Galen Herbst De Cortina

You deserve to feel financially empowered. The problem can be that you feel overwhelmed, overlooked or underserved in your financial lives. Terri understands. It’s why she has taken all her experience over a quarter-century of bull and bear markets managing billions of dollars for hundreds of people to create Zuma Wealth. Zuma Wealth is a firm by women for women. We’ve busted the myth that women aren’t interested in money and wealth topics. Many women thirst for knowledge and continuously seek out opportunities to grow and learn in many areas. Terri understands! Terri’s clients recognize the value of a trustworthy partner and seek her out because she offers support, understanding and an attentive ear. Importantly, she provides tailored advice and guidance so clients achieve their unique aspirations, never the one-size-fits-all that defines the industry. A renowned expert, Terri is a regular guest on CNBC and Bloomberg, and a sought-after industry speaker. She has been interviewed and quoted in hundreds of publications and lauded for making complex concepts simple. Her real world expertise is rooted in a suite of top financial credentials: the CFA charter, the CFP® certification, an MBA in Finance from Columbia University and an AB in Economics with Honors from the University of Michigan. Terri started investing when her father introduced her to the concept of compound interest and she learned she could make money in her sleep.

I’m Melissa, founder of Fidela Wealth. I hold CFP® and CIMA® designations, and I’ve spent the last 13 years guiding clients through high-stakes financial transitions with precision and care. At Fidela, I work with: -Families navigating legacy planning, education funding, long-term care, or supporting loved ones with special needs. -Business owners seeking tax efficiency, transition planning, or coordinated advice across teams. -Entertainment professionals managing income variability, loan-out entities, pension structures, and privacy concerns. My job is to bring order to complexity, no jargon, no confusion. Just clear, personalized advice and disciplined financial strategy. I don’t sell products, and I don’t take shortcuts. As a fiduciary, I work exclusively in your best interest. If you’re facing a turning point or simply want to feel more confident about your financial future, I’m here to help you move forward with clarity and integrity.

I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in LA. I spent a few years away while at San Diego State University. After graduating, I spent nearly nine months in Israel working odd jobs and enjoying time with my friends and family. I came back to LA in 2014 where I got my first "real" job at a large insurance and investment firm. I got licensed as a financial advisor in 2015, which allowed me to focus full time on financial planning and investment management. I earned my CFP® certification in 2017, and soon after in 2018, I decided it was time to start my own firm. I wanted to leave the whole corporate structure behind and work with the clients who I wanted to work with. I was tired of various sales quotas and metrics. I knew I could offer better and completely unbiased service by having my own firm. Let's connect so I can now learn more about you!

At Bridge The Gap we purposefully choose to work with a small number of clients per advisor, so each client’s situation can be served as a priority. This provides clients with a partnership that goes deeper into your financial planning needs. Our goals is to be the go to for all things financial, and to be your accountability partner in implementation. Many advisors draft clients a plan, but we work to together to live it. We have ongoing planning conversations with our clients around investments, risk management, liquidity analysis, estate planning, tax planning, tax efficiency, and goal fulfillment.

Awanti Desai is a Financial Solutions Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, she collaborates with clients individually to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies aimed at achieving those objectives. She provides ongoing advice and adjusts portfolios as clients’ circumstances evolve. Desai’s expertise includes general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unforeseen financial needs. She prioritizes understanding what matters most to clients and their families to help craft personalized financial plans. She holds the designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree from the Pennsylvania State University System, an Associate’s Degree from Ventura Community College District, and a High School Diploma from Thousand Oaks High School.