Thomas Margaritondo

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.

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.

Nitin Apte is a financial advisor at GA Advisors LLC in Bridgewater, NJ, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Azul Systems Inc and Credit Carbon Inc for seven years each. He serves as Chair of the Investment Committee for the nonprofit organization Marathi Vishwa of New Jersey. GA Advisors LLC provides personalized investment advice and discretionary portfolio management to individual clients, focusing on global equity and fixed income markets. The firm employs an asset-allocation model adjusted for market conditions, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and occasionally individual securities, along with options trading, supported by regular research and account monitoring.

Brian O'Dowd is a CFP® professional with 32 years of experience in financial advising. He is the president and owner of O'Dowd Asset Management LLC, an independent firm based in Morristown, NJ, which he founded in 2020. Prior to this, he was involved with O'Dowd Bierals Wealth Advisors LLC and World Equity Group since 2012. Outside of advising, he is also involved in property management and serves as president of multiple real estate-related companies. O'Dowd Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plan clients. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis and employs a variety of strategies including long- and short-term trading, options, and allocations to diverse investment vehicles, managing accounts under written investment policies and sometimes allocating assets to third-party managers.

Daren O'Connor is a financial advisor at LBK Financial LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Citigroup and Citigroup Management Corp. since 2015. He serves as a member of the Hanover Township Economic Development Advisory Committee in Whippany, NJ. LBK Financial is an independent wealth management firm serving individuals and small businesses, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary investment management and financial planning, focusing on customized portfolios using diversified ETFs and individual equities, with ongoing account monitoring and annual reviews.

Bryan Zegar is a CFP® professional with six years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the principal advisor at Hearthstead Financial, LLC, where he has worked since 2025. Prior to this, he spent seven years at Ameriprise and AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL SERVICES, Inc. Outside of finance, he is involved with Allshapes Bonsai Nursery, where he assists with inventory management, customer support, and technology. Hearthstead Financial is a registered investment adviser that provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm employs a mixed-methods investment approach combining fundamental and charting analysis with mutual fund and ETF evaluation, focusing on both passive and active strategies implemented on a non-discretionary basis.