Steven Shaiman

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.

Michael Godeanu is a financial advisor at Luxe Capital Management Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Singer Wealth Advisors LLC, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of finance, he is the owner of Berzerk Fitness LLC, an e-commerce retail business, and has served as an on-ice hockey official for USA Hockey since 2004. Luxe Capital Management, founded in 2024, provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and adviser selection services to individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a multi-method investment approach combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages accounts using long-term, short-term, and trading strategies, typically on a discretionary basis.

Stephen Hanley is the sole advisor at Hanley Capital Management, LLC in Madison, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has led Hanley Capital Management since 2009. Hanley Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management primarily for high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, including banks, pension plans, and charitable institutions. The firm specializes in fixed income investments, focusing on municipal and Treasury bonds, and employs a combination of fundamental analysis and technical tools alongside proprietary software to manage portfolios.

Samuel McPherson is a CFP® professional and the sole advisor at McPherson Financial Advisors, Inc. in Jersey City, NJ, with 17 years at his independent firm and a total of 4 years of industry experience. McPherson Financial Advisors provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plan clients. The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary, using a strategic asset allocation framework with a core-and-satellite approach focused on low-cost index funds and ETFs, and offers pension consulting services and ancillary business management to select clients.

Erik Black is a financial advisor at Calrivan Wealth Management with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience at Cross River Bank and Charles Schwab. Outside of finance, he co-owns VanessKnitS, LLC, a knitting design business. Calrivan Wealth Management offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm emphasizes tailored investment programs based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, operating with a small client base and no account minimum.