Recognized Mutual Funds Leaders 2025

Damon Paull, AWMA® - Financial Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Military Veteran As a wealth management advisor and Amazon best-selling author in Money and Business, Damon Paull brings a military precision to financial journalism. His recent collaboration with former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss on "Empathetic Leadership" shows he can take complex financial concepts and turn them into stories that resonate with everyone. With over 8 years of industry experience and a background as a Marine Corps veteran and State Department contractor, Damon writes about: • Intergenerational wealth transfer • Corporate benefit plan optimization • Investment portfolio construction • Business succession planning • Veteran financial empowerment • Global market analysis through a geopolitical lens As a Wealth Management Advisor at Cetera Investors, Damon’s expertise goes beyond traditional financial planning. He uses cutting-edge financial technology and analysis tools to bring you fresh perspectives on emerging trends and investment opportunities. His writing style is data-driven with a storyline, making complex financial concepts accessible to sophisticated investors and general audiences. Regular contributor to discussions on wealth preservation, market dynamics and financial technology. Damon welcomes opportunities to provide professional commentary and in-depth analysis for financial publications looking for expert opinions on wealth management and investment strategies. For editorial inquiries or commentary: Damon Paull, AWMA Damon.Paull@ceterainvestors.com 832.535.2286 Glen Allen, VA Available for national and international commentary Cetera Investors. Damon Paull, Wealth Management Advisor. Securities and Insurance Products offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. 140 EASTSHORE DR. SUITE 105, GLEN ALLEN, VA 23059. 804-346-4670. The opinions expressed are those of the writer, not recommendations of Cetera Investment Services LLC or its representatives.

Thomas Daykin is a Senior Financial Adviser at ActOn Wealth, specialising in holistic, goals-based financial planning for Australians. He works closely with clients to align their investments, superannuation, tax, risk management and cash flow strategies with their long-term lifestyle objectives. Tom has been personally nominated at national industry awards, and is part of the award-winning team at ActOn Wealth, recognised for excellence in client outcomes and advice standards. He is available to comment on superannuation, retirement strategy, personal investing, wealth creation, market behavior, intergenerational wealth, and broader financial planning issues impacting Australians. Tom delivers clear, practical and media-friendly insights that make complex financial topics accessible and relevant.

Peter Reagan is a respected financial strategist at Birch Gold Group with more than 15 years of experience in the precious metals market. His market commentary has been featured in outlets including Newsmax, ZeroHedge, and GoBankingRates. At Birch Gold Group, he helps investors understand how gold and other precious metals can strengthen long-term financial security. His clear guidance and commitment to education have made him a trusted voice in an evolving economic landscape. Known for his practical approach and genuine commitment to investors’ success, Peter makes financial concepts feel accessible and empowering. He brings clarity to uncertainty, helping people make confident decisions about their future. Whether sharing insights in the media or supporting clients one-on-one, he remains focused on education, integrity, and building lasting trust with those he serves.

Liliya R. Strong is an investor, former equity research analyst with nearly 15 years of experience, and the author of Stocks for Women, an Amazon bestseller. She holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University. Her work combines evidence-based investing strategies with real-world insight, including a private dinner with Warren Buffett that shaped her long-term investment philosophy. She advocates for building a core portfolio through index investing, complemented by high-conviction stocks, emphasizing that conviction is essential to staying invested during downturns. She also has a growing interest in how artificial intelligence is transforming investment research and creating new opportunities across markets. Liliya shares her insights through her social platforms, where she reaches over 50,000 followers, and works with women and next-generation investors through mentorship and workshops. She is based in Miami with her family and enjoys adventure travel, including heli-skiing.

9+ years PR and media relations experience. Now in the ultra-high-net-worth wealth management space with Fidelis Capital after years in the luxury goods and real estate sectors with Discovery Land Company, Casamigos Tequila, and Tiffany & Co. Have secured national coverage for Fidelis Capital in Barron's, Bloomberg, Crain Currency, Forbes, Kiplinger, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal, along with trade coverage in Financial Planning, InvestmentNews, and WealthManagement.com. Fidelis Capital is a 5-star firm in Newsweek's 2026 list of America's Top Financial Advisory Firms. Subject matter experts at Fidelis Capital include: - Chris Gunster, CFA, Partner & Head of Fixed Income (previously Bank of America Chief Investment Office, oversaw $60 billion in assets; Forbes.com contributor) - Rick Simonetti, Founding Partner, CEO & Head of Wealth Planning (previously Wells Fargo Private Wealth Management's National Head of Wealth Planning; Kiplinger contributor) - Matt Michaels, CFA, CFP, Founding Partner & Co-Chief Investment Officer (previously Wells Fargo Private Bank Senior Private Wealth Portfolio Manager; deep expertise in private markets investing) - Neale Ellis, CFA, Founding Partner & Co-Chief Investment Officer (previously Bank of America Private Bank principal portfolio manager of Managed Active Core)

In 2015, wealth manager Michael DeMassa, CFA, CFP® left a corporate banking job in order to create Forza Wealth Management from the ground up, with a sole focus on providing sound investment advice to clients. Now, the Fee-Only advisory firm has a team of five providing custom-tailored wealth management services and managing nearly $400 million in assets. Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1997 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), 2003 Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), 2006 Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®), 2024

I am the co-founder and Senior Portfolio Manager of Divita Capital and the Divita Value-Growth Fund, where I manage a concentrated portfolio of long-term compounding businesses. My focus is on value investing, business valuation, and capital allocation — particularly on how reinvestment decisions and management’s choices drive shareholder returns over time. I am also the author of Wall Street’s Blind Spots: A Unique Perspective on Value Investing, Valuation and Capital Allocation (2025). In the book, I challenge conventional valuation frameworks and highlight the blind spots even sophisticated investors often miss. My goal is to give readers a practical, common-sense approach to understanding whether a company is truly compounding value, drawing on my day-to-day experience as a fund manager. Over the course of my career, I have worked across investment banking, corporate finance, and asset management, analyzing global equities across various sectors. I hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and combine rigorous financial analysis with a contrarian mindset. I enjoy making complex investing concepts accessible to a wide audience. I regularly speak and write about valuation, capital allocation strategies, and the behavioral biases that influence markets — always with the goal of helping investors and entrepreneurs think differently about long-term value creation. Living and working in Guatemala gives me a distinctive international perspective. I frequently engage with audiences in both Latin America and the U.S., and I aim to help investors, entrepreneurs, and executives think differently. Whether I am explaining why traditional DCF models often mislead, discussing how to assess a company’s reinvestment profile, or sharing lessons from managing my own fund, I bring clarity, practical frameworks, and a passion for long-term investing to every conversation.

I am a U.S.-focused finance professional with over 10 years of experience in investment analysis, personal finance strategy, and accounting. I founded FinanceIdeas.org, where I publish real-world guides that help individuals and families solve complex financial problems; from retirement anxiety to market panic. My background blends academia, corporate finance, and consulting. I have served as a lecturer in accounting and as a financial analyst supporting strategic decisions in the investment sector. Today, I share my research-backed financial strategies in global media outlets and academic platforms like SSRN and ResearchGate. I specialize in topics such as investment psychology, risk-adjusted portfolio strategies, crypto investing, and behavior-driven financial planning. My goal is to translate timeless financial wisdom into actionable steps anyone can use to build long-term wealth. Need expert insights on crypto, investing, Accounting or financial panic-proofing? Contact me via FinanceIdeas.org or just e-mail me directly at kumartaposbanarjee@gmail.com

Will Lane is a seasoned financial expert with over 20 years of experience across the financial sectors of banking, investments and insurance. He leads educational workshops across the country focused on helping Black families build, protect, and pass down generational wealth. Specializing in retirement planning, estate planning strategies and life insurance, Will is known for his ability to make complex financial concepts practical, relatable, and easy to understand. His work centers on empowering families with the knowledge needed to move from short-term financial planning to long-term financial security. Will has been featured in national publications such as Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and American Business Stars, where he shares insights on the importance of financial literacy, legacy planning, and closing the racial wealth gap. A key aspect of his approach is helping individuals identify and overcome self-sabotaging financial patterns so they can make confident decisions about protecting their families, preparing for retirement, and leaving a lasting legacy. Through his education-first approach and no-nonsense delivery, Will has become a trusted voice for podcasts, panels, and publications focused on financial education, wealth building, and economic empowerment within the Black community.

"My Aim is to Offer Educational Insights into Complex Financial Topics."As an entrepreneur and founder, I'm committed to enhancing financial literacy and independence among the UK's older population. My mission is to simplify and clarify personal finance information, particularly in the context of later-life planning.

Of course. Here is a professional and authoritative summary for your HARO profile, positioning you as an expert source for journalists. *** **Professional Summary for HARO:** As the founder of **Forex Brokers Verified**, I lead an independent platform dedicated to providing transparent, data-driven reviews and educational resources for forex and CFD traders. With direct, hands-on experience in analyzing broker operations, regulatory compliance, and trading platform technology, my expertise lies in demystifying the online brokerage landscape for both retail and institutional audiences. My insights are grounded in the rigorous verification of broker claims, from assessing the true cost of trading (spreads, commissions, and fees) to evaluating the security of client funds and the reliability of execution. I am particularly adept at explaining complex financial concepts—such as broker revenue models, the impact of regulation, and the evolution of trading technology—in a clear and accessible manner for mainstream readers. **Key Areas of Expertise:** - Forex & CFD Broker Business Models and Profitability - Retail Trading Platform Trends (MT4, MT5, cTrader, Proprietary Platforms) - Broker Regulation and Compliance (CySEC, FCA, ASIC, FSCA, etc.) - Trading Psychology and Risk Management for Retail Traders - The Impact of Financial Technology (FinTech) and AI on Online Trading I am available to provide commentary, expert quotes, and data-backed analysis on these topics to help your audience navigate the complex world of online trading.

I'm a specialist commercial finance broker with 16 years of experience helping Australian business owners access commercial property finance. As founder of Smart Business Plans, I've overseen $550 million in commercial finance across more than 3,300 clients, with a 92% approval rate working across a panel of 60+ specialist lenders. My expertise sits at the intersection of commercial property, business finance, and wealth strategy — particularly for small to medium business owners looking to buy their own premises, invest through their SMSF, or fund development projects. I work exclusively in the commercial space, which means I specialise where the major banks often can't or won't go. I'm also the author of The Premise Effect (2026), which makes the case for why Australian business owners are leaving millions on the table by renting rather than owning their business premises. I'm available to comment on: commercial property finance, SMSF borrowing, business lending, commercial mortgage rates, Australian property market trends, and small business wealth building.

Dima Steesy is the President of Bravo Zulu Capital Management. Prior to founding the firm, Dima was a small business owner. He founded a skincare brand while a student at Harvard University, with activations at major venues including the Ritz Carlton and Equinox before growing the company to successful acquisition. Following this, he built one of the largest fire protection companies in San Antonio, serving Fortune 500 clients such as Costco, AT&T, and Barnes & Noble. Dima spent 8 years in the U.S. Navy including 4 years on active duty and the rest in the Reserves. During his service, which included deployments to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, he became the youngest credentialed member of NCIS at age 18. He holds a Series 65 license and graduated cum laude from Harvard University.

I work with busy successful individuals and families who are looking to take control of their financial future without getting bogged down in confusing details. With over 13 years of experience, I help high earners and those approaching retirement make smart, impactful decisions confidently. As a flat-fee fiduciary, my mission is clear: to provide you with honest, personalized guidance that brings peace of mind. If you're unsure about hiring a financial advisor, let’s hop on a call. I’ll guide you on the right questions to ask, so you can confidently find the perfect advisor for your needs, no strings attached.

Seasoned finance expert and Founder of Goldpedia, a comprehensive educational resource for gold and silver investing. Deeply knowledgeable in all areas of financial markets with proven expertise in precious metals investing and retirement strategies.

Experienced Partner with a demonstrated history of working in the capital markets industry and business consulting. Skilled in Equities, Capital Markets, Corporate Taxation, Business Consulting. Serial Entrepreneur. Interested in Digital Marketing and Value Investing.

Sean McPheat is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author and CEO who has built two multi-million-pound companies from scratch without outside investment. He is the founder of MTD Training, trusted by over 9,000 organisations worldwide to transform managers and sales teams, and Skillshub, a digital learning platform changing how businesses approach workplace training. Sean is frequently chosen by journalists because he combines hard-won entrepreneurial experience with global credibility. He has scaled teams, navigated economic downturns, and created performance-driven solutions that are used by some of the world’s best-known brands. His expertise is rooted in real results, not theory. With a combined social media following of over 585,000 professionals (LinkedIn: 220k, Instagram: 340k, X.com: 25k), Sean’s commentary reaches a global audience daily. This influence makes his perspectives especially valuable to media looking for experts with both authority and reach. Known for his direct, no-nonsense style, Sean translates complex workplace and business issues into clear, punchy soundbites. He has been featured in Forbes, BBC, The Guardian, and The Financial Times, offering expert opinion on leadership, workplace culture, entrepreneurship, and the future of work. Journalists seek Sean’s perspective because he: -> Provides quote-ready commentary that challenges conventional wisdom. -> Speaks with the authority of someone who has built success from the ground up. -> Brings credibility from working with leading global brands. -> Has a large and engaged social following, amplifying media stories to a wide audience. -> Cuts through jargon to offer practical, memorable takes audiences relate to. His specialist areas include: -> Leadership, management & workplace culture -> Employee engagement, performance & motivation -> Entrepreneurship, scaling & business growth -> Sales performance & persuasion skills -> The future of work & digital learning Whether it’s workplace trends, leadership challenges, or business growth, Sean delivers expert opinion with clarity, authority and a distinctive voice that journalists know will resonate with their audiences.

Founder of YieldMaxCalc.com, a dividend ETF analytics platform focused on covered-call income funds (YieldMax, Roundhill, JEPQ, JEPI, SCHD). Specialize in derivative-income ETFs, where headline yields routinely diverge from real total return — a nuance that costs retail investors meaningful money and that traditional dividend tools obscure. Senior mentee at the Institute of Trading and Portfolio Management (ITPM): completed the Professional Trading Masterclass (PTM) and Professional Options Trading Masterclass 2.0 (POTM), plus the ITPM in-person Trader Mentoring Programme in Thailand. Over four years actively managing a personal options portfolio, which gives me practical exposure to the option-writing mechanics underlying covered-call ETF yields — the same dynamics that explain why YieldMax and JEPQ pay what they pay. My methodology emphasizes forward-annualized yield over trailing-12-month figures (more accurate for funds with declining or scaling payouts), distinguishes return-of-capital distributions from genuine income (a critical tax distinction for YieldMax-style funds), and computes total return net of NAV erosion (the only honest way to evaluate covered-call income funds). DRIP math is validated against industry-reference data with 92 passing test cases. Also operate Optionerd.com (options strategy analytics) and WhyTheMove.com (market intelligence and equity volatility analysis). Available for commentary on dividend ETFs, covered-call funds, DRIP strategy, return-of-capital tax treatment, real-yield analysis, options-based income strategies, and the YieldMax fund family in particular.

Nick is a fee-only financial planner and founder of ClearMind Capital, where he works with individuals and families navigating major life and financial transitions. He has spent 8+ years in the financial planning profession, advising clients on retirement planning, tax strategy, investment design, and long-term decision-making. Nick earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in April 2023 and also holds the ChFC® and CLU® designations. He is a founding member of the Integrative Wealth Advisor (IWA®) designation, a newly launched professional standard focused on aligning financial planning with broader life priorities and well-being. He is frequently sought out for his ability to explain nuanced financial topics...such as retirement readiness, Social Security planning, portfolio construction, and the behavioral side of money—in a way that is clear, grounded, and accessible. Nick brings real-world context and thoughtful perspective to personal finance, making him a trusted resource for journalists seeking clarity, insight, and meaningful analysis.