining quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support client financial plans.

Gregory Tedone is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, QCI Asset Management, and TIAA-Cref Individual & Institutional Services. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combining quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support portfolio management and financial planning.