Matthew Eckenrode is Senior Resident Director at Merrill, where he and his team provide investment planning-based wealth management services. With a career in financial services beginning in 2004 and joining Merrill in 2010, Matthew specializes in helping high net worth individuals, families, and businesses develop strategies tailored to their financial goals. His expertise includes family wealth management, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, and integrating corporate benefit programs such as equity compensation and deferred compensation plans into long-term financial approaches. Matthew holds a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and carries professional designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He applies a goals-based approach to wealth management, working closely with clients to ensure their wealth is allocated to support their personal objectives. Matthew is also involved with the Psi Upsilon Foundation, serving as Vice Chair and participating on the foundation’s investment committee. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Matthew enjoys boating, football, golfing, woodworking, traveling, and spending time with his family. He is an avid supporter of Michigan State University and stays connected with the MSU community through attendance at games and events.

David Appleford is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2006. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party managers across a range of investment strategies and account structures.

James Mellinger is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Traverse City, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and possessing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1992. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients across a broad range of households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a variety of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, overlay and tax-efficient services, and affiliated investment products through a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Jeffrey Spencer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience, currently with Equitable Advisors since 2024. He previously worked at Wedbush Securities Inc for nine years and Stifel for four years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of the Hidden Ridge Association homeowners' board and coaches a boys basketball team in Traverse City. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management services to individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a range of advisory programs and third-party managers to tailor investment solutions based on client risk profiles and objectives.

William Van Vreede is a financial advisor at Cetera with over 44 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has held roles at firms including Voya Financial Advisors and Front Street Benefits LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing insurance agencies and owns a business focused on oil and gas exploration. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of independent advisors using a multi-manager platform and multiple program structures.

Jonathan Wheatley is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior work history includes positions at Bank of America and Merrill, each from 2020 to 2024, and two decades with the Antrim County Sheriff's Office from 2000 to 2020. The DDK Group at Robert W. Baird & Co., where Wheatley is based, serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate clients, pensions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management services that incorporate internal research, manager selection, and oversight, with nearly $394 billion in regulatory assets under management as of December 2025.

Raja Asava is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Spc, Sigma Financial Corporation, and Schekpo Inc. He is also involved with H&R Block in tax preparation and accounting services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions through a broad platform that includes financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional offerings.

Brian Percy is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques in its financial planning process.

Peter Braden is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. He has 19 years of industry experience, including five years at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, prior to joining Cambridge in 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in Hearth Sauna Partnership, a business based in Traverse City, MI. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through independent financial professionals, offering a variety of portfolio management approaches across multiple platform arrangements.

Daniel Mc Namara is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed advisor at Charles Schwab with 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab since 2015 and is also president of TCCSIBL Inc., a company focused on expense and payroll management for franchise operations. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and related managed-account and financial planning services. The firm’s client model combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a broad range of integrated brokerage, custody, and investment services.

Michael Buren is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2015. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, focusing on asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm uses quantitative asset-allocation modeling combined with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Julio Vozza is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, he worked at SPC and SIGMA Financial Corporation from 2016 to 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Drago Construction Services and Vozza Insurance Agency, which he has led since 2004 and 2010, respectively. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supporting advisors with technology and research tools while overseeing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Terry Knott is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2010 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, and it includes a range of investment options such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Jeffrey Pasche is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 1999 and also has a longstanding role at Western Michigan University since 1983. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, institutions, pension plans, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and advisory services supported by a broad range of investment strategies and affiliated research, with a notable presence in municipal advisory services and a comprehensive affiliate network.

Joshua Sprunger is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2017 and previously served at Warren Road Church for eight years. Outside of his advisory role, Sprunger coaches junior high track and basketball and serves on the board of the Northwest Michigan Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits through its network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning focused on a wide range of topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called WealthPlan.

Carly Ellis is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience and has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2002. She is based in Traverse City, MI. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in managing a rental home in Williamsburg, MI. She is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services using a mix of in-house and third-party managers with a range of investment strategies and overlays.

Megan Pegan Naylor is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she is an associate at Schweitzer Capital Group, LLC, where she performs general office duties. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and supports its clients with analytical tools and advisory programs.

Matthew Ligon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, with prior roles at Stifel and UBS Financial Services. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines in-house research and third-party analytics to offer brokerage and advisory solutions across a broad range of financial products.

Eric Miles is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor at the Portage/Kalamazoo Michigan branch of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill since July 2000 and was Resident Director from 2006 to 2018. In addition to his role at Merrill, Eric serves on the Bank of America Michigan LGBT Pride Leadership Team. Eric provides a team-supported, goals-based financial strategy for high net worth investors, encompassing all aspects of their financial lives. His client focus areas include investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, special needs planning strategies, and retirement income. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Western Michigan University, where he majored in Finance and minored in Economics. Eric has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation. He and his wife, Kim, reside in Kalamazoo with their three children. Eric's personal interests include boating, football, and skiing.

Andrew Maniaci is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cuso Financial Services, LP, SPC, and TBA Credit Union. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive technology and oversight of large discretionary assets.