Our team combines years of expertise with forward-thinking innovation, all focused on one goal: your financial success. Led by Brian Q. Severin, our founder and managing partner, we bring deep knowledge and experience to every client interaction. Together, we simplify retirement planning and empower you to achieve exceptional results.
Brian Q. Severin is the Founder and Managing Partner at BQS Financial Advisors and a seasoned retirement plan expert with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. As an Investment Adviser Representative at BQS Financial Advisors, he works closely with employers and their employees to enhance retirement outcomes through customized plan design, participant education, and a deeply held belief in the value of independent, fiduciary-based guidance. Brian has advised hundreds of plan sponsors over the course of his career and is widely recognized for his leadership and industry insight.
A recognized voice in the retirement space, Brian’s commentary and articles have appeared in outlets such as Think Advisor, Retirement Daily, U.S. News & World Report, AARP, and USA Today. He is passionate about sharing knowledge with both business leaders and the employees they serve—believing that strong retirement plans begin with informed participants.
Brian began his career with Mutual of America Financial Group in 2000, where he held multiple leadership roles in sales and marketing. His tenure culminated in serving as the firm’s President and Chief Operating Officer, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s client base nationwide. In addition to driving business growth, Brian mentored and coached key sales managers across the country—many of whom now hold senior leadership roles of their own.
He holds a B.B.A. in Business from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA in Financial Management. Brian is currently registered as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) and holds the Series 65 license to provide fiduciary, fee-based advisory services. Prior to transitioning to the RIA space, he held FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses while affiliated with a broker-dealer.
Outside of his professional life, Brian is committed to giving back. He serves as a Board Member for the Police Athletic League in New York City and is a proud supporter of Don Bosco Prep High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, where both of his sons attended. His approach to life and work is grounded in service, education, and the belief that everyone deserves a dignified path to retirement.
Todd Dixon is a Managing Partner and Investment Advisor at BQS Financial Advisors, bringing two decades of experience in the financial services industry and a uniquely comprehensive background that spans compliance, advisory, and executive leadership.
At BQS Financial Advisors, Todd champions a fiduciary-first approach that blends deep institutional expertise with highly personalized service. His focus is on building trust, strengthening relationships, and delivering measurable improvements in plan outcomes and participant experiences. Todd’s practice emphasizes solutions over products, providing fiduciary oversight, plan design consulting, risk management, and strategies that drive long-term retirement success. For individuals, he offers retirement income planning, tax-efficient investment strategies, financial education, wealth management, and integrated estate and protection planning. Clients value Todd’s forward-looking perspective and his ability to simplify complex financial concepts into clear, results-driven strategies. He is passionate about empowering people to make informed, confident financial decisions while fostering lasting, meaningful relationships.
A Maryland native, Todd began his career with T. Rowe Price working with compliance and legal oversight teams, building a strong foundation in regulatory integrity and operational excellence. He later transitioned into advisory services where he delivered personalized wealth management strategies for individual clients.
In 2010, Todd joined Mutual of America as a Participant Account Representative and quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately serving as Senior Regional Vice President for the Western Region overseeing California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Before settling back in Los Angeles, Todd previously led sales, service, and strategic growth for multiple offices including the Cincinnati and Chicago markets. He leads with a steadfast commitment to fiduciary excellence and a philosophy of delivering personalized, white-glove service.
Todd holds the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®) designation, which reflects specialized expertise in employer-sponsored retirement plans. He maintains qualification for the Series 6, 7, 63, 65, and 26 licenses, along with Life and Health Insurance licenses. He graduated from Towson University following his studies at DeMatha High School.
Outside of work, Todd enjoys international travel, golf, and exploring the outdoors with his loyal lab mix, Charlie.
Chris Conway is a Managing Partner and Investment Advisor at BQS Financial Advisors, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He specializes in retirement plan design, investment solutions, and wealth management strategies for both institutional and individual clients.
A recognized voice in the retirement industry, Chris has been featured in BenefitsPro and the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). He is passionate about equipping business leaders and employees with the tools to make informed financial decisions—believing that strong retirement outcomes begin with engaged and educated participants.
Before joining BQS Financial Advisors, Chris served as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Mutual of America Financial Group, where he led national sales and marketing efforts and spearheaded growth initiatives into new markets. Earlier in his career, he was Executive Vice President of the Western Region, overseeing regional offices, driving sales performance, and building long-term client relationships.
Chris earned his B.A. in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation. He is a Registered Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) and, prior to entering the RIA space, held FINRA Series 6, 26, and 63 licenses.
Based in Southern California, Chris enjoys golf, traveling, and time with his family.
Aferdita Gutierrez is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer at BQS Financial Advisors, bringing over 18 years of finance and executive leadership experience to her role overseeing the firm’s strategic operations. A proven finance executive, she ensures the delivery of high-quality, client-centric solutions across retirement plan consulting and wealth management services.
Her work centers on operational strategy, business scaling, and executive leadership. Clients and colleagues value Aferdita’s strategic mindset, operational discipline, and dedication to service excellence. She brings clarity, accountability, and a deep understanding of financial systems to every client engagement—delivering results that are both meaningful and measurable.
Before joining BQS Financial Advisors, Aferdita served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Mutual of America Financial Group and has built a distinguished career as a finance leader. Her track record includes driving operational transformation, optimizing financial performance, and leading cross-functional teams in fast-paced, highly regulated environments. With nearly two decades of experience, she is known for marrying strategic vision with disciplined execution.
Aferdita holds a B.S. in Finance from Fordham University.
When she’s not building scalable infrastructure or leading client initiatives, Aferdita enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog Ollie in Westchester County, New York and supporting her kids’ passions in the arts and sports. She is deeply rooted in the Albanian community along with her close-knit family. Aferdita also serves as the troop treasurer for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, combining her love of spreadsheets with her commitment to empowering the next generation of young leaders.
Allison Fukuyama is the Vice President of Client Relations at BQS Financial Advisors, serving as the central point of contact for all aspects of retirement plan administration. She works closely with both the advisory team and recordkeeping partners to ensure processes run smoothly and oversight is maintained at every step. With a strong command of plan operations and a passion for client service, Allison plays a vital role in delivering a streamlined, responsive experience for plan sponsors and participants alike.
Her expertise spans plan sponsor support services, retirement plan implementation, compliance consultation, and fiduciary protection planning. Clients rely on Allison for her proactive communication, attention to detail, and ability to keep everything—and everyone—on track. She also assists with the preparation and documentation of key advisory paperwork throughout the year.
Allison earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to joining the RIA space, she held FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses. She began her career with Mutual of America in 2008, where she supported both plan sponsors and participants with the administration of their retirement plans. Over the years, she rose to oversee all Relationship Managers across the Western Region—gaining deep insight into compliance, fiduciary best practices, and client service leadership.
Outside of work, Allison enjoys spending time with her family, taking day trips to the beach, playgrounds, and exploring new restaurants. She co-leads her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and ends most evenings with neighborhood walks alongside her husband, two children, and their dog.
Calvin Ruiz is Vice President of the Southwestern Region at BQS Financial Advisors, overseeing service operations, plan sponsor support, plan consultation, participant education, client relationships, and business development across Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California. Known for his high-energy leadership and dedication to service, Calvin plays a vital role in driving regional growth and delivering seamless client experiences.
He is a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist® (CRPS®), a designation that reflects specialized expertise in employer-sponsored retirement plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and has previously held FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses, as well as Life & Health insurance credentials. Calvin studied Social Sciences at Cerritos College and San Diego State University, where he earned Dean’s List honors and played collegiate soccer. A proud student-athlete of St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, CA, he graduated with honors and learned the value of teamwork and a commitment to excellence.
Before joining BQS, Calvin spent eight years at Mutual of America, first as a Group Account Representative for the Los Angeles territory, then as Vice President of the Phoenix office, overseeing operations across Arizona and New Mexico. He also brings nearly 15 years of management experience from the retail appliance and electronics industry, where he eventually helped lead a 12-store Southern California chain as a District Manager. This early leadership experience shaped his practical and passionate customer-first philosophy and taught him the importance of building lasting client relationships through service and dependability.
Calvin specializes in retirement plan implementation, including 401(k), 403(b), 457, IRA, Roth, and after-tax solutions—as well as investment research, fee benchmarking, plan design consultation, compliance strategy, participant engagement, and fiduciary protection. Clients value his approachable style, hands-on support, and commitment to tailored, high-quality outcomes.
Originally from Whittier, CA, Calvin now lives in Goodyear, Arizona with his wife, their two sons, three rescue dogs, and his mother-in-law, whom they care for full-time. He coaches his youngest son’s AZFC Select Club soccer team and supports his older son’s jiu-jitsu tournaments. Off the clock, he enjoys spending time with extended family, watching sports, barbecuing, and listening to music while relaxing in the pool or by the fire pit. Calvin’s pride in his family and his roots is reflected in his professional relationships—bringing loyalty, positivity, and a team-first mindset to everything he does at BQS.
Derek Wratchford is Vice President, Western Region with BQS Advisors, bringing over a decade of experience in the retirement services industry. As an Investment Adviser Representative, he maintains his Series 65 license along with several other securities licenses, and partners closely with clients to design and implement retirement strategies that align with their organizational goals and fiduciary responsibilities. Prior to entering the financial world, he honed his leadership skills as a General Manager in the appliances and electronics sector, experience that shaped his practical, client-first approach to advisory work.
Originally from Maryland, Derek attended a small college there before moving to California, where he has now spent half his life. Now, as a longtime Long Beach resident, Derek is deeply rooted in his community. Though fully at home in Long Beach, he remains a die-hard Washington Commanders, Capitals, and Baltimore Orioles fan, proudly sticking with his hometown teams no matter the season. He actively serves on several nonprofit boards and is passionate about helping others thrive.
Outside of work, Derek enjoys golfing, reading, cooking, and expanding his massive vinyl collection, reflecting his love of music from timeless classics to hidden gems. Most importantly, his greatest and most rewarding role is being a devoted husband to his wife Marni and a proud father to their two children. Together, they share their home with three rescue dogs who complete the family.
