FSI Announces 2026 Advocacy Circle of Excellence Honorees

Four individuals earn the Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award; First Command receives inaugural Firm Excellence Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Financial Services Institute (FSI) today named its 2026 Advocacy Circle of Excellence honorees, including the recipients of the Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award, and announced its inaugural Firm Excellence Award.

The Advocacy Circle of Excellence recognizes FSI members and firms whose advocacy leadership advances FSI mission, strengthens the independent financial services profession and protects Americans' access to affordable, professional financial advice.

FSI presented its inaugural Firm Excellence Award to First Command Financial Services. The award recognizes an FSI member firm that demonstrates a strong, firm-wide commitment to advancing the independent financial services industry and promoting access to financial advice. It reflects high-level involvement across the firm, including participation from employees and affiliated financial advisors in FSI advocacy efforts.

"First Command has cultivated a spirit of engagement throughout its organization, from engaging employees and advisors in grassroots efforts to helping launch FSI's AI Task Force, which has provided industry leadership on this new frontier," said FSI President & CEO Dale Brown. "Their contributions help influence the policy discussions affecting our profession and the investors we serve. We congratulate Mark Steffe and the entire First Command team on receiving our inaugural Firm Excellence Award."

Nineteen individual members were named to FSI's 2026 Advocacy Circle of Excellence. Four of those honorees received the 2026 Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award, FSI's highest individual honor.

Recipients of the Excellence in Advocacy Award set the standard for advocacy engagement. They build strong relationships with policymakers, engage fellow members on key issues, and serve as visible, positive leaders within their communities.

The 2026 Stephen R. Kareta Excellence in Advocacy Award recipients are:

• 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.

In addition to Bentley, Chan, Jeffries and Watts, the 2026 FSI Advocacy Circle of Excellence Honorees are:

• 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, MassMutual
• Brad Greenbaum, 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, The Next Level Network
• Brian W. Olah, Financial Advisor | Founding Member, Halo Wealth Management, LLC
• Jim 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

"These honorees exemplify the constructive engagement that drives FSI's advocacy," said Brown. "Their meaningful work has helped further our efforts on policies affecting independent financial advisors, firms and the millions of Americans they serve. We offer them our sincerest gratitude and congratulations."