James Estes is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Desert Wealth Management LLC since 2018 and previously spent seven years at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he held a position with FINRA for nearly two decades and has been affiliated with California State University. Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser serving primarily individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an academic investment approach that combines macroeconomic and fundamental security analysis to guide asset allocation and investment selection, managing accounts on a discretionary basis for a small client base.

Maria Melecio is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Desert Wealth Management LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC and as an insurance agent. Outside of her advisory work, Ms. Melecio serves as a FINRA arbitrator and is an adjunct professor at California State University San Bernardino. Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser managing approximately $49.6 million in discretionary assets for a small client base, primarily individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an academic investment approach that integrates macroeconomic and fundamental security analysis to guide asset allocation and investment selection.