Jamie Hopkins is CEO of Bryn Mawr Capital Management, and Chief Wealth Officer of Bryn Mawr Trust and WSFS. He is also the founder and President of FinServ Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to enhancing the financial services nextgen.

Jamie is also a former Finance Professor of Practice at the Heider College of Business at Creighton University, and a Professor of Practice at The American College, where he helped co-create the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) education program.

Jamie strives to increase the retirement income security of Americans by delivering practical and trusted retirement research and education. He is the author of the WSJ bestselling book, Find Your Freedom, which details the behavioral finance issues that hold people back from a more financially secure retirement.

Jamie was selected by InvestmentNews as one of the top 40 financial service professionals under the age of 40, and was also selected by The American Bar Association as one of the top 40 Young Attorneys in the country. In 2017, Trusts Estates Journal awarded Jamie the Distinguished Author Award for his article on the Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule.

He sits on numerous boards, including Wealth.com and Wing.App. He was also recognized as the Top RIA Thought Leader in 2022 by WealthManagement, and as a top RIA leader by ThinkAdvisor in 2023. 

He holds his LLM in Taxation from Temple University School of Law and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.

Steve Resch, CLTC,  is Vice President of Retirement Strategies for Finance of America Reverse, where he leads education and training programs for financial professionals. Steve is also an investment advisor, partner in a wealth management firm, and designer of ""The Reverse Illustrator,"" a proprietary program that graphically displays the flexibility and options that a reverse mortgage can bring to a financial plan. Steve is a subject expert source and frequent speaker at both national and regional professional conferences and has been interviewed by various media outlets including Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq Trade Talks, MarketWatch, Barron's and more.

Stuart Armstrong has been a practicing financial planner for 40 years, launching his career in the mid-1980's as the AIDS epidemic was ramping up.  His focus in those early years guiding clients in crisis established an authentic approach that has proved invaluable to his client engagements for decades to come.  Very importantly, those experiences built a foundation for him to make a meaningful difference for the betterment of many communities with volunteer work on multiple local and national boards and councils, including the PridePlanners, FPA, the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning and Mass Audubon.

Mr. Pon is a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist, and Accredited Estate Planner in Redwood Shores, CA.   

Mr. Pon has been practicing since 1986.  He provides the latest advanced tax and financial planning strategies to financial planners so they can be knowledgeable with their clients.

Mr. Pon received his BS in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Mr. Pon is a long time member of the Financial Planning Association and speaks frequently to the San Francisco and Silicon Valley Chapters.

Crystal Alford-Cooper, CFP®, CDFA™, CRC®, currently serves on the board of directors for the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the leading membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process.

Always interested as a child in saving and investments, Alford-Cooper recently rejoined Law & Associates Wealth Management and Planning as Director of Financial Planning after previously being with the firm for almost 20 years. She loves talking to everyone and likes to say that she has “no sense of stranger danger.” Her appreciation for others, blended with her lifelong passion for financial wellness, has made helping others forge a path to a sound financial future a way of life for Alford-Cooper.

Alford-Cooper has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner since 1996; having graduated from the College of Financial Planning’s CFP® program.  She is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and a Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC®).  She is a registered representative with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and holds the designation of Investment Management Consultant from Raymond James’ Institute of Investment Management Consulting (IIMC). She holds a Maryland license for life, health and variable life insurance.  She also has held an adjunct faculty position at Howard Community College.

Alford-Cooper has served in several key leadership roles.  Her previous board volunteer involvement includes the CFP Board Council on Education (Committee Member), Financial Planning Association of Maryland (Chair 2018), Association of African American Financial Advisors (Past President) and Howard County Police Foundation (Director). Alford-Cooper is also a graduate of Leadership Howard County’s Leadership Premier program and a women’s ministry team leader for her church in Columbia.

Raised by a phenomenal single Mom, Alford-Cooper remains inspired and proudly carries on her Mom’s legacy – her love for family. She loves spending time with her husband and best friend, Dennis.  Both are proud parents to a son serving in the United States Navy. 

Freddy has been working in the financial services industry for twenty years, and has spent the last ten years specializing in working with high net worth families.  Freddy  believes in and is committed to building long-term relationships with his clients, and in creating personalized investment plans to meet their comprehensive needs.  Prior to joining Left Brain Wealth Management, Freddy worked for Fidelity Investments.  Freddy earned his B.A. from Augustana College where he studied Business Administration and Finance.  Freddy also acquired his CFP (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM) designation.  Freddy and his family live in Naperville. 

Joy Slabaugh is a CFP® professional, licensed therapist, and educator specializing in the psychological and relational dynamics of wealth. With advanced degrees in taxation and mental health counseling, they bridge the gap between financial strategy and human connection, helping high-net-worth individuals, couples, and financial advisors navigate the complexities of wealth with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.

Joy’s expertise spans wealth management, behavioral finance, and advisor training, equipping financial professionals with the relational skills needed to build trust and deepen client relationships. They also work directly with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, guiding them through the emotional and identity challenges that often accompany significant wealth.

A sought-after speaker, consultant, and industry thought leader, Joy has worked with top financial firms and private clients, reshaping the way people think about money beyond numbers. Their work challenges the traditional wealth narrative, offering a more human, values-driven approach to financial decision-making. Whether through keynote talks, advisor coaching, or client consulting, Joy empowers people to align wealth with impact, ensuring their financial success creates lasting fulfillment and meaningful change.

Cary Carbonaro is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ professional with over 25 years of experience, and currently serves as Managing Wealth Advisor and Women and Wealth Ambassador for Ashton Thomas. She leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice, specializing in empowering women.

Cary is the author of the bestselling book The Money Queen’s Guide: For Women Who Want to Build Wealth and Banish Fear, Morgan James, Oct 2015. Cary’s second book. Women and Wealth: A Playbook To Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune, published by Wiley came out as #1 in Economics and Business Finance in April 2025. It was ranked in the Top 10 Books of 2025 by Wealth Management for Financial Advisors.

She serves as a CFP® Board Ambassador, representing the financial industry in the media, and has been honored six times on Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Investment News Women to Watch recognition. In 2024, Cary was appointed as the first female member of the Nasdaq Advisor Council. In 2025, she was named 2025 DEI Trailblazer of the Year by Investment News.

Cary is a philanthropist and serves on several boards. She is on the Cortland College Foundation Board, Founding President of the Women’s Giving Alliance of Southlake Foundation. She is part of the benefactors’ circle of the Center for Financial Planning. She is part of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Financial Security Initiative.

Cary’s knowledge and expertise are highly sought after, and she frequently appears as a commentator on local and national television news channels. She has spoken around the world on financial literacy, with a focus on advocating for women and guiding them to financial empowerment.

Thomas Connolly is an independent Medicare and health insurance specialist with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He began his career at John Hancock, where he helped individuals and families build financial plans and protect their long-term security. Over the years, he transitioned to independent practice, working directly with consumers, employers, and advisory professionals to improve healthcare decision-making within retirement planning.

For the past 15 years, Mr. Connolly has focused his work exclusively on the Medicare marketplace, now serving clients across 17 states nationwide. His expertise includes Medicare Coordination, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy comparisons, Medicare Advantage (HMO/PPO) strategies, Part D drug coverage analysis, and financial assistance integration through Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs.

A core part of his professional mission is to demystify Medicare for financial advisors and their clients. Mr. Connolly has authored multiple educational guides explaining how:

• Payroll tax history funds Medicare Part A,
• Medicare Part B functions as a pay-as-you-go model,
• Supplemental coverage is required to fill the 20% cost gap,
• Standalone Part D plans coordinate drug benefits,
• Medicare Advantage plans integrate ancillary benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation.

His national Medicare “cookbook” series provides step-by-step visual illustrations of Medicare Part A, Part B, supplemental plans, and Part D drug coverage, alongside real-world cost modeling, out-of-pocket exposure analysis, and carrier-based enrollment considerations.

Mr. Connolly is also one of the few Medicare planners who integrates Medicaid and income-based financial assistance into Medicare planning. His training outlines how the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and other financial assistance mechanisms can reduce or eliminate Part B premiums, drug copays, and other medical costs—critical information for financial advisors seeking to retain clients and control healthcare-related spending in retirement portfolios.

His curriculum further teaches advisors to navigate the complex enrollment pathway for workers delaying Medicare past age 65, including employer coverage verification, SSA portal registration, multi-factor identity verification, credible drug coverage documentation, penalty avoidance strategies, and state-level underwriting restrictions for Medigap transitions.

Mr. Connolly’s philosophy is simple: Medicare is not just insurance — it’s a financial planning event. A well-structured Medicare plan protects retirement income, preserves client relationships, and prevents avoidable penalties and gaps in care.

Rich Arzaga, CFP®, CCIM, is a respected financial advisor with a passion for real estate investments. With a professional yet approachable style, Rich brings clarity and guidance to his clients' real estate matters, helping them navigate options and develop strategies that align with their interests and goals.

 Drawing on his extensive expertise, Rich provides valuable advice on various real estate topics, including buy-sell-hold strategies, tax-deferred and highly appreciated tax reduction strategies, real estate succession planning, and rental property cash flow analysis.

 His exceptional knowledge and real estate strategies have earned him recognition in business and finance publications such as the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Newsweek, Kiplinger, and The Journal of Financial Planning. As an esteemed adjunct professor at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz Personal Financial Planning programs, Rich has been Honored for his excellence in teaching.

As the Founder and CEO of The Real Estate Whisperer™ Financial Planning and Education, Rich is an advice-only financial advisor who operates on a flat-fee structure. By focusing solely on providing client-centered financial advice and not managing investments, he ensures his undivided attention to his clients' needs.

Rich's ideal clientele comprises real estate investors, business owners, sole proprietors, business executives, and affluent families who seek expert guidance. With his vast experience, Rich has held senior-level positions for 18 years across various entrepreneurial, high-growth, and Fortune 500 companies. Notably, as Senior Vice President of a technology startup in the Denver Tech Center, he played a pivotal role in the successful sale of the business for $326M.

Rich's educational background is equally impactful, as he graduated with distinction from the Personal Financial Planning Program at UC Berkeley and holds a BA from San Jose State University. He also pursued Graduate Studies in Management at Northwestern University J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Residing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Rich serves clients nationwide, leveraging his expertise and personalized approach to help them achieve their financial goals and make informed real estate decisions.