Top financial advisors working with military members and veterans in Newark, NJ

Oscar Abaunza Velazquez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2019 and Wells Fargo Bank since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he co-owns a medical billing business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutions with a broad range of financial planning and investment services. The firm offers tailored planning solutions using proprietary research and tools, supporting clients with diverse needs including retirement, business transition, and special-needs planning.

Frederick Palmerton is the sole advisor at Palmerton Financial Services, LLC, an independent firm based in Newark, NJ. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 21 years of industry experience, including more than two decades leading his own firm since 2002. Palmerton Financial Services, LLC provides discretionary supervisory management of individually managed investment portfolios primarily for individuals, as well as corporations and nonprofit entities. The firm focuses on a long-term investment approach emphasizing fundamental analysis, with portfolios concentrated in a limited number of actively traded equity and convertible securities tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Samuel Wallace Jr. is a financial advisor at Merrill with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2009 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Stephen Roth is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Gladstone Wealth Partners and has held prior roles at LPL Financial, LLC and PRUCO Securities, LLC. Outside of advisory roles, he has served as a benefit consultant in the non-variable insurance sector. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting using a broad range of investment approaches tailored at the representative level.

Shaquille Blake is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2024. Prior to this, he worked as a Retirement Planner for the Tax Exempt Market at Fidelity from 2022 to 2024, and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity from 2021 to 2022. His earlier experience includes serving as a Complex Branch Analyst at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from 2018 to 2021. Shaquille focuses on guiding clients through personalized retirement and goal-based planning strategies. He aims to understand each client's unique needs and priorities to deliver strategies offered by Fidelity that align with both short- and long-term financial goals. Outside of his professional work, Shaquille has interests in art, fitness, football, hiking, and volunteering.

Craig Schwegman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Erie, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1995. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

Jonathan Pollack is a Financial Consultant currently serving clients at Fidelity. He has held several roles within Fidelity Investments since 2023, including Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, and Financial Representative. Prior to joining Fidelity, he was a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC from 2022 to 2023. His professional background is complemented by his service as a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, which has contributed to his strategic approach to financial planning. Jonathan holds a California Insurance License, supporting his work in financial consulting. Born and raised in Northern Nevada, Jonathan is committed to serving his community. His personal interests include family activities, fitness, football, military service, pets, and volunteering.

Quintina Wallace is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in small business retirement plans and qualified plan education. She partners with business owners to design, implement, and service retirement plans that align with their workforce needs and business objectives. Quintina helps plan sponsors evaluate plan designs, fulfill fiduciary responsibilities, and improve participant outcomes by coordinating with recordkeepers, TPAs, accountants, and other service providers. Quintina holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned her Bachelor's degree from Albany State University. Quintina also serves as a resource for retirement plan participants, providing education and personalized guidance to assist them in making informed financial decisions throughout life transitions such as retirement and career changes. Beyond her professional role, Quintina is involved with organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, the COVA Christian Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Plan Advisors. Her personal interests include camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.

WHAT I DO: I help Locum Tenens physicians and advanced practice providers gain clarity about their finances, identify opportunities and pitfalls, and stay on track with a trusted accountability partner. WHY IT MATTERS: Three recurring concerns stand out in my conversations with Active Duty Military and Civilian physicians and advanced practice providers: Skill Atrophy – Concerns about staying clinically sharp and staying competitive due to limited patient volume or exposure to diverse clinical settings. Financial Catch-Up – After years of training, many feel the pressure to fast-track savings and build long-term financial security. Time Flexibility – A deep desire for greater control over one’s schedule to prioritize family, entrepreneurship, or personal goals. These pressures often lead physicians to pursue Locum Tenens work—part-time or full-time—for its higher earning potential and flexible structure. But with that flexibility comes greater financial complexity, making a clear strategy and support system more important than ever. HOW I DO IT: Together, we assess your strengths and gaps across the six pillars of financial planning: Cash Flow Management, Risk Management, Estate Planning, Tax Strategy, Retirement Planning, and Investment Management. Then, we develop action items over 3 months to strengthen your financial foundation. Clients are empowered to self implement recommendations or collaborate with us for efficiency and accountability. NEXT STEPS: Ready to take control of your financial future? Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out directly at [email protected]—I’d love to learn more about your goals and how I can help. MORE ABOUT ME: I rediscovered my love for running three years ago thanks to one of my sons, starting with local 5Ks around the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, I’ve become especially fond of the half-marathon distance, with races like the Oakland and San Francisco Half under my belt. Marathon training is next on the horizon, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. I also love exploring new places—favorites so far include Ilocos Sur (Philippines), Tokyo, Seoul, Busan, Barcelona, Lisbon, and London.

Scott Cadieux is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors before founding Echelon Private Wealth LLC, where he has been since 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a vending machine business and works as an independent insurance agent. Echelon Private Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and goal-based financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, offering customized investment strategies including options programs managed on a discretionary basis.