Cetera Financial Group

Christian Mitchell (President, Cetera Solutions) was on the main stage this week at BNY INSITE for the panel discussion "Turning INSITE into Impact: The New Playbook for Wealth Management Leaders."

Christian shared how AI is becoming a growth lever for advisors, not just an efficiency play, and why flexibility and optionality are shaping the future of how advisors run their businesses. The pace of change isn't slowing down, and the firms that thrive will be those with the clarity to act decisively.

Welcome to Cetera, Financial Advisor Les Benzak, CFP®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary John Gallagher, CFP®, Financial Advisor Lynn Craig, CFP®, and the full Tupelo Wealth Partners team!

Based in Harleysville, PA, Les, John, and Lynn bring over 75 years of combined experience and have built Tupelo Wealth Partners as a deeply client-focused practice specializing in retirement, tax planning, legacy planning, and more.

When LPL acquired Commonwealth, they took a hard look at the full landscape of independent broker-dealer options. They were searching for something specific: experienced advisors to collaborate with, accessible leadership, and a firm that truly cared about their success. They found it in Cetera’s unique Summit Financial Networks Community.

Read more in the press release here: https://cetera.com/press/tupelo-wealth-partners-joins-cetera

Independence. Support. Technology. For the best advisors, those aren't buzzwords – they're the foundation of a thriving practice.

That's exactly why John Cerulli Jr., President of C-Star Wealth Management, chose Cetera and North Ridge Wealth Planning. John came here to do more for his clients – because, in his own words, "The most rewarding aspect of being a financial advisor is cultivating meaningful relationships with clients and helping them reach their goals."

Join us in welcoming John to Cetera!

Winning high-net-worth clients isn't luck. It's by design.

At Cetera’s Connect2Peers conference, Scott Baker and Jerry Patterson are leading a Hot Topic session "Prospecting, Engaging, Serving and Supporting High Net Worth Clients" where experienced HNW-focused advisors pull back the curtain on what actually works.

The session covers what separates transactional advisors from trusted, long-term strategic partners:

✅ Proactively identifying, pursuing, and engaging affluent prospects

✅ Building credibility within HNW networks

✅ Designing service and support models built for elevated expectations

✅ Leading with the right solutions - business succession planning, trust and estate strategies, risk mitigation, lending, and private market investments

Be sure to add this one to your agenda!

One year later. Two advisors. One move they don't regret.

Amanda Whitney, AIF®, CDFA® (Pecot) built her practice on one idea: every client has a story, and advice should reflect it. She needed a firm that supported flat-fee planning with no asset minimums – and technology to back it up. Cetera delivered.

Joe Iudica's approach is consultative by nature. He wants clients to understand every decision and how it connects to the bigger picture. With Cetera, he got the tools, the independence, and the ability to put clients first – without corporate constraints.

This is what finding the right fit looks like.

When your clients aren't looking to chase trends or react to every market headline, you need a partner who can match that discipline with clarity, depth, and a long-term perspective.

We're excited to welcome Adam Paffenroth, CFP®, ChFC®, Founder of Cornerstone Private Wealth Planning, to our Cetera Investors branch in Alexandria. The acquisition of his previous broker-dealer created a natural inflection point, a moment to step back and think carefully about the next decade of his practice rather than simply continue forward by default. That deliberate planning process is what ultimately led him to Cetera, where he found the right platform, transparent economics, strong operational support, and a culture that genuinely reinforces independence.

With a background in military intelligence and graduate training from Georgetown and Johns Hopkins, Adam brings a disciplined, research-oriented approach to every client relationship.

That same rigor now has a home at Cetera, where the platform and support structure are built to let advisors like Adam do what they do best – go deep with clients and their families on the planning work that actually matters.

Please join us in welcoming Adam to Cetera!

In a fast-moving industry, great technology and dedicated support can make all the difference in growing your business.

We’re excited to welcome Brian Zardavets, who recently joined Capital Financial Strategies through Cetera Wealth Management Group. Brian brings over 25 years of experience helping clients in or near retirement protect what they have worked hard to build, so they can live the lifestyle they want with confidence.

Why did Brian choose Cetera after spending nearly a year evaluating his options?

"The transition support has been excellent. They handled most of the paperwork and account transfers so I could focus on my clients. I'm also looking forward to their specialized expertise in marketing, technology, and products. That kind of backup lets me play to my strengths.”

Welcome to Cetera, Brian!

Meet the financial advisors shaping the future of wealth management! This year's Cetera Foundations event brought 29 rising stars to St. Paul, MN for an immersive three-day experience built around one goal: giving the next generation of advisors the tools, confidence, and community to thrive.

Representing three Communities and six regions of Cetera, these early-career professionals tackled everything from growth planning and accountability to the practical skills that build lasting client trust.

The future of this industry is in good hands – and we couldn't be more proud to help shape it.

Congratulations to Ladan Massir, Cetera's Senior Managing Director, Growth Marketing & Digital Experience, for being named one of Women We Admire's 2026 Top 50 Women Leaders in Marketing for the second year in a row!

This award recognizes women shaping the future of marketing who drive innovation, break barriers, and set new standards - which is exactly what Ladan does every day to help Cetera's financial professionals grow and succeed. Known for translating complex business challenges into scalable, measurable marketing programs, Ladan has built a reputation as a strategic operator who delivers both vision and ex*****on.

Thanks, Ladan, for the continued impact you make in our industry and for the financial advisors and institutions we serve! Learn more here: https://thewomenweadmire.com/leaders/ladan-mirzadeh/

*Finalist, Top Women Leaders in Marketing 2026, issued by Women We Admire. Selection is based on internal evaluation; paid membership is required. This recognition is not indicative of future investment success or a client endorsement. No compensation was provided for participation.

Most advisors avoid the long-term care conversation. But what if it was easier than you think?

This August at Connect2Peers, Harlan Wenig is leading a Hot Topic session "How Do Risk Mitigation Products Fit Into Growing and Successful Advisors' Practices" and it's reshaping the way advisors think about protection planning.

This session covers two areas where advisors are seeing real results:

✅ Long-term care - how peers are introducing the conversation naturally, and how straightforward it can be to do right by your clients
✅ Variable Universal Life (VUL) - the benefits of VUL products and how they may be the right fit for certain clients

This is peer-to-peer learning at its best: real advisors sharing what's working in their practices. We're excited to see you there!