2026 Advocacy Circle of Excellence Honorees
Each year, the FSI Advocacy Circle of Excellence honors those committed to influencing change and advancing the interests of Main Street American investors and the independent financial services industry.
The Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award is conferred simultaneously to recognize extraordinary efforts in advocacy.
Congratulations to our 2026 honorees! Thank you for your outstanding commitment.
Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award Winners
Carlo D. Bentley, AIFA®, PPC®
401k Plan Specialist, Wealth Manager
Bentley & Company Wealth Management
Alexander Chan
Director, Advisory Compliance
Cetera Financial Group
Cynthia D. Jeffries, CFE, CRCP®
Vice President, Compliance,
Commonwealth Financial Network
Matthew Watts
Senior Vice President, Supervision
Raymond James Financial, Inc.
Advocacy Circle of Excellence Honorees
BRIAN G. CARTER, MBA
FRACTIONAL CTO
CARTER TECH CONSULTING
MATTHEW M. CARTER, CFP®
VOYA FINANCIAL
KELLY J. CARTIER, CFP®
PRESIDENT
CARTIER FINANCIAL, LLC
MELISSA COUCH, AIF®
DIRECTOR, ADVISORY OPERATIONS
PRINCIPAL SECURITIES
THOMAS DANIEL
HEAD OF COMPLIANCE TESTING & RISK
MML INVESTORS SERVICES, LLC
BRAD GREENBAUM, AIFA®, CLU, CHFC, RHU
VICE PRESIDENT
ALTIGRO PENSION SERVICES, INC.
ERIC HAUBERT
SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, REGISTERED PRINCIPAL
NEST CAPITAL
KAROLINA HAWLEY
DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE OPERATIONS
J.W. COLE
FRAJ LAZREG, CFM, MRFC®, AIFA®
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
MONEY CONCEPTS INTERNATIONAL |
CEO
NEXT LEVEL FINANCIAL NETWORK AND INVESTORS’ ADVANTAGE PORTFOLIOS
BRIAN W. OLAH
FINANCIAL ADVISOR | FOUNDING MEMBER
HALO WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
JAMES ROBINSON, RICP®
WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
SCHULFER & ASSOCIATES WEALTH MANAGEMENT
RALPH ROSENBAUM, MBA, CPA|PFS, IAR
OWNER
ROSENBAUM FINANCIAL SERVICES
TIM RYDER
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, WEALTH SOLUTIONS
FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL SERVICES
PATRICIA D. SOTO, ChFEBC℠
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
MY SHEPHERD FINANCIAL
VAL VEST
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER
CAMBRIDGE INVESTMENT RESEARCH
Inaugural Firm Award
The Firm Award has been established to recognize an FSI member firm demonstrating strong, firm-wide commitment to advancing the independent financial services industry and promoting access to financial advice.
FSI presented its inaugural Firm Excellence Award to First Command Financial Services in recognition of high-level involvement across the firm, including participation from employees and affiliated financial advisors in FSI advocacy efforts.