Financial Ethics Professionals to Know 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.

I’m Peter Lai, the Chief Financial Officer at Engage Wellness. I oversee all aspects of the company’s financial management, providing strategic direction to teams in accounting and controls, financial planning, tax, treasury, and investor relations. My role involves partnering with business leaders to execute strategies that drive profitable growth. With over 20 years of financial management experience, I’ve held leadership roles in diverse industries. Before joining Engage Wellness, I served as the CFO for Haven Health Management, specializing in clinical, medical, and psychiatric care for substance use and mental health disorders. I’ve also held financial management positions at Lenovo and ADT Security Services. I earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

I’m a lifesciences compliance strategist with a passion for building real-world, right-sized programs in fast-moving environments. With deep experience in pharma and medtech, I specialize in translating regulatory complexity into practical, actionable frameworks. I’ve spent 7+ years navigating the gray areas of compliance—from training physicians on industry expectations to building startup programs from the ground up. I believe compliance should be ethical, functional, and human-centered—and that culture is built through clarity, storytelling, and respect, not fear. Outside of policy and audits, I speak regularly on startup compliance and love turning “boring” topics into memorable moments. I'm here to connect, create, and contribute.

I'm the Chief Financial Officer of Soba New Jersey, where I manage key areas of the business, including sourcing, market and site feasibility, financial analysis, deal structuring, negotiations, equity raising, investor relations, licensing, rezoning, and collaborating with architects on new construction and renovations. I’ve led complex real estate transactions in prime markets like New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina, with successful projects such as the Coastal Carolina University student housing development, a 60,000 SF industrial warehouse in Wayne, NJ, and multiple community facility daycare leases in NYC. Additionally, I co-launched Soba New Jersey, a luxury detox center dedicated to providing individualized, holistic inpatient and outpatient behavioral health programs. My career has centered on identifying high-growth opportunities, particularly for businesses in transitional phases like M&As and IPOs, and my leadership has been instrumental in Soba New Jersey’s growth and success.

Paul Gillooly is a financial specialist and the Director of Dot Dot Loans, with over ten years of experience in subprime lending. With extensive knowledge of consumer finance in the UK, Paul is a reliable individual in the bad credit lending sector. At DotDotLoans.co.uk, he helps individuals with poor credit scores find appropriate lenders who can provide financial help. Paul also offers guidance on improving financial management and building better credit scores.

I'm passionate about helping families build generational wealth through strategic retirement planning. As a retirement income strategist, I specialize in self-directed retirement solutions that give people more control over their financial future. My approach is pretty straightforward - I believe everyone deserves access to the financial strategies that the wealthy have been using for generations. I focus on showing clients how to leverage their existing assets, whether that's an old 401(k), home equity, or other resources, to create multiple streams of retirement income. What really drives me is seeing families break free from traditional financial limitations. I love educating people about options they didn't even know existed, like self-directed 401(k)s and velocity banking strategies. It's amazing to watch someone's eyes light up when they realize they have more control over their financial destiny than they thought. I take pride in sitting on the same side of the table as my clients - their success is my success. Whether we're mapping out a debt elimination strategy or creating a retirement income plan, my goal is to empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to build lasting wealth.

A highly motivated and detail-oriented professional with a strong foundation in marketing and management, holding a double major in both disciplines. Experienced in human resources across non-profit and for-profit sectors, as well as in marketing, bringing a versatile skill set to any organization. Known for exceptional organizational skills, a keen eye for detail, and a dedication to continuous growth and learning. Passionate about driving efficiency, fostering positive workplace culture, and contributing to strategic business success through hard work and adaptability.

I am a seasoned mental health and addiction specialist, dedicated to the field of treatment and recovery since 2015. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from South University in Royal Palm Beach, FL, and I am credentialed as both a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Over the years, I've gained hands-on experience in various areas, including psychiatric acute stabilization, psychiatric partial hospitalization, and both in-patient and out-patient substance use treatment. My journey has taken me through clinical counseling, program development, and organizational leadership. Before joining New Waters, I served as the Clinical Director at Gupta Psychiatry and Wellness in Raleigh, NC, where I helped shape a respected substance abuse partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of quality clinical programming and its impact on long-term sobriety. With a compassionate approach, I am committed to helping individuals and families overcome substance use disorders, guiding them toward a life free from addiction.

Investor, entrepreneur, and founder of Invested Mom, empowering individuals to achieve financial independence and live unrestricted lives. With expertise spanning corporate leadership, wealth building, and content creation, I help others master investing strategies that transform financial futures. Former Tesla executive where I managed billion-dollar revenue recognition and led teams of over 100 people, I successfully transitioned from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, retiring at 38 through strategic investing in stocks, real estate, and business ventures. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, my entrepreneurial journey began at age 9 selling fudge to schoolmates. Today, I leverage my diverse experience to guide others, particularly women, in breaking free from traditional employment constraints to control their time, resources, and financial destinies. As the author of the upcoming book "Living Unrestricted," I share practical frameworks for wealth creation that anyone can implement regardless of their starting point. My approach combines personal transformation with actionable financial strategies that have helped countless individuals replace their income through investing and build lasting wealth. Co-founder of Penfriend, an AI-powered content creation tool developed to solve the challenges of content operations and management that I experienced firsthand as a business owner. Passionate about democratizing wealth and financial education, I believe everyone deserves access to the knowledge and tools needed to secure their financial future.

Mathew Kerbis is The Subscription Attorney. He’s on a mission to affordably serve clients at scale via the subscription model and inspire attorneys to abandon the billable hour. He founded the law firm Subscription Attorney LLC after working for private practice law firms for nine years. His firm leverages automations and artificial intelligence to offer more accessible and reasonable prices like legal advice starting at $19.99/month and $49.99/page. Kerbis realized the subscription model could revolutionize the legal profession, so he launched the podcast Law Subscribed to help attorneys make the same choice. He also speaks and writes about how generative artificial intelligence is changing the way law is practiced. Kerbis has presented at ABA TECHSHOW, Stanford’s CodeX online community, several other online publications, and as a guest lecturer for law schools. Kerbis is a James I. Keane Award winner, recognizing innovative virtual law firms that serve the broad middle class, because he “has been a leader in using technology and subscription based pricing models to improve access to justice.” He’s been recognized by the American Bar Association as a Top 40 On the Rise leading lawyer in the Innovation category for “his commitment to making legal services more accessible while maintaining profitability.” Kerbis is a member of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System’s Above the Line Network for legal professionals committed to transforming the delivery of legal services for the underserved middle class. He placed third in the Individual category for the American Legal Technology Awards for those who make a positive difference in the world related to legal innovation. Kerbis often presents on the topic of ditching the billable hour for the subscription model using technology. His four CLE courses on Lawline have over 3,000 views averaging 4.9 out of 5 stars, with reviews like, “I like the idea [of] an alternative way for clients to afford lawyer services. I loved his enthusiasm and passion. I think he is onto something great for clients” and "Perhaps the most useful CLE I have ever taken.” Kerbis is a frequent public speaker, and the best place to connect with him is on LinkedIn.