Joseph Ellis

Omar Chyou is a Wealth Management Advisor with extensive experience providing comprehensive wealth management services that address both sides of his clients’ balance sheets. He works closely with clients to understand their goals and beliefs, helping them pursue their near- and long-term financial objectives. Omar is committed to delivering a high level of service and advice, enabling clients to focus on what matters most to them, including hobbies, family, career, and philanthropy. Omar began his financial services career in 1996, advising high-net-worth individuals and families. He has held positions at several prominent firms such as Wells Fargo Private Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Citi Private Bank. Additionally, he served as Market President for First Western Trust in Denver, Colorado, where he led a team of advisors offering comprehensive advice across investments, lending, banking, financial and estate planning, and insurance. His professional designations include Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®), and Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ (AWMA™). He is FINRA registered, holds California life insurance licenses, and maintains his NMLS certification. Omar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stanford University and completed his MBA at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. Born and raised in Berkeley to immigrant parents from China and Mexico, he is a Spanish speaker who supports organizations focused on the Latin community and engages in community participation consistent with Merrill’s traditions. Outside of work, Omar spends time with his wife and three children enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, fly fishing, snowboarding, karting, and target shooting, and pursues his interest as a car enthusiast.

Douglas Andrey is a financial advisor based in San Jose, CA, with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and serves as the sole advisor at his independent firm. Prior to founding his advisory practice, he worked at Kaplan for 12 years and OrthoFX for three years. In addition to his advisory role, he is head of operations at OmniIndex.io, a data analytics tool focused on unstructured data. His firm provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advice to individual clients, constructing customized portfolios primarily using stocks, ETFs, and bonds. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a generally long-term investment strategy, with weekly account reviews and flexibility for shorter-term trading when appropriate.

Kevin Martin is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with 10 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Oak Peak Financial, an independent advisory firm he has led since 2015. Prior to founding Oak Peak Financial, he worked at InSpeed Networks for three years. In addition to his advisory role, Martin is an IRS Enrolled Agent and provides tax preparation services as a separate engagement. Oak Peak Financial serves individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, and retirement-plan sponsors with financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm follows a fiduciary standard and employs a diversified, tax-efficient investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, typically using low-cost index funds and ETFs alongside select individual securities and fixed income.

Financial Planning for What Matters Most Your financial plan should reflect what matters most to you. I begin every client relationship by understanding your values and goals. Together, we review where your money is going and identify opportunities for saving, investing, and living the life you envision. We then integrate relevant planning areas such as investment analysis, retirement planning, tax strategies, education funding, risk management, and estate planning. Financial planning can often feel overwhelming, so I organize the process into clear, manageable steps and strive to make complex concepts understandable. We begin with your most urgent priorities and incorporate additional tasks as we make progress, building momentum together. With a background in engineering and technical project management, I bring a structured, creative, and thoughtful approach to every conversation, ensuring each step is purposeful and aligned with your goals. Whether you're seeking comprehensive or hourly planning, our work is tailored to the topics that matter most to you. My process stays grounded in your values, so each step supports your unique goals and priorities. As a fiduciary, I always put your interests first, offering honest guidance and clear, transparent fees. Whether you want hands-on support or prefer to implement your plan yourself, I'll provide a complete and actionable roadmap for your financial journey. My practice is built on trust, transparency, and a deep commitment to my clients' success. Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing clients become thoughtful stewards of their wealth, gaining clarity and confidence, and building a future rooted in what matters most.

Mark Liu is a financial advisor at Ardent Capital with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Ardent Capital since 2005 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Ardent Capital provides discretionary portfolio management for affluent individuals, corporations, and trusts, overseeing investments in brokerage and IRA accounts under limited power of attorney. The firm emphasizes asset allocation across various asset classes with a focus on long-term holdings and uses third-party research to inform investment decisions.

Jie Shen, CFA, is the sole advisor at Jie Shen, CFA, an independent firm based in Los Altos, CA. He has eight years of industry experience and previously held leadership roles at Google, where he managed North America operations focused on customer support. Shen continues his full-time role at Google alongside his advisory practice. The firm provides investment management and advisory services to individual clients, employing a long-term strategic asset allocation framework across equity and fixed-income classes with periodic rebalancing and tactical adjustments. It offers a formal program of investment education seminars and manages accounts on a non-discretionary basis without allocating to illiquid assets.