Investment Strategy Professionals to Know 2025

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.

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.

Ricci shares insights on the latest trends and best practices in marketing, LegalTech, strategy, and e-learning in various industry publications. His multifaceted experience allows him to discuss a broad range of topics, from both strategic and hands-on perspectives. Ricci is a seasoned marketing communications professional with over 20 years of experience helping people connect effectively with their audiences. He currently applies his expertise to learning technology and digital adoption strategy as part of the intellek.io team. Intellek provides robust and effective learning technology to support a diverse client base. Repeatedly named as the best LMS for law firms and legal professionals; alongside a broad eLearning content library, training and assessment creation tool, and a unique onboarding digital adoption platform.

If you’re here, you’re probably curious about who I am and what we do at spectup. Let me fill you in. I started my career with a banking apprenticeship, thinking I’d spend my life crunching numbers. But then I discovered startups—and everything changed. At N26, the fintech unicorn, I got my first taste of the fast-paced world of innovation. I fell in love with the chaos, creativity, and energy. After that, I joined Civey, where I dove into digital market research, business models, and marketing strategies. Then came Deutsche Bahn, where I worked on international expansion, competitor analysis, and market strategies. I learned how to make sense of complex industries (global transport markets, anyone?) and drive growth. At diffferent (yes, that’s how it’s spelled), I helped brands like Audi and Zalando identify growth opportunities and design innovative business strategies. And at Deloitte’s Innovation & Ventures team, I worked on building future-proof businesses with cutting-edge tech. One highlight? Leading 30+ projects at the BMW Startup Garage, helping startups find their place in the world of mobility. That’s where I saw the real power of connecting startups with the right partners. Now, I’m building spectup. We work with growth-stage companies and select early-stage startups, helping them raise capital, connect with the right investors, and position themselves for long-term success. We also work with investors—PEs, VCs, angels, and family offices—helping them find promising, vetted companies to invest in without spending countless hours on due diligence. Why? Because startups fail too often, and investors waste too much time looking for the right opportunities. We’re here to bridge that gap. Whether you’re a founder looking for investors or an investor seeking quality opportunities, spectup is about making those connections—and making them work.

I’m P. Blake Renda—entrepreneur, investor, and co-CEO of Veedor Holdings LLC based in Naples, FL, with a satellite office in Santa Monica, CA. Veedor Holdings LLC, in addition to making strategic investments, owns and operates Dragon Horse Agency, Dragon Horse Publishing, and Moxie Creed. My professional journey began while attending the University of Southern Calfornia as an intern at NBC Studios, which led to a full-time position upon graduating. I then pivoted to law and then finance which ultimately lead me to Wall Street in 1996, where I was part of small team in Palo Alto, CA managing over $20 billion in technology-sector assets at J. & W. Seligman & Co. and in 2000 I earned recognition as one of Institutional Investor Magazine’s “Best of the Buy Side.” In 2006, I joined the New Dimensions Growth Team of American Express Asset Management in La Jolla, CA, as the T/M/T manager across six growth funds with $40 billion plus in AUM. In 2004, I was nominated for Institutional Investor Magazine's "Best of the Buy Side." Those years instilled in me the importance of rigorously vetting opportunities and leading with foresight—skills that I have consistently applied to every entrepreneurial venture. From 2011 to 2015, I helped transform a boutique Florida skincare startup into a nationally recognized, multi-award-winning brand, culminating in its public listing via SPAC. I exited that company and launched Veedor Holdings LLC with my Co-Founder, Julie Koester. Today, we own and operate Dragon Horse Agency, a multi-award-winning, bi-coastal agency serving global clients known for delivering business strategy and marketing under one roof. We also own Dragon Horse Publishing, an award-winning publishing company, and Moxie Creed, a wellness lifestyle e-commerce company. Beyond the accolades, successes, challenges, and failures, I live with a deep belief in resilience, mentorship, and shared success. I’m a proud father, a former youth volleyball coach, and a passionate advocate of Ubuntu—"I am because we are." Whether scaling startups, navigating global markets, or building culture, I bring the same competitive spirit and collaborative ethos to every endeavor. Success isn't about accolades—it’s about legacy, community, and the courage to keep moving forward. As Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

With a career spanning across ESPs, agencies, and technology providers, Garin Hobbs is an expert in growing email impact and revenue, launching new programs and products, and developing the strategies and thought leadership to support them. The amount of knowledge he has about MarTech and email marketing is phenomenal but, it's not just the depth of information, it's Garin's perspective and how he communicates the application and impact that set's him apart. Garin is a fantastic and enthusiastic leader, collaborator, and strategist, as well as an amazing human.

James Francis, CEO of Paradigm Asset Management, is a trailblazing entrepreneur at the intersection of finance, media, and artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, Paradigm Asset Management has managed over $7 billion in assets globally, pioneering AI-driven investment strategies that set new industry standards. Francis is the driving force behind PaaS Invest, an all-in-one investment platform that integrates AI-powered direct indexing with active management. Committed to ethical AI, he also founded Artificial Integrity, an initiative dedicated to fairness and transparency in AI governance, and launched BlackChat AI to promote diversity in the tech space. A Morehouse College alumnus, Francis actively contributes to multiple boards and organizations, solidifying his reputation as a leader shaping the future of both finance and technology.

A senior marketing strategist with over two decades of experience leading high-impact growth initiatives across fintech, consumer, and digital first industries. I specialize in building marketing infrastructures from the ground up aligning data, creative, and customer behavior to drive measurable business outcomes. Currently, I serve as Director of Marketing at Tradesk, where I’ve been leading go-to-market, performance, and retention strategy in one of the most regulated and competitive verticals in tech. From launching a FINRA compliant behavioral loyalty engine to building our CRM and funnel architecture, I’ve helped shape how we acquire, educate, and retain users with a strong focus on long-term AUM growth and platform engagement. Over the years, I’ve run campaigns across Meta, Google, and every major biddable media channel, driving consistent gains in CAC efficiency, ROI, and mid-funnel conversion. But my strength isn’t just in execution it’s in translating complex, often fragmented insights into clear, strategic narratives that move teams and customers alike. I’ve worked both agency-side and in-house, and I’ve seen firsthand how the best growth comes from systems that connect brand, product, and performance not just from tactics. I take pride in building those systems, mentoring teams, and creating marketing that earns attention because it adds value. If there's one through line in my work, it’s this, clarity wins. Whether you're building a brand or educating a user, the ability to communicate simply and strategically is the most underused advantage in modern marketing.

Growth & revenue leader with a record of turning new ideas into lasting revenue. I focus on measurable outcomes, building lean high performing teams, and repeatable processes that scale. Founder, GlidePoint – Advise early-stage fintech and marketplace teams on customer acquisition, pricing, and revenue operations. Deliver clear playbooks, tight forecasting, and hands-on execution. Head of Growth, Frec – Own the go-to-market for a direct-indexing platform now past $270M in AUM. Expanded organic channels, added targeted paid programs for HNW investors, and built referral and employee-benefit loops that keep CAC in check. VP Sales & Marketing, Realm – 5th hire. Built company from scratch. Hired and trained a 40+ person sales org from zero, rolled out packaging & pricing, acquired 100s of vendors.

Alan Andrews is a Web Marketing Consultant at KIS Finance with a strong background in finance and a sharp focus on SEO. After 30 years in the finance sector – specialising in large bridging loans and development finance – he turned his attention to digital strategy, using his technical skills to drive online visibility and lead generation. Alan manages KIS Finance’s SEO and content performance, continuously refining the site’s structure and organic rankings. When he’s not testing site architecture or decoding Google updates, he’s sharpening his Krav Maga skills or enjoying coastal walks.

Highly motivated SEO Lead with over 3+ years of experience and a proven track record of developing and implementing successful SEO strategies that drive organic traffic, increase website visibility and achieve business goals. Skilled in keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO audits, and link building. Passionate about staying ahead of the latest SEO trends and algorithms to ensure long-term success.

Kacper Rafalski proactive team leader with a knack for managing large projects, coordinating teams, and collaborating with multiple stakeholders to drive business objectives and key results. Dynamic and results-oriented digital marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in both B2B and B2C sectors. He has proven expertise in demand generation and digital data analytics, with a strong focus on creating, executing, and optimizing strategies for web and mobile projects.

Results-driven business strategist and C-level advisor with 15+ years of experience driving revenue growth, market expansion, and brand positioning for startups and SMEs. I specialize in high-impact marketing strategies, demand generation, AI adoption strategies, and sales funnel optimization to accelerate business growth and profitability.

Interdisciplinary Global Marketing and Human Resource Development (HRD) executive with over 20 years of experience scaling brand ecosystems across enterprise, high-growth, and startup environments – from Fortune 1 (Walmart) to VC- and PE-backed ventures. Adept at developing emotionally resonant, data-driven brand strategies that drive top-line growth, market share and long-term equity. Proven expertise leading cross-functional and regional teams, launching go-to-market strategies across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, and overseeing portfolios with budgets up to $100MM. Known for transforming complex market insights into differentiated brand positioning, unifying internal culture with external messaging and operationalizing high-performing marketing infrastructures. Fluent in growth strategy, creative storytelling, product innovation alignment and maximizing ROI through global-local execution.

Sales and tech strategist driven to the front lines of the fintech evolution within the mortgage lending industry. Ambitiously working to create new opportunities, simplify processes, and pioneer modern solutions. Over 15 years of experience in the financial industry as an executive, strategist, consultant, trainer and team developer. •Founder of Liberty Financing LLC Previously: •Chief Strategy Officer at American Financing Corporation •Investment Advisor at Charles Schwab Knowledge and in depth experience ranges across technology innovation and integration (API, AI, Web design, SEO, SaaS), marketing, mortgage lending, business development, sales training, project management, data analysis and financial analysis. I’m passionate about providing the absolute best experience for our customers and the most rewarding career opportunities for our hard working high quality team members Current NMLS MLO State Licenses. Previously held FINRA Series 7 & Series 66 Licenses, Life and Health Insurance License, and Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation from the College of Financial Planning.

Lon Welsh, founder of Ironton Capital, brings over two decades of experience in real estate and consulting. Previously a strategic consultant with Deloitte and Arthur Andersen (Accenture), he went on to build Your Castle Real Estate, managing over 700 Realtors and $2.5 billion in transactions in 2022 alone. At Ironton Capital, his mission is to provide busy professionals with passive, diversified real estate investments to help them grow their wealth and secure a stable financial future. With a focus on high-quality, investment-grade properties, Ironton Capital allows accredited investors to build wealth without the time commitment of managing their own rentals. Lon’s extensive experience, from authoring multiple real estate books to helping create numerous millionaires, drives the firm’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in both investors' lives and communities.

Digital Entrepreneur and Marketing Strategist with proven expertise in SEO, content creation, and social media growth. Built multiple successful online businesses from the ground up, including a social media marketing education website and a highly-trafficked golf niche website generating hundreds of thousands of annual visitors. Demonstrated track record of scaling social media accounts from zero to tens of thousands of engaged followers across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Expert in developing comprehensive content strategies that drive measurable growth and engagement. As a trusted voice in the digital space, I've collaborated with global brands including McDonald's, Warner Music, eBay, and GoDaddy on successful marketing campaigns. My approach combines deep technical SEO knowledge with creative content strategy to consistently deliver exceptional results. Key Focus Areas: - Social Media Strategy & Growth - SEO Optimization & Traffic Generation - Content Creation & Brand Building - Digital Marketing Consulting - Influencer Marketing & Brand Partnerships - Organic Growth Strategies Currently managing multiple websites and building engaged communities across various niches, helping brands and businesses maximize their digital presence and achieve sustainable growth.