How to Start Investing for Beginners

Salil K. Sarkar, PhD

Professor of Finance, Coordinator, Doctoral Finance Program at The University of Texas at Arlington

As an undergraduate in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, Salil worked at the middle management level in the multinational firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Subsequently, he earned his MBA, followed by Ph.D. and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA©) charter. Thus, his professional career evolved through a combination of engineering, administrative, academic and consulting assignments. Currently, Salil is a Professor of Finance as well as Graduate Advisor Finance Ph.D. Program at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) where he teaches finance to undergraduate, masters and doctoral students. While his current research focuses on Corporate Finance, a partial listing of peer-reviewed academic journals that have published his papers include Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Banking Finance and Accounting, Financial Management, European Journal of Operations Research, European Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Economics, Financial Analyst Journal, and Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. Salil has consulted for the CFA Institute in various capacities before joining the Schweser Kaplan educator team for their CFA Review Courses, where he teaches CFA Candidates at all three levels. Nominated for UTA Outstanding Academic Advisor Award, Outstanding Ph.D. Mentor Award, UTA College of Business, Top Paper in Financial Management Award FMA Europe Conference, Finance Track Chair: Annual Meeting Decision Sciences Inst., College of Business Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, Board Member: Southwest Finance Association, Invited Speaker CFO Roundtable of 22 CFOs of Large Cap Firms NYC, UTA College of Business Distinguished Professional Publication Award, and McGraw Hill/Irwin Distinguished Paper award at Midwest Academy of International Business.

Yaseen Alhaj-Yaseen, PhD

Associate Professor of Finance at Middle Georgia State University

Dr. Yaseen S. Alhaj-Yaseen serves as an Associate Professor of Finance at Middle Georgia State University. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Economics from Kansas State University, an M.S. in Financial Planning from the University of Georgia, and an M.A. in Economics from Texas Tech University. Since 2004, he has been dedicated to instructing students at both undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of finance and economics. Engaged in a dynamic research pursuit, Dr. Yaseen concentrates on investment, asset pricing, international finance and financial markets. His scholarly contributions have graced esteemed academic publications such as the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, International Review of Financial Analysis, Journal of Behavioral Finance and Applied Financial Economics. Beyond academia, Dr. Yaseen is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and possesses licenses including FINRA Series 6, 63 and 65 and a GA Life Insurance license.

Brandon Gregg

Market President and Financial Advisor at BBK Wealth Management

Brandon is an experienced financial advisor with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. He is skilled in financial advisory, investment management and financial planning.

Li Cai, PhD

Associate Professor of Finance at IIT Stuart School of Business

Li Cai is an Associate Professor of Finance at IIT Stuart School of Business. Dr. Cai's research focuses on investments, with an emphasis on socially responsible investing, hedge funds, econometrics and risk management.

Cicely Jones

Financial Planner, Certified Retirement Education Specialist

Cicely is a financial planner who has been supporting business owners in saving for their future retirement needs for the last 7 years. Having worked with hundreds in their retirement savings journey, she’s seen a lot of things that work well and has had the opportunity to identify some common retirement planning pitfalls. She holds her SIE, Series 7, Series 66, and Series 24 securities licenses. She is also studying to gain her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER credential with an estimated completion date of July 2023.

Scott Kyle

CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Coastwise Capital Group, LLC

Scott Kyle serves as CEO/Chief Investment Officer at Coastwise, where he is responsible for strategic investment decisions, portfolio management, and client relations. Investing in public and private companies for over 30 years, Scott offers a solid combination of Wall Street analysis, public market, private equity, and hedge fund experience, invaluable when it comes to sophisticated and effective money management. Scott has been using options strategies to hedge equity positions and generate income since the early 1990s while developing proprietary trading models and techniques. He is a 13-time winner of the Five Star Wealth Manager award, holds an MBA from Harvard, and is the author of five books including The Compound Code: An Expert Guide to Trading Stocks & Options.

Angela Roe

Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration and Economics

Bolstered by four decades of experience, Angela Roe has served as the Ambassador of Economics through the University of Arizona's, Eller College of Management and as part of the (EAG) Education Advisory Group for the 18th District Federal Reserve of San Francisco. Roe's academic credentials include several pertinent certifications, including a specialized teaching certificate in business, banking and marketing from the Arizona Department of Education. Over the course of her career, Angele Roes has worked with such noteworthy institutions as Syracuse University, Arizona State University, and Brookline College.

Joe Roberts, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Innovation and Professional Development at Webster University

Dr. Joe Roberts has provided expert advice and commentary on small business finance, entrepreneurship, and innovation topics for more than a decade. His research with start-up financing spans several industries across the globe. He serves as Director of the Center for Innovation and Professional Development. He is also Director of the Management and Leadership Program at Webster University. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago.

Alper Koparan, PhD

Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University

Alper Koparan is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Finance Group of D'Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University. Before joining Northeastern, Alper worked as a Visiting Lecturer at Bentley University and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University. Before his Ph.D. study, he worked in various departments of the Turkish Treasury for 11 years, including Treasury bond issuances, public debt management and debt services. Alper's research includes public debt, fixed income, fintech, cryptocurrencies and financial markets.

Alexander Fleiss

Chairman and Chief Investment Officer at Rebellion Research Partners

RebellionResearch.com’s CEO Alexander Fleiss has spoken about Artificial Intelligence Investing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fox News, BusinessWeek, Bloomberg News, MIT Technology Review, Yomiuri Shimbun, Wired, CNBC, Geo Magazine, The Economist and Institutional Investor. Chapter 24 of Wall Street Journal Reporter Scott Patterson’s book Dark Pools is on Mr. Fleiss.

James O'Donoghue

Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist at BCG Securities

Leanne Rahn

Financial Advisor at Fiduciary Financial Advisors

Leanne Rahn is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor working with clients all over the US. If you don’t know what a fiduciary is, Leanne encourages you to look it up (or, even better, check out her website!). She swears you won’t regret it. Leanne specializes in women entrepreneurs, newlyweds and engaged couples, and families with special needs children. She loves a good glass of merlot, spending time with her hubs, baby boy and all things Lake Michigan.

Katelyn Bombardiere, CFP

Financial Advisor at Commas

Katelyn serves as a financial advisor at Commas, where her goal is to make her clients feel financially secure by creating personalized financial plans based on their goals. She prides herself on developing client relationships that feel like friendships and teaming up with clients to work through the "puzzle pieces" of their financial lives. After all, each client has their own unique situations and challenges!  Katelyn started her career in the high-net-worth wealth management industry, where she quickly realized her passion for helping the "everyday" investor. She sought a different approach to helping people (like her friends, family and peers) without worrying about asset minimums.

Brendan Halleron, CFP

Partner, Financial Planner at Affiance Financial

At Affiance Financial, Brendan offers clients guidance as they work toward achieving their financial goals. Affiance Financial is registered as an investment adviser and only conducts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded from registration requirements. Registration is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators and does not mean the adviser has achieved a specific level of skill or ability. All investments have the potential for profit or loss. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of each investment before investing.

Brian Jankowski, CFA

Senior Investment Analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC

Brian has dedicated years to passing all three levels of the CFA® exams, demonstrating his commitment to being an ethically accountable investment expert with mastery of investment analysis and portfolio management skills. Brian’s primary responsibilities involve investment and economic analysis and research, placing investment trades and rebalancing accounts to achieve target returns per investment policies.

Kate Atwood, CFP

Senior Advisor, Partner at Salomon & Ludwin

Andrew Zaro

Financial Advisor at Granite Wealth Management

Andrew Zaro spent 13 years in the Marine Corps as an intelligence analyst, including two combat assignments in Iraq as well as a three-year assignment as a military attaché at the US Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia. After transitioning from the Marine Corps, he moved into his career as a financial advisor with Granite Wealth Management, an independent RIA in Massachusetts, serving clients across the US.

Robert S. Bacarella

Founder, President & Portfolio Manager of Monetta Financial Services

Robert S. Bacarella is the founder and chairman of Monetta Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment advisor founded in 1984. He has served as the portfolio manager or co-manager of the Monetta Fund and the Monetta Young Investor Growth Fund (formerly the Monetta Core Growth Fund) since the funds’ inceptions. Before founding Monetta, Bacarella spent over 15 years with Borg-Warner Corporation, including in the role of director-pension fund investments. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from St. Joseph’s College and his MBA from Roosevelt University.

James H. Lee

Founder at Stratfi

Joseph Farizo

Assistant Professor of Finance at the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond

Joseph Farizo is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Richmond. Prior to his academic career, he was a branch owner and independent insurance agent for The Woodlands Financial Group in Louisiana for 5 years. He specialized in writing personal lines auto, homeowners, flood, and renters insurance policies. He was previously licensed in property/casualty and life/health insurance in the state of Louisiana.

Mark Struthers, CFA

Founder and Lead Advisor at Sona Wealth

Mark Struthers has been a CFA for almost 20 years and a CFP for almost 10. He is an expert in education funding, equity compensation and alternative investments. He is a fee-only financial planner who gives families clarity and confidence around college and retirement. A father of two boys, one dog, and a runner (trying to get back into shape).

Dan Kresh, CFP®

Financial Advisor at Creative Wealth Management, LLC

Dan Kresh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional providing comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, and small business owners for over a decade. He and his father, Michael D. Kresh, CFP® cohosted over 100 episodes of their live radio show "A Better Environment for Your Retirement" since the summer of 2020. The Kresh's multigenerational approach to planning, and combined 50 years of experience, provide unique insights to the clients and families they serve. Dan is passionate about helping people find their purpose and pursue meaningful goals.

Kyle Rossi

LPL Financial Advisor; AVP at Johnson Financial Group Financial Advisors

As Assistant Vice President, LPL Financial Advisor, Kyle uses his knowledge of investments and financial planning to help clients work towards their short and long-term financial goals. He builds strong relationships with clients while delivering comprehensive, tailored financial solutions to help them succeed. He specializes in comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, life transition planning and short and long-term investment planning.

Lorrie Delk Walker

Financial Advisor at Allen & Company

Lorrie Walker is a financial advisor at Allen & Company. She has been a financial advisor since 2019. She holds the Series 7 and 66 registrations with LPL Financial, as well as life, health and variable annuities insurance licenses.

Kevin Lane

Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor at Lane Brothers Investment Counsel

Kevin Lane has 44 years of seasoned experience in the business of Wall Street and Investment Counselling. He is the CEO of Lane Brothers Investment Counsel, a private investment firm with seven professionals dedicated to a client-centric focus on life and financial planning, portfolio management and bridging generational wealth transfers.

David Strege

Co-founder and Senior Financial Planner at Syverson Strege

David Strege is cofounder and Senior Financial Planner at Syverson Strege, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm in West Des Moines. David earned a B.S.B.A. in Finance with a concentration in Personal Financial Planning from Drake University. He earned his CFP® certification in 1982. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst® certification to better assist clients with their investment portfolios and earned the Certified Kingdom Advisor® designation in 2017. Personal financial planning has been his only career, and he has been providing guidance to individuals about personal finances since 1981. David lives with his wife, Jennifer, on an acreage south of Des Moines. He enjoys volunteering and teaching financial literacy classes to vulnerable youth.

Andy Flack, CFP

Financial Advisor at Cross State Financial Group

Ross Powell, CFP

CPA and Financial Advisor at Insight Wealth Partners

Michael Moskal

Director of Investments at MGO

Matthews Barnett, CFP

Financial Planning Specialist at Wiser Wealth Management, Inc.

Matthews Barnett, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, started at Wiser Wealth Management in 2020 as a financial planning specialist. Matthews works with clients by assisting in the creation of their individualized financial plans. Matthews attended the University of Georgia and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Terry College of Business. Matthews began his career in the financial services industry in 2012 and has held various roles throughout the industry. He obtained his Certified Financial Planner certification (CFP®) from the CFP Board of Standards and received his Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designations from the American College of Financial Services. Outside of work, Matthews enjoys playing golf, spending time with his family and friends and trying many of the restaurants Atlanta has to offer.

Prakash Dheeriya, PhD

Professor of Finance at California State University, Dominguez Hills, Author of "Finance for Kidz" series

Dr. Prakash L Dheeriya joined California State University Dominguez Hills in fall of 1991, and has been teaching courses in finance, accounting, statistics and International Business. In addition to his duties as a professor, he consults with local small businesses and advises high net worth individuals on investment and financial strategies. He is a frequent speaker on the topics of Block chain, Alternative Investments and thematic investments at conferences, chambers of commerce and rotary clubs. He is a recipient of several research awards, has over 30 refereed publications to his credit, and is the technical consultant to Indian Medical Association of Greater Los Angeles. His research encompasses current trends in international stock markets, exchange rates, thematic investments, Artificial Intelligence, bitcoin, alternative investments and financial markets in general. He contributes frequently as an expert on Wallet hub. Professor Prakash ardently believes in children’s financial literacy, and has published 20 books in a series “Finance for Kidz” and 15 books in the series "Law for Kidz". These books have been translated in 10 languages and are available in over 50 countries. In order to help parents and children alike learn about stock market investments, Dr Prakash recently created an index “KIDZ” and this index was published in May 2019 issue of Journal of Wealth Management. D.r Prakash’s future interests lie in the applications of artificial intelligence and block chain technology in various areas of finance. While not working, Dr. Prakash takes care of his two teenage boys, Kapil and Vikesh, and his two dogs. In his spare time, he dreams of finishing his science-fiction/love story trilogy, and of how much he can get for selling movie rights to his novel.

Michael Egermier

CFP, Owner of Egermier Wealth Management Group

Mike has worked in the financial services industry since graduating college from the University of Nebraska in 2001. He specializes in high net worth cases combining his expertise in financial planning with estate attorneys and CPAs.

Rich Curtis

Senior Lecturer at Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management of Cornell University

Leo Chan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Finance at Utah Valley University

Dr. Leo Chan is an Associate Professor of Finance at UVU. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, with specialties in financial economics and international economics. He has published over 20 academic articles. His main research and teaching interests are investment, options and futures, market efficiency, international financial markets and behavioral finance.

Mike Aguilar

Adjunct Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler Business School and Fuqua Business School at Duke University

Mike Aguilar is a financial economist specializing in financial econometrics and applied macroeconomics. He currently holds academic appointments at UNC-Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler Business School and Fuqua Business School at Duke University. He is also the chief investment officer at Cardinal Retirement Planning.

Don Uy-Barreta

Professor of Economics

Don Uy-Barreta has been teaching economics around the San Francisco Bay Area since 1999. Prior to joining academia, he previously worked as a Portfolio Analyst at Franklin Templeton Investments for nearly 12 years. Don was previously a Fellow under the Education Advisory Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He was also an EPIC Fellow at the Global Studies Department at Stanford University. He has guest lectured in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom on the topics of globalization and international trade.

Angela Sloan

CEO and Founder of Sloan Financial Group

For over 35 years Angela Sloan, CEO and founder of Sloan Financial Group, has dedicated herself to helping her clients secure their financial affairs. Unfortunately at a young age, she was swindled out of her life savings by her “trusted” advisor. This misfortune motivated Angela to make it her life’s work to keep bad things from happening to good people. Angela’s sound, responsible financial advice and tax-saving strategies have helped her clients grow and protect their retirement nest eggs, even throughout these turbulent financial times. While she specializes in income tax planning and managed money, conservative investments, she has expanded her practice to include estate planning, long-term care insurance, Medicare supplements, life insurance and property and casualty insurance. Devoted to helping families comfortably organize their financial futures, Angela’s list of accomplishments include earning the Pioneer Service Excellence Award, the AMS Inventor of the Year Award, winning the Richard M. Metcalfe Memorial Award as well as sitting on the York Technical College Entrepreneur Panel and guest speaker appearances for Clemson University’s Professional Development for Women Conferences held throughout the United States. She has been featured in Financial Advisor Magazine, Greater Charlotte Biz Magazine, and ProActive Advisor Magazine. She has done guest appearances on Fox Business News, TD AmeriTrade TV, RLTV and Cheddar TV. Angela also has her own radio show The Retirement Architect and does guest appearances on numerous radio shows across the US. Sloan Financial Group is committed to serving and educating residents across the US but especially in the Carolinas. As a York County, SC native, Angela is well-known for the complimentary educational programs she hosts throughout the Carolinas. Angela and her husband Carl, Chief Financial Officer of the company, have been married for 26 years. They have three children and twelve grandchildren. Their passion for meeting the needs of their community extends beyond the efforts they pour into Sloan Financial Group; they also embrace community extensively in their support of homeless shelters, mission work outreach programs through their church, local charities and are involved local schools.

Christopher J. Marquette

Assistant Professor of Finance at Millikin University

Christopher J Marquette is an Assistant Professor in the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois. He earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and has published numerous articles in esteemed international business journals. He is currently Managing Editor of the Journal for Global Business Advancement.

Rose M. Price

Partner, Financial Planner CFP®, AIF at VLP Financial Advisors

Rose is a partner at VLP Financial Advisors and has been active in the profession for over 20 years. Rose believes her job as an advisor is to educate and inform his clients so that they have all the information they need to make smart decisions about their finances. One of Rose’s passions is working with the board members of non-profit organizations to help them manage their assets and strategically plan for their continuing legacy. She believes that prudent and strategic asset management is the key to the long-term success of each organization’s mission.

Jim Uren

CFP® at Phase III Advisory Services, Ltd.

Christina Ubl, CFP

Co-Owner of Clute Wealth Management

Christina R. Ubl is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. She is co-owner of Clute Wealth Management (a Registered Investment Advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial) where they specialize in providing Financial Strategies for Women in Transition®. Christina enjoys the opportunity to work with women and small business owners on a daily basis helping them to pursue their financial and personal goals. She helps them to understand both their short- and long-term financial decisions. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial planning offered through Clute Wealth Management, LLC.

Andrea Belzer

Personal Finance and Investing Expert

Andrea Belzer is a personal finance educator. She has a degree in finance from the University of Iowa and a MBA from Creighton University. She has worked in banking, corporate finance, taxes, and retirement investing both in the United States and abroad in Australia. Since 2007 she has been working with individuals and micro businesses to help them understand and manage their money. You can find her at AndreaBelzer.com

Brian Walkup, PhD

Associate Professor of Finance, Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College

Dr. Brian Walkup is an associate professor of finance at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. He holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Trevecca Nazarene University, an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Florida. His research is focused on corporate finance topics such as M&As, IPOs and payout policy, as well as the financial implications of sport management decisions. He has published articles in a number of financial and cross-disciplinary academic journals. Dr. Walkup has also worked with a number of corporations via consulting opportunities both as part of classroom opportunities for students and outside the classroom.

Jordan Patrick, CFP

Financial Planner at Commas

Jordan Patrick is a Certified Financial Planner™ who is on a mission to help you use your resources to craft a meaningful life. Jordan serves clients at Commas – a financial advisory practice committed to providing every-day people access to honest financial advice.

Paul Meeks

Professor of Practice, Baker School of Business, The Citadel

Paul Meeks is an accounting & finance professor at the Baker School of Business at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. Mr. Meeks is also a 30+-year institutional equity analyst or portfolio manager. He's written Practical Personal Finance in the Internet Era through Great River Learning.

Vidal Peoples

Financial Specialist at Strategies for Wealth

Vidal Peoples is a veteran financial advisor for Strategies for Wealth who works closely with individuals to guide them towards improving their financial lives and building financial confidence. He specializes in working with medical, legal and other professionals to build their wealth and protect their assets.

Tammie S. Lang, EdD

Program Director, Business Administration at Southeast Community College

Dr. Tammie Lang has taught Personal Finance since 2011. Dr. Lang also worked in banking and lending from 2004 to 2011.

Steven Shagrin

JD, Certified Money Coach/Master Money Coach & Trainer, Certified Professional Retirement Coach, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Registered Life Planner, Former CFP®

Armed with a degree in accounting/finance minor, then a law degree with an emphasis in taxation and estate planning, Steven first worked in the tax department of an accounting firm for a year before joining his father at PaineWebber (now UBS) in 1982. He experienced the great bull market of the '80s, and the '87 crash and more, first at PW and then with Smith Barney, leaving in 2002 to work with a private money manager for a year to help him start up his RIA structure. He then practiced solo as a financial life planning professional, receiving additional training from Money Quotient and the Kinder Institute for Life Planning. The CEOs of those companies are good friends and have developed amazing programs to help people tie their money to their hearts and heads. For a year, Steven worked with an Ameriprise practice that focused on life planning. That's what initiated a move from Ohio to California, where he now resides. In 2006, he left the active practice of financial life planning to study and train to become a Certified Money Coach with the Money Coaching Institute. Steven continued his training to become a CMC Trainer and Master Money Coach. He still works on contract with the Institute in helping with training new Certified Money Coaches. His vocational pursuits have introduced him to many thought leaders in the financial services and life planning areas, so his connections run very deep.

Ray Charles Howard, PhD

Assistant Professor of Marketing at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School

Ray Charles “Chuck” Howard is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Texas A&M University. Chuck’s research examines the causes and consequences of consumer financial misprediction, and develops tools that improve prediction accuracy. Chuck’s research has earned awards from the Society for Consumer Psychology, the Society for Judgment and Decision Making, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Behavioral Insights Group at Harvard University. Chuck earned his PhD in Marketing from the University of British Columbia, and his BA in Economics and Finance from Ryerson University.

Jesse Hurst, CFP

Founder of Impel Wealth Management

Jesse founded Impel Wealth Management out of a desire to help individuals and families “move life forward” through meaningful conversations, comprehensive planning and sound financial advice. With more than 30 years experience in the financial planning industry, he leverages his deep knowledge and experience to help our clients in the areas of investment portfolio management, retirement income planning and estate planning. As both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, Jesse focuses on building meaningful relationships with his clients – getting to know their goals, desires and financial history. Then, he creates a custom roadmap designed to help them reach their ideal financial future. Financial Advisor: Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a broker/dealer and a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Impel Wealth Management 2006 4th St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Barbara VanderWerf

Assistant Professor of Business and Management at Palm Beach Atlantic University

Maureen Wright

Financial Advisor, CFP®

Maureen has been involved in the financial services industry since 2013. At an early age she realized her passion for the industry and desire to partner with families to map out and plan for their life goals. In her words, "It's an honor to help my clients pursue their goals and understand their values and life mission."

Yuval Dan Bar-Or, PhD

Associate Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University's Carey Business School

Dr. Yuval Bar-Or is an award-winning finance professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where he primarily teaches investments and wealth management courses. Born into a medical family, he observed firsthand the need for unbiased financial education and created the Pillars of Wealth initiative to level the playing field for doctors. Yuval is an author, frequent media contributor, and sought-after speaker at physician conferences and private events. He holds a Ph.D. in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Kathy Longo

President & Founder of Flourish Wealth Management CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®

Kathy Longo is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with over twenty-five years of wealth management experience. She is the founder and president of Flourish Wealth Management, an independent boutique wealth management firm in the Minneapolis area. Kathy is passionate about helping families, individuals, and women create insightful financial plans that take into consideration their unique values, emotions, and aspirations. She is the author of the book Flourish Financially: Values, Transitions, and Big Conversations, which encourages a holistic and personalized approach to finance, discussing the fiscal and psychological aspects of big transitions and life events. Kathy prompts readers to reflect on their unique money story and advises on how to start productive conversations about money with those closest to them in order to create a plan that is best for everyone. Kathy continues to provide financial education by using the tips, concepts, and ideas she refined in Flourish Financially to start her own weekly mini-podcast and Alexa Skill the Flourish Financially Challenge.

Aaron Nelson

Senior Financial Consultant for Emerant Wealth

Aaron Nelson has been with Warren Averett since 2015. His primary responsibilities include developing client relationships, assisting with clients’ comprehensive financial planning and managing investment portfolios for investors. Aaron has over 20 years of experience as an investment consultant and has previously worked for Morgan Keegan and AMN Investments. Aaron and his wife reside in Birmingham and have three children, two of which are twins.

Jesus M. Salas

Associate Professor at Lehigh University

Moshe Bellows

Managing Principal of Maccabee Ventures

Moshe Bellows, JD, is a managing principal at Maccabee Ventures, leveraging over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship and strategic investment. He specializes in various technology sectors including SilverTech®, Digital Health, PropTech, FinTech, and Cybersecurity. Moshe has advised and supported numerous early-stage technology companies and serves as a faculty member at Yeshiva University.

Michael Manahan

Lecturer at California State University Dominguez Hills; Author and Business Consultant

Michael Manahan is a financial strategist, consultant and full-time lecturer at California State Dominguez Hills. He served as chief financial officer for three publicly traded companies, has started and owned seven small businesses, and as an advisor has worked with more than 100 management teams. He is a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Financial Management. Mr. Manahan earned his MBA from Pepperdine University and his CPA (non-active) in Canada. Mr. Manahan also completed all course work for a Doctorate in Organizational Change at Pepperdine University (ABD). Mr. Manahan is the author of “Secrets to Raising Capital” and the former host of Biz Rap Radio. As a teacher of finance and accounting Mr. Manahan is educating the CEOs and CFOs of the future.

Zero Deng

Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Oregon State University College of Business

Zero Deng is an assistant professor of accounting at the Oregon State University College of Business. Prof. Deng earned his Ph.D. in business administration at the Pennsylvania State University, and prior to that, he was a tax associate at Ernst & Young. Prof. Deng currently teaches intermediate financial accounting and principles of taxation and conducts research on international tax planning issues. He holds a CPA license in the state of New York.

Dr. Kimberly Goodwin

Director of the School of Finance, the Parham Bridges Chair of Real Estate, and Professor of Finance at the University of Southern Mississippi

Dr. Kimberly Goodwin is currently the Director of the School of Finance, the Parham Bridges Chair of Real Estate, and a Full Professor of Finance at the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds a B.S. in Geophysics from the University of Delaware, a M.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi, a M.S. in Finance from the George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Alabama. Dr. Goodwin’s research focuses on real estate markets and has been published in some of the top real estate journals. She currently serves as the President Elect for the American Real Estate Society. Dr. Goodwin is the Publications Director for the American Real Estate Society as well as the Managing Editor for the Journal of Housing Research. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Real Estate Society.

Brian J. Adams, PhD

Associate Dean of Graduate Business Programs and Professor of Finance at the University of Portland's Pamplin School of Business

Brian Adams is an Associate Dean of Graduate Business Programs and Professor of Finance at the University of Portland's Pamplin School of Business. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, his M.B.A. from the University of Portland, and his Ph.D. from Arizona State University. His career goals are to produce relevant academic research and provide students with the resources to succeed in pursuit of their life goals. The focus of his research is in the area of financial markets and the role of financial institutions in improving market efficiency. To date, he has published in accounting and finance journals in the topics of international finance, security regulation, pension accounting, insider trading ethics and analyst coverage. His favorite course to teach are Financial Markets & Institutions and Applied Portfolio Management. Beyond the classroom, his role as the academic advisor to the University of Portland's Investment Association allows him the unique opportunity of helping students gain practical knowledge in the field finance.

Thomas Kopelman

Co-Founder and Financial Partner at AllStreet Wealth

Thomas Kopelman is the co-founder of AllStreet Wealth, a financial planning firm for millennials who have equity comp or are business owners. He is also a "Top 23 Millennial Financial Planner" by Business Insider.

Charles H. Thomas III, CFP

Founder and President of Intrepid Eagle Finance

Charles is the Founder and President of Intrepid Eagle Finance. His experience in financial services spans over 16 years. As a financial literacy advocate, he is a regular speaker and consultant for efforts to make money more approachable for Americans of all ages.

Peter Zaleski, Ph.D.

Professor of Economics at Villanova University

Peter Zaleski is a professor of economics at Villanova University and a specialist in markets, pricing and economic strategy. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Maryland College Park.

Justin Shure, CFP

Founder & Wealth Advisor at Endeavor Strategic Wealth

Justin Shure is the Founder, and Wealth Advisor at Endeavor Strategic Wealth, LLC. He has an extensive background in comprehensive wealth management with particular depth in multi-generational planning. He is focused on delivering sound financial solutions and maintaining strong personal relationships with his clients. Justin specializes in managing high-net-worth relationships grounded in comprehensive financial planning. Justin has 15 years of experience at some of the industry's largest brokerage and wealth management firms. He spent 11 years with Charles Schwab advising high net worth, and ultra-high net worth clients with total assets in excess of $500 Million. Justin earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) from Florida International University. He also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. In his spare time, Justin loves spending time outdoors with his wife Michelle, and their 2 young boys. He enjoys fishing, playing golf, and is a long time Miami Dolphins fan.

Scott Deacle

Associate Professor of Business and Economics and Department Chair at Ursinus College

Kent Fisher, CFA

Founder and Senior Wealth Manager at Southern Investment Management Collective

Jie Ying

Assistant Professor of Finance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Jie Ying joined SIUE as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2018, after graduating from the University of Iowa with his Ph.D. in Finance. His research interests primarily lie in the areas of institutional investors, insurance economics, risk management, as well as public and private equity. Awards, Recognition or Accolades include China International Risk Forum & China Finance Review International Research Award (2019); Ballard and Seashore Dissertation Fellowship at University of Iowa (2018); AARP Public Policy Institute’s Financial Services and The Older Consumer Award (2013).

Brandon Renfro

Financial Planner

Brandon is both an academic and practicing fee-only certified financial planner. His expertise is in tax-efficient retirement planning, and he writes for a variety of financial publications.

Robert Goldsmith

Financial Professional/Coach/Mentor/Best Selling Author

Andrew Creekmur

Wealth Advisor at Creekmur Wealth Advisors

Andrew Creekmur has helped clients around the country achieve their financial goals since 2014. Creekmur Wealth Advisors specializes in designing the most efficient path towards achieving your major life goals. Whether that be buying a new home, saving for retirement, or anything else that you can think of! <a href="https://creekmurwealth.com/disclaimer/" target="_blank">Disclaimer</a>

Coby Cress

Wealth Advisor, CFP® at Beacon Pointe Advisors

Coby D. Cress, CFP® is a Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors Arizona. He is responsible for providing clients with a comprehensive financial planning experience including estate planning, retirement income planning, tax planning, risk management planning, and investment management. Coby specializes in helping clients recognize their long-term goals and formulating a plan to achieve them. In addition to his role as a wealth advisor, Coby is also the co-host of Beacon Pointe’s financial planning podcast Dollars & Sense, helping listeners navigate various life moments and major life events through the lens of personal finance. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Coby worked as a Relationship Specialist with Charles Schwab & Co. He has a BA in Business and Economics from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, and played college baseball at both Arizona State University and Westmont College. Coby is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), and in his free time he enjoys fitness, reading extensively, writing both fiction and non-fiction, and any activity that gets him outdoors.

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez

Owner of The Neighborhood Finance Guy

Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez is the owner of The Neighborhood Finance Guy. Sharing tips on Budgeting, Cash Flow, Investing, and Building Wealth. Along with his wife, he proved that it’s possible to go from zero assets and over $120,000 of student loan debt to millionaires in less than 10 years. The best part is that he shares all the tips on the way.

Tiffany Grant

Owner & Financial Wellness Facilitator

An award-winning personal finance blogger, podcaster, coach, and educator. Have been featured on CNBC, Essence, and Acorns as an expert on side hustles, business, and money.

Taylor Jessee

CPA, CFP® and founder of Impact Financial

Taylor Jessee has been a financial planner for almost a decade now. In 2022, Jesse launched his own firm, Impact Financial and specializes in working with Gen-X and Millennials professionals and their families to help them gain confidence, clarity, and peace of mind over their finances

Tawnya Redding

Elementary Special Education Teacher

Tawnya is a Special Education teacher in the eighth year of her career. Along with her co-blogger, Sebastian, she runs the blog Money Saved is Money Earned. She holds an Honors BS in Psychology from Oregon State University and an MS in Special Education from Portland State University and has had a pretty successful writing career, first as a writing tutor at the Oregon State University Writing Center, and in recent years, as a freelance writer. Tawnya and Sebastian have a wealth of knowledge and information about personal finance, retirement, student loans, credit cards, and many other financial topics. It is this wealth of tips and tricks that they wish to pass on to others.

Clint Haynes

President, Certified Financial Planner® at NextGen Wealth

Clint Haynes is a Certified Financial Planner® and Retirement Transition Specialist in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the founder and owner of NextGen Wealth.

Kenneth Romanowski, MBA, CTFA (Ret.), CFP BOARD EMERITUS(R)

Volunteer and Retired Adjunct Faculty at Rosemont College and Retired Senior Financial Adviser

Ken Romanowski's career spanned over 40 years in financial services and more than 10 years in academia. In retirement, he provides select pro-bono advice and researches early Philadelphia financial institutions.

Alex Pomelnikov, PhD

Visiting Lecturer, College of Business at Texas Woman's University

Global financial expert. A visiting lecturer at Texas Women’s University, International Trainer, Speaker, and Coach, Alex has delivered talks to organizations and universities across the globe. His vast background in finance with private equity firms includes hedge fund management, venture capital consulting and the identification, evaluation, negotiation and facilitation of international investments.

Rockie Zeigler, CFP

CFP®, Host of Hey Peoria! Let's Talk Money Podcast

Rockie Zeigler is a proud Central Illinoisan. He's a dad to 4 amazing kids, author of 2 books, an AARP tax prep volunteer, a CFP® Pro, an IRS Enrolled Agent, a golf fanatic and newly minted softball fan!

Pam Krueger

CEO & Founder, Wealthramp

Pam Krueger is CEO and founder of Wealthramp, a referral service that connects consumers with vetted fee-only financial advisors. She is also the creator and host of the award-winning investor education show MoneyTrack. With over 25 years in the investment industry, Pam is a recognized consumer advocate and champion for enhanced transparency and fiduciary standards. When she’s not writing about financial planning, she’s talking about investing strategies on her podcast, Friends Talk Money, on PBS Next Avenue.

Mitchell Kraus, CFP

Owner at Capital Intelligence Associates

Mitchell Kraus has been helping clients plan for their financial future since 1993. He and his father, Arthur, established Capital Intelligence Associates in 2003 as a comprehensive resource for independent, unbiased advice and trusted financial guidance. Mitchell attended the University of Pennsylvania. He went on to earn the Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Certified Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations, which he feels demonstrate his expertise, credibility, and commitment to practicing with the highest degree of integrity and ethics. Working as a legacy planner, in the last few years Mitchell has added the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®) and The Chartered SRI Counselor™ (CSRIC™) professional designations to work with his clients on their philanthropic planning, special needs planning and helping clients match their values to their portfolio.

Kelan Kline

Personal Finance Expert and Owner of The Savvy Couple

Kelan was born to be a personal finance nerd helping others WIN with their money! After quitting the 9-5 rat race, paying off $40,000 worth of debt, and retiring his wife Brittany from her teaching career, they are both on a mission to help families learn how to manage their money, pay off debt, and create a life of freedom by learning how to make money online.

Matt Elliott

CFP®, CSLP®, Founder of Pulse Financial Planning

Matt Elliott is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and founder of Pulse Financial Planning. Matt provides financial planning and investment management to help people organize, invest, and protect their assets. Pulse Financial Planning is a fee-only fiduciary advisor and never earns a commission of any kind.

John Longo

Professor of Finance at Rutgers Business School

Dr. Longo is a Professor of Finance at Rutgers Business School. He is also a bestselling author of The Art of Investing: Lesson's from History's Greatest Traders.

Nick Cantrell, CFP

Founder, Wealth Advisor at Green Future Wealth Management

Nick Cantrell has worked side by side with clients as a financial advisor for over 10 years. He founded Green Future Wealth Management to provide holistic financial planning that is independent and deeply rooted in his clients' values. He specializes in helping clients with complex retirement income planning, particularly integrating government pensions and Social Security plans with invested assets to maximize income, tax efficiency and legacy benefits. He also works with clients to help them align their values with their financial planning through socially responsible and values-based investments and charitable funds.

Josh Simpson

Investment and Financial Advisor at Lake Advisory Group

Josh Simpson, investment and financial advisor with Lake Advisory Group, brings a history of management experience with him to the financial field. Josh prides himself on his ability to work with people of many backgrounds in order to create the best possible plan for their unique situations.

Miye Wire

Managing Partner, CFP®

Miye and her firm have helped busy professional families in the DC Metro area make smart decisions with their money and simplify their financial lives for more than thirty years.

Autumn Lax, CFP

Financial Advisor at Drucker Wealth Management

Autumn Lax, CFP® has over 12 years experience in the finance industry, serving Young Professionals, Pre-Retirees and High NetWorth families. She is a Certified Financial Planner™, Wealth Management Specialist℠ and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. Autumn has been featured in articles by Acorns + CNBC.

Richard Speed

Financial Advisor at McClurg Capital

John Odell, CFP

Principal at Arroyo Investment Group & Capital Research & Consulting

John Odell has over 30 years of experience in the investment management and financial planning industry. As a CFP®, he is passionate about giving quality, unbiased financial advice and institutional-quality investment management to individuals and families and seeing them achieve their goals.

Nate White

Investment Analyst and Senior Project Manager at Spectrum Wealth Management

Nate is the Investment Analyst and Senior Project Manager at Spectrum Wealth Management. He has worked in the banking and investment industry for the past 8 years, acquiring the knowledge to analyze and understand complex financial portfolios of clients. Prior to joining Spectrum, Nate worked for a private wealth arm of a broker-dealer as well as an ultra-high net worth investment advisory firm. Nate is married with a son who keeps him very active. In his free time, Nate is an avid gardener and woodworker. He loves the outdoors and taking his son on bicycle rides. Education Nate graduated from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

Joe Allaria, CFP

Partner and Wealth Advisor at CarsonAllaria Wealth Management

Joe Allaria has specialized in helping individuals retire since 2012. He is dedicated to educating the general public about important financial issues surrounding retirement planning and has been featured in several national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today.com, CNBC.com, Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq.com, and Investopedia. Joe is also a husband, a father of two boys, a former college football player, a casual musician and an avid explorer of the outdoors.

Matt Hylland

Financial Planner at Arnold & Mote Wealth Management

Matt is a flat fee, fiduciary, fee-only financial planner at Arnold and Mote Wealth Management in Hiawatha, Iowa. He specializes in tax planning during retirement, and creating tax efficient withdrawal strategies for investors.

Patrick Gregory

Managing Director of the Stephen D. Cutler Center for Investments and Finance, the Director of the Babson College Fund, and a Senior Lecturer in the Finance Division at Babson College

Patrick Gregory, CFA is the Managing Director of the Stephen D. Cutler Center for Investments and Finance, Director of the Babson College Fund, and a Senior Lecturer in the Finance Division at Babson College. A former institutional portfolio manager and recognized thought leader on current and emerging trends in investing, Patrick is an advisor to investment firms and family offices. Much of his work focuses on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing strategies. Patrick is the co-author of Why Stocks Go Up and Down and his work has been featured on CNN and CNBC and in the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and The Boston Globe. Patrick holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the Board of Directors for CFA Boston.

Susan Hume, PhD

Associate Professor Finance at The College of New Jersey

Dr. Hume has teaching, research, and professional experience in international corporate finance and capital markets, banking, and derivatives securities. She has worked extensively in hedging, derivatives securities, bank lending, and bank and insurance regulations, often during periods of market crisis. Her research focus includes papers on derivatives hedging and the capital markets, corporate social responsibility, emerging market financing, and collaborative research with students. A highlight is collaborative teaching abroad with international semesters jointly for TCNJ and the European Study Center in Heidelberg, Germany and Strasbourg, France.

Lynda S. Livingston, Ph.D.

Professor of Finance at University of Puget Sound School of Business

Professor Livingston taught introductory corporate finance, as well as advanced electives in financial markets, investments, valuation, and portfolio management. She holds the top professional investment credential, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, which informs her teaching. She is founder and president of the not-for-profit financial education corporation, Four Horsemen Investments, which offers scholarship and research opportunities to UPS students.

Thomas O’Connell

President of International Financial Advisory Group, Inc.

Thomas O’Connell, is President and Managing Principal of International Financial Advisory Group, Inc. (IFA), in Rockaway, New Jersey. As one of New Jersey’s premier advisors – assisting families in the financial advisory field for over three decades – Tom is a nationally recognized advisor, author and speaker on the various subjects of estate planning, retirement planning, college planning and wealth management. His firm specializes in working with high net worth individuals, families and business owners in all aspects of financial and wealth planning and preservation. When asked by people what he does he explains it this way, “I’m in the business of preserving the financial integrity of the family.” Tom is a Master Elite IRA Advisor mentored by Ed Slott, CPA, who is recognized nationally as America’s leading IRA expert and is a certified advisor of the Infinite Banking Institute mentored by Nelson Nash founder of the institute. As a member of the Wealth and Wisdom Institute in Trenton, MI, Tom is a leading mentor to other financial advisors throughout the country. Tom is always continuing his education in the industry by attending relevant courses that keep him updated in areas such as Medicaid law, estate tax planning, investment and retirement planning as well as risk-management-planning. In Tom’s personal life, he is a single father to his daughter Emma, he is currently Chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Better Business Bureau and past Board Member of the Claudio Reyna Foundation. In his spare time, Mr. O’Connell is an avid mountain climber using his hobby to help raise money and awareness for wounded veteran organizations and children in need.

Dr. Benjamin A. Jansen

Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University

Derek Horstmeyer

Professor of Finance at George Mason University's School of Business

Marguerita Cheng, CFP®, RICP®

Certified Financial Planner at Blue Ocean Global Wealth

Marguerita helps educate the public, policymakers and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. She helps people meet their life goals through the proper management of financial resources. She is passionate about helping them navigate some of life’s most difficult issues — divorce, death, career changes, caring for aging relatives — so they can feel confident and in control of their finances. Marguerita also volunteers her time as a SoleMate, or charity runner for Girls on the Run, raising funds for scholarships for girls.

Kevin Ha

Writer/Blogger at FinancialPanther.com

Kevin is a writer, side hustler, and the blogger behind www.financialpanther.com.

Rakesh C. Gupta

Associate Professor of Management and Decision Sciences at Robert B. Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University

Rakesh C. Gupta teaches management and decision science and is the former dean of Adelphi University's Robert B. Willumstad School of Business in Garden City, New York. His areas of expertise are financial literacy, action learning and business ethics. He created and taught a seminar for college freshmen called "Your Money and Your Life."

Mark Ratchford

Professor of Practice - Freeman School of Business at Tulane University

Prior to joining Freeman, Professor Ratchford spent eight years at the Owen Graduate School of Business at Vanderbilt University, where he taught graduate-level courses in Marketing Strategy, New Product Development, and Marketing Channels. His research broadly focuses on how "boundedly rational" managers and consumers form judgments and make decisions. Research domains include inter-firm strategic alliance formation, financial investment decisions, choice deferral (the decision not to choose), asking for money, and new technology adoption.

Michelle Connell, CFA

President/Owner of Portia Capital Management, LLC

Ms. Connell has devoted her professional life to the wealth management of private investors, as well as non-profit institutions. She received her Master of Business Administration with Honors from San Diego State University and an undergraduate degree from Seattle University (Magna Cum Laude). Ms. Connell has extensive experience managing equities, fixed income and private investment portfolios. She has served as a senior portfolio manager for several private banks and boutiques in Texas, Chicago and the West Coast. Ms. Connell is also an adjunct professor of Finance at the University of Texas in Dallas and also teaches the CFA Review at several other universities. She was rated one of the Top 12 Financial Professors in the United States in 2019. Ms. Connell has over 20 years experience serving in institutional investment capacities, including: Co-portfolio manager for several mutual funds; Investment committee member responsible for the approval of all assets, including public and private markets; Head of the Technology Sector analyst team for one of the nation’s largest banks; Senior portfolio manager serving foundations and ultra-high net work individuals; Tenure at firms that specialize in the offerings of private equity and private debt.

Josh Hastings

Personal Finance Writer

Josh has been writing about money and paying off debt for over four years after he and his wife paid off $300,000 in student loans in under five years. With a passion for entrepreneurship and helping others with their financial needs, Josh writes about creative ways to make money, business ownership, and money behavior on his blog Money Life Wax.

Brian Stormont

Partner & Financial Planner, CFP® at Insight Wealth Strategies

Brian Stormont is a comprehensive, fee-only financial planner with Insight Wealth Strategies who began his career in the financial industry in 2000. His expertise encompasses retirement planning, investment planning, estate planning, and high-level strategies to help business owners and individuals minimize their income taxes. Brian offers objective, strategic advice designed to help his clients accumulate, retain and transfer wealth. He begins by learning about their financial aspirations and uses his unique insight to create a plan to help his clients achieve those goals.

Tony Ash, CFA

Managing Director at Dattilio & Ash Capital Management

Tony Ash managed investments for a global insurance company (Sun Life Financial) for 25 years. He was the head of U.S. Portfolio Management for 12 years and has started two registered investment advisors since 2015. Currently, he co-owns Dattilio & Ash Capital Management, a boutique investment firm based in Lebanon, NH, specializing in investment planning for retirement. Philosophically, he favors passive investing attuned to the investor's time horizon and risk profile.