Aaron Kirsch is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and founding partner of GreenUp Wealth Management. He works primarily with individuals and couples who are approaching or living in retirement, helping them design financial plans that support both long-term security and a fulfilling retirement lifestyle. Aaron began his career in financial services in 2001 at a major Wall Street firm and has since worked with clients across a wide range of life stages, both at large institutions and through his own independent wealth management firm. This experience informs his comprehensive approach to financial planning, which integrates retirement income planning, investment management, tax-aware strategies, risk management, and estate planning considerations. He is the co-author of The Rewarding Retirement Workbook, a resource designed to help people think beyond the mechanics of retirement and focus on how they want to live during this stage of life. Aaron’s work emphasizes aligning financial decisions with personal values, priorities, and legacy goals. Aaron holds himself to fiduciary standards and takes a client-centered approach to planning, helping individuals and families navigate financial decisions with clarity and confidence as they transition into and through retirement.

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 originally born in Toronto, Canada and my family moved to Los Angeles in 2009 during the recession. Within the first year of our move, my parents let my sister and I know that we might have to move back due to financial troubles. Fortunately we were able to make things work, but that sparked my interest in personal finance and I began learning about budgeting and investing. I was able to get my Bachelor's degree from CSUN in 2018 and have been working in the financial services industry for about 7 years. My experience ranges from helping young professionals who are just starting out on their journey to those who have put their work in and are looking to enjoy their retirement. I am a CFP professional as well as a notary public. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, being active and spending time with friends & family. I have always enjoyed playing sports, especially winter sports such as hockey and skiing (Would I be a true Canadian if I didn’t?) Even though I have lived in Los Angeles for over 15 years, my sports loyalty still lies with my teams in Toronto, and I hope to see the Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup in my lifetime the same way I got to watch the Raptors win their first NBA championship back in 2019.

Hello! My name is Billy (he/him), owner of Billfold Budget Counseling. I provide accessible financial advice for folks who want to see (or even make) significant, progressive change in our world. My goal is to help you tackle your financial challenges, so you can focus on making the world a more compassionate, diverse, and understanding place. I believe that money is not a natural thing. Be it overspending, living paycheck to paycheck, or a low credit score…these money mishaps are actually quite common. Because of this, I feel that there’s no shame in not understanding personal finance. Heck, when I was studying accounting as an undergrad, I managed to get in over my head with credit card debt. A situation due to a lack of personal finance knowledge. But this overwhelming burden would weigh on my every action, and my not-so-wise decision to ignore the problem only made it worse. I was eventually able to pay off my debt through sheer chance (and lots of part-time work), but I never wanted to feel that level of anxiety again. However, what was bad for me is often worse for others. In this country, there are haves and have-nots, and money has historically been hoarded by haves: rich, white, powerful men. As a privileged white male, I had the opportunities that lead me to eventually being debt-free. I could see how my challenges were relatively small compared to the structural issues that other folks face. So, I’ve made it my mission to not only provide financial planning, education, and coaching but to have my advice be as accessible as possible. Especially to those who have had dealt with money hardships, but still want to give back to their communities. That way, you can focus on your mission to make the world a compassionate, diverse, and understanding place. So if you’re ready to enlist help to tackle your financial burdens (without cliché, condescending advice like “eat less avocado toast” or “don’t buy lattes”), please reach out for a complimentary consultation. https://calendly.com/billfoldbudget/initialconsultation

Mana FLD offers professional financial advice that empowers you to protect and celebrate your hard earned money. We start with our clients' hopes and dreams: getting an intimate view of their values, attitudes, and feelings towards money and its connection to lifestyle. Next comes smart planning: as we work one-on-one with each client to learn your finances inside and out, resulting in deep knowledge sharing, and ongoing support capable of shifting attitudes and building wealth. The outcome is freedom through partnership: our clients are supported to grow, develop and stand strong through life’s transitions, as we build new strategies for self-awareness and personal identity. Throughout the journey, we help turn clients' dreams and goals into reality.

David Nash is a Wealth Advisor at Parkwoods Wealth Partners, a fiduciary, fee-only financial planning firm. He works with tech employees, executives, and high-earning families to bring clarity and confidence to their financial lives. Drawing on a wide range of experience — from earning his MBA in Finance at UCLA Anderson to roles in investment banking at Barclays and as a Regional Director at Dimensional Fund Advisors — David helps clients make informed, thoughtful decisions about their wealth. His background allows him to understand the complex benefits and financial opportunities that come with working at innovative companies. David’s planning focuses on what matters most to busy professionals and growing families: optimizing taxes for retirement, making the most of equity compensation, and building strong estate and education plans. His approach is personal and practical, meeting each client where they are and helping them move toward their long-term goals with confidence. Above all, David believes financial advice should be clear and empowering. He takes time to explain options, guide decisions, and provide support as life and wealth evolve.

Hi - I'm Eric Amzalag CFP®, founder of Peak Financial Planning. I work with individuals and couples nationwide to help you navigate the Retirement Risk Zone. We build models that help you optimize your retirement income, create spending flexibility in retirement, and help you understand your financial weaknesses. We’d love for you to consider our Fee Only Fiduciary CFP® Professional team for the following reasons: - We will help you document your financial wishes and goals. - We can help you create a reliable retirement income stream that you understand, and that will outlive YOU. - We can help you pay the government less so that you have more money to spend on the things you care about - We can help you craft an investment strategy that you UNDERSTAND and lets you sleep well at night knowing you’ll be taken care of. Please visit our website to get a feel for how we work with clients - www.thepeakfp.com You can also watch hundreds of hours of free retirement guides on our youtube channel at www.youtube.com/@thepeakfp

Bill Nugent is the Founder of Convey Wealth Management, a financial services firm uniquely specializing in tax-smart planning for corporate executives, high-achieving entrepreneurs, and their families. Bill's 27-year career began with one of the industry's oldest and most respected wealth management firms. There, he focused on non-profit and public sector clients and drew inspiration from mission-driven professionals who dedicated their careers to caring for others. Having led hundreds of live workshops during his career, Bill is skilled at expressing complex topics in an understandable manner. He believes in customization and focuses on each client's goals to drive the investment management process. Bill is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional as well as an IRS Enrolled Agent. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In addition to providing personalized attention to his clients, he believes strongly professional mentorship and enjoys teaching financial planning at UCLA.

Natalia Avila is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined the firm in March 2017, drawn by its goals-based wealth management process, global resources, and integrated services designed to help clients pursue their financial goals. Natalia develops personalized wealth management strategies that reflect clients’ priorities and adapt to changing market conditions, leveraging insights from Merrill Lynch and banking solutions from Bank of America. Natalia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and serves as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She has seven years of military experience, having completed two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her areas of client focus include retirement planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, investment strategy, and services tailored for military and law enforcement personnel. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Natalia supports community efforts such as Homes4Families and Operation Gratitude. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exercising, golfing, hiking, music, reading, soccer, and tennis.

Christian Ridout is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their unique goals and priorities, helping them navigate complex investment and wealth management decisions. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, as well as serving clients in sports and entertainment sectors. Christian holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Villanova University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional role, he enjoys baseball, cooking, gardening, skiing, surfing, and spending time with his family.