Lester Butler Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has 36 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation and Financial Design Group, as well as running his own practice for over three decades. Outside of advising, he is involved with FDG Investments LTD and FDG Management, Inc., entities used for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and retirement consulting, supported by a variety of model portfolios and research resources.

Fred Van Meter is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in various client focus areas including retirement planning, college education planning, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, liquidity management, managing new wealth, philanthropic planning, and portfolio management services. With close to thirty years of experience, Fred and his team assist clients in navigating each new phase of life by understanding their unique needs and goals. They provide tailored solutions and dedicated attention to help ensure a positive client experience. Fred holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston System and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designation. Outside of his professional work, Fred enjoys fishing, golfing, running, scuba diving, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Aldo Perez is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Texas Financial Advisors and several entrepreneurial ventures. Perez is also involved in fixed insurance sales through Florida Financial Insurance. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework to support client decision-making.

Michael Brooks is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Sugar Land, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner at Brooks Law PLLC, where he engages in select pro bono and non-financial legal matters and occasionally presents at Texas law schools on how to complete law school and pass the Bar Exam as a nontraditional student. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services to provide tailored financial planning and portfolio management.

Catherine Hesse is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, Inc. based in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 license and 11 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Texas Wealth Management, LLC, Texas Wealth Management, Inc., and FSC Securities. Hesse is also a licensed attorney and serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Finance and Operations at Texas Wealth Management, LLC. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to manage portfolios that may include a variety of investment products on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Danielle Armstrong is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked at Prudential and LPL Enterprise. Armstrong is also involved in hospitality through her ownership of The Conclave LLC, where she hosts client events and tours. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, offering asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program.

Garrett Maddox is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2011. He holds a Series 66 designation and is based in Webster, TX. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Jared Kenney is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial in Sugar Land, TX. His prior experience includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Oak Harvest Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in several business ventures, including ownership of Wild Aggie Studios LLC, operating under the brand Hotworx Sugar Land. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from LPL and third-party subadvisors.

Christine Malik is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2015 and 2016, respectively, and previously held roles at RX To Go Pharmacy and Walgreens. Malik is also involved in referrals for home security and automation products through Primerica Client Services, Inc. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm manages approximately $15.5 billion in assets under management through a large network of advisors delivering model-based investment strategies supported by third-party asset managers and custodial services.

Trevor Mc Gee is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Sugar Land, TX. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has seven years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank, along with prior positions at Greenyard Inc and Texas A&M University Department of Recreational Sports. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a multi-asset investment approach supported by in-house research and alternative investment options.

Joseph Howard is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Friendswood, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, he worked at Maique Insurance and Financial Services, Inc and Katie Lamb State Farm. He is also employed by DGW Worldwide, LLC, where he manages an advisory business. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals with significant investable assets, using a centralized consulting team to deliver non-discretionary, research-driven recommendations that integrate tax and income strategies.

Jason Valentz is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Sugar Land, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill from 2016 to 2020 before joining UBS in 2020. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a combination of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm uses proprietary capital market assumptions and research to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances while combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services.

Jay Jackson is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at PFS Investments Inc., The Fiduciary Alliance, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, and Shell Oil Company, where he spent 22 years. Primerica Advisors sponsors and manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm operates at scale with nearly 3,700 advisors and approximately $15.5 billion in assets under management, delivering advisory services through model-based strategies and a limited number of discretionary separately managed account options.

Byoung Kang is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and starting his advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining Ameriprise, he worked for Goose Creek CISD for 14 years. He is also employed at DGW Worldwide, LLC, where he manages an advisory business. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary retirement recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Steven Ambriz is a Wealth Management Advisor with VMT Wealth Management, affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and Bank of America. Since beginning his financial services career in 2009 and joining Merrill Lynch in 2012, Steven has focused on delivering comprehensive wealth management strategies tailored to clients' individual goals and risk tolerances. His work includes asset management, insurance planning, estate planning services, customer lending, and access to private banking. Steven emphasizes clear communication and personalized service to help clients align their financial actions with their long-term objectives. He holds several professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Steven earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston Downtown and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Rice University. Born and raised in Texas, Steven currently resides in Richmond, a suburb of West Houston, with his wife and three children. He is involved in community organizations such as Brookwood Community and Paternal Time Inc. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, hunting, F3 workouts, and playing disc golf.

Douglas Sobotik is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in developing personalized financial strategies that align with clients' individual goals and the dynamic conditions of today’s market. Leveraging the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America, he focuses on comprehensive wealth management tailored to each client's unique financial picture. Douglas holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His educational background includes an Associate's Degree from San Jacinto College, coursework completed at the University of Houston System, and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Phoenix. Committed to community involvement, he participates in volunteer activities within the local area, reflecting Merrill’s tradition of serving the communities where clients live and work.

Jocelin Mathews is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position held since 2023. Jocelin has been with Fidelity Investments in various roles since 2011, including Financial Consultant, Planning Consultant, Senior Relationship Manager, and Relationship Manager. Prior to joining Fidelity, Jocelin worked as a Financial Planner at Raymond James Financial from 2006 to 2010, and as an Account Administrator and Information Portfolio Specialist at Wachovia Securities from 2002 to 2006. Jocelin collaborates with clients to create comprehensive financial plans aimed at building, preserving, and distributing wealth. The approach involves understanding what is important to clients and their families to develop and implement tailored strategies that ensure comfort and confidence throughout the financial planning process.

Allen Baker is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 42 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise since 2019 and previously spent 10 years at RBC Capital Markets Corporation. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals with substantial investable assets, delivering written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm employs a centralized consulting team and algorithmic tools to support tailored, non-discretionary advice, emphasizing assets held in Ameriprise Managed Accounts.

Esmeralda Valarezo is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previous work experience at Raymond James Financial Services and Amegy/Zions. Valarezo is also involved with The Noble Group, an investment-related business. LPL Financial serves individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of advisors. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Ryan Taylor is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' individual financial goals and changing market conditions. He leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America to support clients' pursuit of their financial objectives. Ryan holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston System and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is committed to serving clients by understanding their financial stories and providing guidance aimed at achieving their goals. His professional philosophy emphasizes the importance of meeting with an experienced financial advisor to develop personalized retirement strategies, regardless of the time horizon. Outside of his professional work, Ryan volunteers with organizations in the community, reflecting his dedication to service. He enjoys traveling with his family, golfing, and training for obstacle course races.