John Mears is the principal advisor at Mears Money Management in Valencia, CA, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been involved in financial services since 1991 through his work at Mears And Associates. In addition to his advisory role, he owns a tax preparation and accounting business and is a licensed insurance agent. Mears Money Management serves individual clients by providing portfolio management and selecting third-party money managers, typically recommending mutual funds and index funds. The firm applies modern portfolio theory with a long-term investment approach, offers portfolio analyses and educational resources, and distinguishes itself by not imposing account minimums and by its affiliation with an accounting practice.

Christian Carreon is a financial advisor with Create Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including All One Wealth, LLC, NPB Financial Group, LLC, Gold Coast Securities, Inc., RBC Advisors, and Medtronic, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner and CEO of Paradigm Shift Trading, Inc., an educational and mentorship program focused on systematic trading. Create Wealth Management, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, sector, and cyclical analysis and employs strategies including strategic and tactical asset allocation, short-term trading, options, futures, and leverage.

Lindahl Lucas is a financial advisor with Avinci Wealth Management, Inc. in Valencia, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Financial & Tax Architects for six years and owns Lucas Insurance Services, an insurance agency he founded in 1989. Avinci Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing model strategies with trend-following, momentum overlays, and algorithmic rebalancing to manage allocation and risk. The firm also offers estate-planning support through a digital platform, limited 401(k) guidance, and sub-advisory services.

Paul Fritch is the principal and sole advisor at Paul Edward Fritch CPA, an independent firm. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience, including 12 years at WBB Securities, LLC. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California, providing accounting, tax advisory, and management services alongside his advisory work. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, using a combination of cyclical analysis and modern portfolio theory. It focuses on mutual funds, equities, fixed income, ETFs, and annuities, with advice tailored through Investment Policy Statements and ongoing quarterly reviews.

Manu Walia is the sole advisor at Continuum Global Asset Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Santa Clarita, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience, having been with Continuum Global Asset Management since 2005. Continuum Global Asset Management provides fee-based investment supervisory and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, family trust accounts, and retirement accounts. The firm combines fundamental and technical research with asset-allocation techniques and employs a mix of equities, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, REITs, and options, using active strategies such as stop losses and option hedging to manage volatility.

James Blazer is a CFP® with 24 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Wealth Planning Group, Inc. since 2007. Outside of advising, he is a professional musician who provides recording and live performance services. Wealth Planning Group, Inc. offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts. The firm uses a combination of strategic, cyclical, and tactical analysis to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client needs.

Nicholas Han is an investment advisor with Daehan Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Daehan Securities since 2013 and also spent time at Kayan Securities, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, Han serves as vice-president of the Unification Education Council-OC.SD Chapter, a nonprofit focused on education and research related to the unification of the Korean peninsula. Daehan Securities, Inc. is an independent, state-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary and occasional non-discretionary portfolio management with a focus on equity and balanced strategies, combining fundamental and technical analysis with systematic elements tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

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.

Christopher Munchhof is a financial advisor at SoCal Planners, Inc with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Free Financial and Canady MFG. In addition to advising, he is engaged in tax preparation and offers fixed life insurance and annuity products through his sole proprietorship, Free Financial. SoCal Planners is an independent, single-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, 401(k) plans, and small business clients. The firm provides non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and periodic investment advice, utilizing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Thomas Hartfield is the president of Hartfield Financial & Insurance Services, Inc. in Granada Hills, CA, with 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Western International Securities, Inc. for six years and has been with his current firm since 1991. Hartfield Financial and Insurance Services provides investment advisory and financial planning primarily to individual clients, as well as trusts, estates, and employer retirement plans. The firm uses a diversified, model-based asset allocation approach focused on mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and combines investment advice with licensed insurance brokerage services.