Introducing The Investopedia Advisor Council

Introducing the Investopedia Advisor Council: An editorially-selected group of independent U.S.-based financial advisors who showcase a commitment to making financial education more accessible for all, and are dedicated to empowering fellow advisors, their clients, and Investopedia readers. 

These founding 25 Advisor Council members applied to this program, and are paid Investopedia contributors sharing their expertise by writing articles and contributing to other editorial initiatives on an as-needed basis to further our joint financial literacy missions.

Read on to learn about the founding cohort of the Investopedia Advisor Council, in alphabetical order by last name: 

Sammy Azzouz, JD, CFP

Sammy Azzouz is the President and CEO of Heritage Financial Services, a Massachusetts-based wealth management firm that specializes in personalized wealth management for busy, successful people. He actively shares his expertise through his blog, The Boston Advisor, and Heritage’s podcast, “Wealthy Behavior,” which covers a broad spectrum of topics and strategies for successful wealth generation and preservation. Sammy leverages multiple platforms, including his social media, webinars, in-person presentations, and his acclaimed personal finance book, Beyond The Basics: Maximizing, Allocating and Protecting Your Capital.

Douglas Boneparth, CFP

Douglas Boneparth, President of New York-based Bone Fide Wealth and a CNBC Digital Advisor Council member, has spent over a decade providing relatable financial advice to millennials and young professionals. Servicing student loan debt, turning brands into businesses, navigating unexpected career moves, learning new currencies, and finding ways to plan for a family while supporting the family you have—he has seen and done it all. Douglas is also the co-author of Money Together and serves as an ambassador for the CFP Board.

Marguerita Cheng, CFP, CRPC, RICP, CSRIC

Marguerita Cheng, CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth in Maryland, specializes in financial planning, retirement, student loans, and investing. As a CFP Board Ambassador, she educates the public on ethical financial planning and serves as a Women’s Initiative (WIN) Advocate.

Marguerita is a former president of the Financial Planning Association’s National Capital Area chapter and collaborates with the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE), a nonprofit dedicated to equipping K-12 students with essential economic and financial skills. She also teaches financial planning and investment management at the Personal Finance Institute at George Mason University.

Dr. Preston Cherry, AFC, CFT-I, CFP

Dr. Preston Cherry is the Founder and President of Concurrent Financial Planning in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He brings over 15 years of experience in financial services, specializing in psychology, investment management, retirement, and financial wellness.

He served as the President of the Financial Therapy Association and currently leads the Charles Schwab Foundation Center for Financial Wellness at the University of Wisconsin, offering financial literacy services through peer coaching, podcasts, and pro-bono planning. 

Gideon Drucker, CFP, AIF, ECA

Gideon Drucker is the President and CEO of Drucker Wealth, a third-generation financial planning and wealth management firm based in New York. As an expert in comprehensive planning, tax strategy, and stock option planning,

Gideon shares his insights through free webinars and a bi-weekly newsletter, Wealth Builder, which educates over 13,000 subscribers. He is also the author of How to Avoid HENRY Syndrome, a top-ranked book in Wealth Management on Amazon, with all proceeds donated to Folds of Honor, a non-profit supporting the education of families of fallen and disabled service members.

Prince Dykes, MBA, RIA

Prince Dykes, a retired Navy Chief, is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Royal Financial Investment Group, an investment adviser firm based in Colorado. Prince is also the host of “The Investor Show,” a weekly podcast that engages 20,000 listeners with insights on retirement planning, financial planning, entrepreneurship, and wealth management.

Through his non-profit, the Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation, Prince is passionate about empowering future generations with a solid foundation in financial literacy. His Wesley Learns children’s book series makes finance fun and accessible for kids.

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Ryan Greiser, CFP

Ryan Greiser is a financial advisor and the co-founder of Opulus. Based in Pennsylvania, Opulus is dedicated to helping high-income millennials, business owners, and professional athletes achieve their financial goals and secure their futures through effective planning and investing.

Committed to making financial education accessible, Ryan publishes a regular newsletter, The Opulus Method, and volunteers at community high schools to share financial advice with young adults. 

Stoy Hall, CFP

Stoy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Black Mammoth, a financial firm based in Iowa dedicated to making financial resources accessible to everyone.

Through his podcast “NoBS Wealth” and his newsletter Money Mindset, he is on a mission to eliminate financial illiteracy and delivers actionable advice to help listeners achieve financial freedom. Stoy’s candid discussions and expert interviews dispel common financial myths and offer practical budgeting, investing, and wealth management tips.

Brenton Harrison, CFP, CLU, CSLP

With over a decade of experience, Brenton Harrison is a financial advisor at New Money, New Problems in Tennessee where he helps clients overcome debt, balance family finances, and establish a strong foothold for financial literacy.

He hosts two podcasts: “New Money, New Problems” and “Escape Student Loan Debt.” Brenton also organizes an annual financial literacy symposium in Nashville, offering workshops on topics from homeownership and entrepreneurship to credit repair and senior finances. 

Michelle Perry Higgins, CFT

Michelle Perry Higgins serves as a Principal and Financial Advisor at California Financial Advisors in San Ramon, California, and is a Certified Financial Therapist Professional. With nearly three decades of experience, she focuses on guiding Fortune 500 executives through wealth management and retirement strategies.

Michelle is a founding member of the Investopedia Advisor Council and has been recognized as one of Investopedia’s Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisors. She has appeared on CNBC, CBS, and Fox, and has been quoted in numerous national media outlets. She is also the author of three Amazon best-selling books.

Hilary Hendershott, CFP, MBA

Hilary Hendershott is the President and Chief Advisor of Hendershott Wealth Management, a firm specializing in a comprehensive and holistic approach to wealth management for women and couples.

She hosts the popular podcast “Love Your Money,” which attracts over 18,000 listeners, and is a TEDx speaker frequently featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other prominent media outlets.

Elaine King, CFP, MBA

Elaine King is an award-winning author, international speaker, and the founder and CEO of the Family & Money Matters Institute in Miami, Florida. As a financial planner, she is dedicated to helping families achieve financial well-being. She has been a CFP Board Ambassador since 2012.

She focuses on elevating financial literacy among the U.S. Hispanic population, producing Spanish-language content on her social media platforms and hosting online financial education courses with over 20,000 students. 

Taylor Kovar, CFP, MBA

Taylor Kovar, co-author of The Five Money Personalities and founder and CEO of 11 Financial in Texas, specializes in strategic investment management and tax reduction.

Taylor reaches around 1 million readers monthly through his websites and public speaking. Dedicated to promoting financial literacy, he fosters strong relationships and empowers his audience to take control of their financial futures.

Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP, Series 65

Peter Lazaroff is an award-winning financial advisor and the Chief Investment Officer at Plancorp, a Missouri-based firm managing over $5.5 billion in client assets.

Peter is also the Chief Investment Officer at BrightPlan, a financial wellness provider, and is committed to financial education. Since its start, his e-newsletter has grown to over 10,000 subscribers. He also hosts the “The Long-Term Investor” podcast and is the author of the book, Making Money Simple.

Carolyn McClanahan, CFP, MD

Carolyn is the Founder and President of Life Planning Partners, a Florida firm dedicated to addressing elder financial issues, from health to overall financial well-being. Passionate about the intersection of health and finance, she speaks nationally to financial planners on these crucial topics.

Carolyn is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. She also volunteers as a physician at various health clinics in the Jacksonville area.

Stephanie McCullough, Series 65

Stephanie McCullough, founder and financial planner of Sofia Financial in Pennsylvania, empowers women to make smart financial decisions and reduce money stress. She hosts the “Take Back Retirement” podcast, featuring expert conversations and inspiring stories. Stephanie also offers free financial literacy classes through the Women’s Resource Center, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women.

Chloé Moore, CFP

Chloé Moore is the Founder of Financial Staples, an advisory firm based in Georgia focusing on comprehensive financial planning and investment management for young tech professionals and first-generation wealth builders. She shares her expertise through articles, webinars, podcasts, and conferences, promoting financial literacy.

In 2020, Chloé launched the BLatinX Internship Program (BLX), which provides paid internships to aspiring Black and Latinx financial planners.

Emily Rassam, CFP, CDAA, CRPS, NSSA

Emily Rassam is a Partner and Senior Financial Planner at Archer Investment Management in North Carolina, where she brings a wealth of experience to empowering women and tech professionals.

Early in her career, she guided over 10,000 401(k) participants on enrollment and financial fundamentals. Her commitment extends to initiatives at domestic violence and women’s shelters, where she empowers underserved communities with financial knowledge and support.

Dr. Nicole B. Simpson, CFP, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65

Dr. Nicole is the CEO and Founder of Harvest Wealth Financial, based in New Jersey. She is also a motivational speaker, author, and certified financial planner specializing in financial trauma and the emotional connections people have with money. With a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership, she founded the Dare 2 Dream Institute, an economic resource and educational center aimed at combating the systemic withholding of economic opportunities from lower-class minorities, particularly returning citizens.

Additionally, Dr. Nicole serves as a Board Member of the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning’s Diversity Advisory Group and as Chair of the Generation X Community Association.

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Sibyl Slade, CRPC, EDFP

Sibyl Slade is the founder, president, and a financial advisor at IntegriVest Wealth Advisors, a firm based in Georgia. With over 30 years of banking and finance experience, she is dedicated to serving individuals and families who are starting from scratch by providing tailored and measurable recommendations.

As the co-founder of the Atlanta Small Business Mastermind Forum, she is committed to offering services and support to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Sibyl also holds leadership and advisory roles in several organizations that support small businesses, women in business, and community development.

Lawrence Sprung, CFP

With over 25 years of experience, Lawrence Sprung is the Founder and Wealth Advisor of Mitlin Financial Inc., a New York-based financial planning firm dedicated to helping families make healthy financial decisions. He is the author of the Amazon bestselling book Financial Planning Made Personal and hosts the “Mitlin Money Mindset” podcast.

Beyond helping families, Lawrence is dedicated to raising awareness for mental health. He has spent over 12 years on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and continues to serve on its financial and investment committees.

Mary Beth Storjohann, CFP

Mary Beth Storjohann is the Founder and CEO of Allora Wealth, a financial planning and investment management firm based in California. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, she is known for her values-based approach to wealth management and her commitment to empowering women and families through life’s financial transitions.

A sought-after voice in financial education, Mary Beth has been featured in major media outlets including NBC, The Wall Street Journal, Glamour, NPR, The New York Times, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, CNBC, and Forbes. She is passionate about sparking honest conversations around money, power, and purpose to help others build calm, confident, and values-aligned lives.

Jared Tanimoto, CFP

Jared is the founder and a financial advisor at Sedai Wealth based in Southern California and a former President of the Financial Planning Association of Orange County. He hosts the podcast “For the Wealth of It,” leads probono webinars in his local community, and frequently shares his expertise as a guest on various financial podcasts. 

As the lead expert Certified Financial Planner and consultant for Wing, a financial planning app, Jared’s work provides digital planning tools to enhance financial literacy and wellness for the masses.

Sahil Vakil, CFA, CFP, MBA, MS

As an NYU adjunct professor and CEO of MYRA, a New York-based firm specialized in providing internationals with equitable access to financial products and services, Sahil offers a unique perspective on financial planning, investment management, and tax preparation.

Through MYRA Cares, he advances financial literacy among underserved immigrant communities, reaching over a million individuals annually. 

Danika Waddell, CFP, RLP, MSFP

Danika Waddell is the President and Founder of Xena Financial Planning, a Washington-based firm specializing in serving women in the tech industry. She is a seasoned speaker and has presented at prestigious conferences such as SHIFT, Jolt!, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), XYPN Live, and Financial Planning Association Retreat (FPA).

Danika has also been featured in multiple media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Dedicated to enhancing financial education accessibility, Danika frequently leads webinars on topics ranging from equity compensation to stock options. She has held several roles on the West Region Board and previously served on the Women’s Initiative Committee.