David Marks

Jori Guzhuna is a financial strategist and founder of Guzhuna Asset Management, an independent registered investment advisory firm serving a select clientele of entrepreneurs, executives, and multi-generational families. His philosophy is rooted in a disciplined bottom-up approach to wealth management. Every client engagement begins with risk management and asset protection—ensuring the foundation is secure—followed by strategic tax mitigation. From there, planning expands into investment strategy, capital deployment, and long-term legacy design. Operating under a fiduciary standard, Jori provides objective, conflict-free advice with no proprietary products or commission-driven incentives. His work integrates institutional-grade investment access with advanced planning techniques, enabling clients to preserve, grow, and transfer wealth with precision. He is also recognized for implementing sophisticated investment approaches typically reserved for institutional environments. These strategies are designed to enhance efficiency, manage downside exposure, and create more controlled outcomes across varying market conditions—while remaining aligned with each client’s overall risk profile and objectives. Known for discretion and strategic clarity, Jori architects comprehensive financial structures designed to withstand complexity and deliver enduring results across generations.

Hi! My name is Joe Forish and I started Fortrove Partners to help technologists deal with challenges of company ownership / equity compensation. From a young age, I learned about maximizing hard work and doing what you do best while working at my father’s auto dealership. I also saw first-hand both the rewards and challenges of running a business. Prior to Fortrove, I honed my expertise investing in public and private equity. I graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Finance and International Business, and from the Harvard Business Analytics Program, with Distinction. In my free time you will find me skiing an evergreen tree-lined run or longboarding when it’s cloudy and glassy. I live in New York City with my wife Linda.

Damian Mbadugha is the sole advisor at Hillgate Financial, LLC, a New Jersey-registered investment adviser. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is registered as a commodities trading advisor, and works as an insurance agent and tax preparer, focusing on research during weekends. Hillgate Financial provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, and estates, applying modern portfolio theory to build diversified portfolios primarily using passively managed funds and ETFs. The firm emphasizes tax-aware strategies and manages a historically significant asset base with a focus on individualized client portfolios.

Phillip Defranco is the Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer of Heartland Northeast LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. He has prior experience at Kornett, Inc. and is the owner of Northeast Advocacy Network, Inc., where he also serves as a licensed insurance agent. Heartland Northeast LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a combination of analytical methods focused on long-term trading and tailored model allocations. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management and sponsors a wrap fee program.

Matthew Wright is the principal and sole advisor at WRIGHT Investment Partners LLC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked as a private investor for five years before founding his firm in 2016. Outside of advisory work, he is a principal in a business that owns a small Class C office building. WRIGHT Investment Partners LLC provides portfolio management services to individual and high net worth clients, focusing on personalized Investment Policy Statements and discretionary management. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis with a long-term trading approach, offering a range of investment products and conducting at least monthly account reviews.

Christopher Mittleman is the principal of Mittleman Value Partners LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in New York, NY. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Aimia Am Holdings Inc., Aimia Inc., and leadership at Mittleman Brothers LLC and Mittleman Investment Management LLC. Mittleman Value Partners provides discretionary investment management for high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, including private funds, endowments, and retirement accounts. The firm employs a concentrated, long-term value strategy focused on domestic and foreign equities, with notable features such as managing performance-based fees, use of leverage within separately managed accounts, and serving a significant non-U.S. and institutional client base.