Large-firm financial advisors working with military members and veterans in Waterbury, CT

Brianna Gambacini is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Ameriprise in Waterbury, CT, bringing two years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Gentle Care Animal Hospital and academic positions at the University of Connecticut and North Carolina State University. She is also involved in managing her own advisory business, Honey Badger Management. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations.

Conrad Tarte is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with over 45 years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Financial Group, LLC and has held roles at Grove Point Advisors, Continental Nine Financial Management, and Grove Point Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he is the sole owner of Continental Nine Financial Management, providing fee-based investment advisory, tax preparation, and estate planning services. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional accounts. The firm employs strategic asset allocation with a combination of active and passive management, utilizing both in-house and third-party models to tailor client investment strategies.

Thomas Moran is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 38 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Infinex Investments, Inc., LPL Financial, LLC, Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc., and Webster Investment Services, Inc. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, wrap programs, third-party asset manager referrals, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions, operating with a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure and utilizing independent promoters.

Klaus Engstler is a CFA® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, all of which has been with Edward Jones since 2019. He is based in Middlebury, CT. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including a broad range of households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of investment strategies and advisory services supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Emily Medrek is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Waterbury, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. She previously worked at People's Securities, Inc. for 24 years and has been with Webster Bank since 2023. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management services employing various strategies and advisor-support tools.

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.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.