Associates

Perry Buckman

Perry Buckman

  • CRPC
  • AIF
  • Partner
  • President
  • PIM Portfolio Manager

Perry Buckman is Partner and President of Pathlight Advisors headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. He has over 20 years of experience focusing on private client wealth and institutional retirement plan management. 

From 2021-2023 Perry has been recognized by Forbes™ Magazine as one of the Best in State Wealth Advisors in Arizona.* Perry has also held the Platinum Council distinction from 2012-2023. This distinction is held by a select group within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by completion of educational components, business production in the previous year, and professionalism. These designations underscore his ability to understand his clients’ aspirations and develop comprehensive and holistic strategies to help achieve those objectives. More importantly, it reflects his focus on earning his clients’ trust by offering sound, objective, and professional advice.

Perry holds several industry registrations including being an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), CRPC®, Series 7, Series 66, Series 31.

He is also able to incorporate insurance solutions into his clients plans with his variable life and health insurance licenses.

Perry received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona. In his free time Perry enjoys traveling and spending time with his family—especially the newest addition to his family, his beloved granddaughter.

*The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue, and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

*Insurance products are offered through our affiliated non-bank insurance agencies.


This information is intended for use by residents of AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA and WI.

CA Insurance LIC# 4033682

Resident State AZ

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Pathlight Advisors is a separate entity from WFAFN.
Nicole Corning

Nicole Corning

  • CFP
  • CRPC
  • AIF
  • Managing Partner
  • Fundamental Choice Portfolio Manager
Nicole Corning is a Managing Partner of Pathlight Advisors. She holds several industry designations including that of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor CRPC®, and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary AIF®.  She has been part of the finance and banking industry in Scottsdale, Arizona since 2001.

Nicole is a member of the Retirement Advisor Council and was named one of the Top Women Advisor by the National Association of Plan Advisors, NAPA*, from 2018-2023. Nicole has also been named a Top Woman Wealth Advisor by Forbes Magazine in 2022, 2023 and 2024.** Prior to coming to Arizona, Nicole worked in Washington D.C. and had the honor of working on two presidential campaigns as well as several senatorial and congressional campaigns around the country.  Nicole is also a published author and hosts a podcast focused on working mother issues. She has appeared on the Katie Couric Show and has been featured in Financial Planning Magazine, 401K Specialist Magazine, NAPANet Magazine, and Plan Consultant Magazine. In 2020 she was named the inaugural chairwoman of the American Retirement Association Council for Women.  She is active in the Scottsdale non-profit community and sits on the board of the Care Fund, is a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership Class of XXIV, and sits on the NAPA Governmental Affairs Committee. Nicole graduated Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her two sons and loyal rescue dogs keep her busy.
 

**The Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue, and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

*The National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Top Women Advisors were nominated for consideration by NAPA BD/RIA Firm Partners, and selected based on information about their practice, experience, and accomplishments as provided by nominees by a panel of industry experts chosen by NAPA. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Pathlight Advisors is a separate entity from WFAFN

This information is intended for use by residents of AZ, AK, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI 

CA Insurance Lic# 0I03854    

Resident State AZ
Karen Doering

Karen Doering

    • Registered Senior Administrative Assistant
    With over 30 years of experience in financial services, Karen is dedicated to helping the clients of Buckman and Corning Financial Strategies Group address their financial needs by supporting our Financial Advisors as they develop investment plans that will pursue our clients’ long-term goals.   Karen’s extensive experience in operations and compliance helps her to assist our clients and Financial Advisors with the administrative side of the business.

    After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Concordia University in River Forest, IL, Karen began her financial services career as a trading assistant with A. G. Becker in 1981.  Karen joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 1991, where she worked in management until the end of 2019 when she joined Buckman and Corning Financial Strategies Group.

    Committed to helping the educational community thrive, Karen is a member of the board of the Concordia University Foundation and the Concordia University Foundation Investment Committee.  After moving from the Chicago area in 1999, she and her husband reside in Scottsdale.  Away from the office, Karen and her husband enjoy hiking and traveling to visit family, friends and new places.

    Securities Registered in the following states:  Arizona
    Danny Comforti

    Danny Comforti

      • Financial Advisor
      As a Financial Advisor for Pathlight Advisors, Danny specializes in personalized wealth strategies which include retirement asset management, investment planning, and retirement plan rollovers. Through Danny’s work with participants in the more than ninety Institutional Retirement plans managed by his team, he has a deep understanding of how to help individuals plan for all stages of their financial lives; from qualified plan rollovers and college savings planning to insurance needs analysis and comprehensive retirement planning. He enjoys working with individuals to help them navigate through critical life events and holds FINRA registrations including the Series 7, 63, and 65.

      Prior to working at Pathlight Advisors, Danny worked at an institutional fixed income brokerage firm in the Bay Area with a focus on tax free municipal bonds, corporate bonds, treasuries, and mortgage-backed securities.

      During his college tenure, he was captain of the Arizona State University swim team. Danny qualified for Olympic Trials and Men’s Division 1 NCAA Swimming Championships. He was a finalist in multiple PAC 12 and U.S National Championship meets. As a captain, the ASU men’s swim team finished in the top 25 division 1 schools in the country.

       

      Securities Registered in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, MI, MS, NC, NM, NV, NY, SC, TX, VA, WI

      CA Insurance License: Lic# 4008122    Resident State:  Arizona
      Kathleen Wilson

      Kathleen Wilson

        • Operations Manager
        Kathleen Wilson, Operations Manager, has worked in the Financial Services Industry for 24 years. During her career she has worked as a compliance manager where she assisted in supervising up to 52 support staff, reviewing account activity, training, and problem solving all while focusing on efficiency.

        Kathleen holds the FINRA Securities Registrations 7, 66, 9, 10, 23 and AZ Insurance License. Kathleen strives to provide exceptional client service and is responsible for all operational processes with Pathlight Advisors including trading, account reconciliation, scheduling, transferring assets and working with our wonderful support staff.

        Kathleen loves cooking, reading and listening to podcasts. Kathleen is a co-host of The Working Mommy Manual's Podcast with Nicole Corning. Kathleen and her husband Dale are originally from the Pacific Northwest and have enjoyed living in Arizona for the past 25 years. They stay active with their two children and many outdoor activities including hiking, camping and watching sports.

        Securities Registered in the following states: AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, TX, VA, WA,

        Steve Horrell

          • Registered Client Associate
          Steve’s time in the financial services industry began back in 2018 as a Financial Advisor.  He holds the industry specific designations including FINRA securities registrations Series 7 and 66, as well as Arizona insurance license.  Steve is passionate about enhancing people’s knowledge about their financial future needs and aiding people to get them to where they want to go, financially.  

          Before getting involved in the securities industry, Steve was as an aquatics director and head swim coach.  He has worked with numerous people from ages 2 through 99 including Olympic, college, high school, age group champions, CEO’s, triathletes, and even an Indy car driver. 

          Steve is married to his wife, Kasey, who they met as professional dancers/teachers/choreographers, and have 4 kids (2 boys and twin girls).  When he is not in the office, you can find him on the sports fields watching his kids play all sports, whether he is coaching or as a spectator.  If he gets free time to himself, you might find him cooking, dancing, lifting, swimming, golfing, mountain biking, reading, or watching football (or any sport, as his wife would say).  But with 4 kids, free time is few and far between, but he would not have it any other way. 

          Securities Registered in the following states: AZ

          Insurance Licensed: AZ

          Tory Thompson

            • Registered Client Associate
            Tory Thompson is a Registered Client Associate at The Pathlight Advisors of Buckman & Corning Financial Strategies Group. He began his affiliation with The Pathlight Advisors in April of 2023. Prior to his employment with Pathlight Advisors, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics from Grand Canyon University. Tory first gained experience in the financial services industry when he worked as an Advisor Support Representative at The Vanguard Group.

            As a Registered Client Associate, Tory is dedicated to assisting the Financial Advisors with client operations and procedures. In this role he helps clients set up retirement and advisory accounts, assists with operational issues, and assists the Financial Advisors with facilitating client relationships.

            Tory was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ where he spent most of his youth outdoors playing sports or in the mountains camping. He enjoys hiking on the weekends when the weather isn’t too hot, playing sports with his friends or spending the night in cooking and watching movies.

            Resident State: Arizona

            Securities Licenses Series 7, Series 63 

            Joshua Dixon

              • Client Associate
              As a Client Associate, I am dedicated to servicing individuals and businesses with the development of their financial and investment strategies that line up with their needs, goals, and risk tolerance. My mission is to provide every client with the utmost client experience and customer service delivered with the highest level of professional integrity.

              Earlier in my career, I worked as a Client Associate with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Peoria, Illinois. I graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Finance.

              In addition to helping my clients, I am committed to being active in my community. Currently I’m involved with the Arizona Sports League. Away from the office, I also enjoy hiking, working out, reading, chess and spending time with my loved ones. I currently reside in North Scottsdale, but by heart I’m a Midwesterner.
              Glen Katz

              Glen Katz

              • CMT
                As a Chartered Market Technician® (CMT) and Vice President with Pathlight Advisors Glen specializes in helping his clients with investment and risk management.  As a practitioner of CMT® market analysis he is uniquely qualified to help his clients navigate through times of market volatility.  Charting and technical analysis have always been a passion of Glen’s. 

                He began his career at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange charting the futures market.  He used that knowledge to become a retail futures broker and spent seventeen years as a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley before moving his practice to Wells Fargo.  He currently co-chairs the local chapter of the Chartered Market Technicians Association. Because of his technical background Glen has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and Futures magazine.  Throughout his years in financial services his commitment to empowering his clients in times of uncertainty has only grown deeper.

                Glen grew up in Skokie, Illinois and attended Northern Illinois University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.   Though originally from the mid-west Glen has been a Phoenician for over forty years.  When he is not serving his clients, Glen enjoys attending art and theater events, wine tasting, hiking, and traveling.