Mark Hebner is the founder and President of Index Funds Advisors, Inc., author of the ifa.com and indexfunds.com web sites, and the book, Index Funds: The 12-Step Program for Active Investors. He has been nominated as the author of one of the three all-time greatest investment books, along with Warren Buffett and John Bogle. He does a weekly radio program, is a frequent lecturer and has attended over thirty investment conferences and is considered the leading internet provider of information on index funds and especially information on Dimensional Funds Advisors mutual funds and portfolios of the research indexes used by DFA. He is an Investment Advisor Representative (Series 7 and 65) and has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of California at Irvine and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of New Mexico with a specialization in Nuclear Pharmacy.

Mr. Hebner was a member of the Young Presidents' Organization for over 20 years and is currently a member of the Worlds' President Organization and the Chief Executives Organization.

From 1975 to 1985, Mark was President, CEO and co-founder of Syncor International (previously a public company - SCOR). In Jan. 2003, Syncor was acquired by Cardinal Health for approximately $850 million. As a Cardinal Health division, Syncor is the world's leading provider of nuclear pharmacy services. Through an integrated network of over 150 nuclear pharmacies, Syncor compounds, dispenses and distributes patient-specific, unit-dose radiopharmaceuticals to more than 7,000 hospitals and outpatient clinics. Through his experience at Syncor, Mr. Hebner gained insight as to how public companies operate, raise capital, and promote their securities.

Mr. Hebner has been the Chairman of two Global Financial Seminars, is a respected speaker and is a frequent attendee of investment conferences so that he can keep up with the latest research for his books and web site. He has met and learned from some of the brightest minds in the business. He has attended lectures by William Sharpe, Paul Samuelson, John Bogle, Warren Buffett, Eugene Fama, Sr. and Jr., Kenneth French, Rex Sinquefield, Roger Ibbottson, David Booth, Burton Malkiel, Jeremy Siegel, Terrance Odean, Brad Barber, Robert Arnott, Campbell Harvey, William Bernstein, Larry Swedroe, Paul Merriman, Michael Mauboussin, James Surowiecki, Daniel Solin, Sunil Wahal, James L. Davis, Weston Wellington and many more.

Dan and Patricia Solin work as a team to provide investors with superior investment education and service.

Dan Solin is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is the author of the best selling book, "The Smartest 401(k) Book You'll Ever Read", and “The Smartest Investment Book You’ll Ever Read”. Dan's latest book, "The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read", covers topics that worry investors most these trying times. He is also the author of “Does Your Broker Owe You Money?”. Additionally, Dan is the financial columnist for The Huffington Post and AOL's Walletpop.

Dan has appeared on CBS’s The Early Show, Fox Television’s The O’Reilly Factor and Fox and Friends, MSNBC’s Weekend Economic Review, CNN’s Money, and Bloomberg Television. Dan is a frequent speaker on investment-related topics and presents before large corporate audiences and topic-oriented interest groups. He has testified before a congressional subcommittee investigating the fairness of the mandatory arbitration system imposed on all investors by the securities industry.

Dan is a Senior Vice President for Index Funds Advisors (IFA). Dan is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), and he resides in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Patricia is a graduate of California State University, Fresno. She also has Certificate of Legal Studies from U.C.L.A. Her employment history includes serving as a Manager with Price Waterhouse in San Francisco  and as President and Chief Operating officer of a manufacturer. Patricia is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (series 65). She resides in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Dan Solin covers retirement investing for AOL's DailyFinance
Click here to listen to Dan's Podcast Interview
10 Toughest Retirement Questions from AOL Money
Huffington Post Blogs

Click the image below to watch a video about Dan Solin's Smartest Investment book:

Gordon Shuler has been an investment services professional for over 15 years and is an Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65). He has completed two Dimensional Fund Advisors Conferences for Investment Advisors and is an expert in Index Funds investing.

He has presented a variety of investment topics to hundreds of seminar attendees and has periodically provided commentary and interviews on local radio stations. Previously in the computer industry for 25 years, his experience provides a solid background for the highly technical investment methodology offered by IFA.

He was previously employed at large high technology firms including General Electric Co. and Hewlett-Packard, as well as several small start-up firms in the high technology area of computer-aided engineering.

He has a B.S. Degree in Production Management from the California State University, Long Beach, with a specialization in Operations Research & Statistics.

Dave is an attorney licensed in Arizona, a Certified Financial Planner - CFP®, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary - AIF®.

He has published over fifty articles on insurance, savings, and investing. He has served on the faculty at The University of California at San Diego, Extension Education Department of Business and Management where he taught ‘Risk Management’ and ‘Managing Your Money’.

Dave also has been a designated expert witness on insurance in civil court, has consulted for the City of San Diego Retirement System and has consulted on investment advisor securities regulatory matters.

He has been offering financial advice to clients since 1983.

Brendan's varied financial services industry experience began in 1989 as Wall Street District Manager for Dale Carnegie & Assoc., Inc.  He now manages our Midwest regional office in Madison, Wisconsin.

At Allen Capital Markets he helped initiate the effort to create a secondary market for private equity through Offroad Capital and the NYPPe. With Green Cay Asset Management, a fund headed by a Sir John Templeton protégé, he led business development functions. He also served as an advisor with estate planning firm Legacy Financial, specializing in small to medium-sized business owners. This direct experience with the folly of active money management led to his conviction in risk quantification through globally diversified index funds as key to proper investment strategy.

Brendan lives in Madison with his wife and four children, three of which were adopted in 2008.  He received a B.A. from Connecticut State University and today is an avid triathlete, sailor and advocate for worthy causes such as the DuRunRun, now a nine-event State-wide duathlon for kids as a fundraiser for Special Olympics that he started from scratch in 2003.

Denise Delaney has been a Certified Financial Planner® since 1992 and has served in the financial services industry since 1988.  Denise specializes in serving high net worth investors.  She enjoys the challenges and works to create investment solutions for the often complex situations that high net worth investors must consider including all aspects of investing.  Areas of focus range from personal portfolio construction to company 401(k) plans, and planned giving through charitable organizations such as an Endowment or Foundation. 

Denise’s experience in dealing with these issues has given her the ability to navigate through the overall process to create well thought out investment solutions using a “globally diversified portfolio of index funds” tailored to each individual’s specific and unique circumstances such as minimizing unnecessary costs due to high fees and taxes which often result with an active management strategy. 

She strives to create lifelong relationships with her clients and their families to create the most optimal investment solutions.

Becky has 23 years of experience in the financial services industry.  She received her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation from University of California, Irvine.  She is also an Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65).
 
Becky specializes in advising high net worth clients.  With her expertise in asset allocation, retirement planning and tax efficiencies, she is able to assist investors in achieving their investment and retirement objectives.
 
Becky also has many years of experience in advising Investment Committees for Endowments, Foundations, and Pension Plans.  Through IFA Institutional, Becky enables trustees and fiduciaries to fulfill their responsibilities by adhering to the principles outlined in the Prudent Investor Rule.
 
Becky works with companies to construct globally diversified, low-cost 401(k) solutions for their employees.  High management costs and mutual fund fees erode employees’ returns and retirement security.  Becky strives diligently to ensure that employees are offered the best investment choices.
 
Becky lives in Huntington Beach, California with her husband and two teenage children.  She volunteers in her community, at her church, and at her children’s schools.

Ted Fischer manages IFA’s Westlake Village, California office. With more than 17 years of experience, Ted advises clients regarding risk-appropriate investments for long-term wealth management. Prior to joining IFA, Ted assisted private clients in the formation of financial strategies to maximize their investments. Additionally, he served as a Senior Investment Consultant and a Life/Health agent for both Charles Schwab and Wells Fargo Securities.

Ted has particular expertise in retirement planning, estate planning and investment analysis. He is devoted to learning the unique needs of each client and providing them with an individualized investment plan to achieve their personal goals.

Ted graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, with a minor in Finance. Ted is an Investment Advisor Representative with a Series 65 license.   

Ted is an avid sports enthusiast who enjoys mountain biking, snow skiing, coaching soccer, and spending time with his family. He lives in Newbury Park with his wife and two daughters.

Brad has been in the investment industry since 1999 as a traditional stock broker and as an Investment Advisor Representative. Brad started with American Express Financial Advisors. Then as the owner of VON GROTE Financial & Insurances services in Huntington Beach, CA acquired extensive experience with all forms of stock market investing and financial planning. As a former active trader and stock broker, “I have seen first hand the wrong way to invest in the stock market. Index investing provides appropriate risk and long term return on a very low cost platform.”

Brad is married with two teenage boys and lives in Huntington Beach, CA. He is the past Event Chair and current Registration Chair for “The Relay for Life” which benefits the American Cancer Society. He says, “Please check your local area for a Relay near you - it will truly do your heart good.

Ben Brinkerhoff, Chief Operating Officer, began his career as a quantitative and economic consultant for Fortune 500 firms, most recently for the Qatar Economic Zones in the Middle East. It was Ben’s love of economics and statistics that attracted him to IFA.

Ben excels at helping clients from all backgrounds understand the key concepts embodied in IFA’s investing approach. While he works to expand and enhance IFA’s strategic vision, his primary goal is to ensure all IFA clients receive wonderful customer service and have their all their investing needs addressed promptly and thoroughly.

Ben graduated Magna Cum Laude with B.A. degrees in both Economics and History from the University of California at San Diego. He became an Accredited Investment Fiduciary AIF® in 2008 in order expand the pattern of fiduciary excellence offered by IFA. Ben is currently working on the CFP accreditation and is active in his community and church. He lives in Tustin, California with his wife Elissa, their son Ari, and twin daughters Ahava and Asha.  

Venkat Yarlagadda is an Investment Advisor Representative (series 65) and is located in IFA’s Manhattan branch office. A seasoned financial professional, Venkat is committed to servicing the financial services needs of the New York tri- state area. Venkat specializes in offering customized and personalized investment advisory services to individuals, 401(k) plans, pensions, profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.

Venkat was previously employed and consulted at Fortune 500 firms, including Bell South, Honeywell, McGraw-Hill and Oracle, as well as several technology start-up firms. Venkat has a B.S. Degree in Computer Sciences & Engineering from Bangalore University, India, with a specialization in Operations Research & Statistics.

Cheri Franklin is an Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65) and is located in IFA’s Irvine, California office. With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Cheri applies a dedicated focus to offer customized retirement planning advisory services to a small select group of clients, including company 401(k) retirement plans and affluent private investors.

“By maintaining my focus on retirement solutions for companies and select individuals, I am able to deliver a high degree of personalized service that is required for clients to enjoy a rewarding investment experience. My goal is to ensure that my financial services team and I work in sync on behalf of my clients. In doing so, I can eliminate anxiety and confusion and facilitate the proper organization of the financial futures of those who matter most -- my clients and their valued employees.” - Cheri Franklin
  
Cheri lives with her husband and two Miniature Pinschers in Laguna Hills, California.

Richard N. (Dick) Neal manages IFA’s Texas Regional Office in Brenham, Texas.  Dick advises clients on risk-appropriate investments for long-term wealth management.   Prior to joining IFA, Dick spent 28 years in banking; 17 of those years as President of various banks and 13 years as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of a privately owned petrochemical marketing company in Houston, Texas. 

Dick has a particular interest in retirement plans, individual retirement planning and the financial lives of our senior citizens.  He is devoted to learning the unique needs of each client and to providing them with an individualized investment plan to achieve their personal financial goals.

Dick is a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Financial Consultant and a Chartered Advisor for Senior Living.  Additionally, Dick is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA degree in Banking and Finance.  He graduated from the South Texas College of Law in Houston with a Juris Doctor Degree.  He is a graduate of the Banking School of the South at LSU and is a Certified Commercial Lender.  Dick is an Investment Advisor Representative with a Series 65 license.   

Dick and his wife, Carolyn, live in Brenham, Texas and enjoy traveling the world.  They have three children with active careers as a chemical engineer, a dentist and a teacher specializing in early childhood development.  They have seven grandchildren. 

Advisor Assistants for Mark Hebner, Brad von Grote, Venkat Yarlagadda, and Cheri Franklin

Advisor Assistants for Denise Delaney, Brendan Connelly, Ben Brinkerhoff, and Richard Neal.

Advisor Assistants for Becky Vasquez, Dan Solin, Patricia Solin, Ted Fischer, and Dave Mertz