Clayton Gibson is a Wealth Management Advisor based in the Santa Barbara office of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining the firm in 1998, he has focused on asset strategy and liability management, working closely with clients to create customized financial strategies. He also provides access to Bank of America Private Bank trust and estate planning services and real estate financing through Bank of America. Clayton's areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He actively participates in estate-related matters by serving as a direct point-of-contact with clients' attorneys. Additionally, he tracks market conditions to keep clients and his team informed. He holds a bachelor's degree in business finance from Oregon State University and the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation. Clayton is also a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute® (The Institute). Outside of his professional work, he spends time volunteering with organizations in the community and enjoys biking, boating, and scuba diving.

Christian Orth is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank since 2020, and previously held a position at Edward Jones from 2016 to 2019. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis.

Kathleen Symer is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Osaic Wealth, Inc. since 2013. She holds CPA and CFP® designations and operates a separate business offering life and long-term care insurance sales as well as tax preparation and planning services for individuals and various entities. Symer also serves as Financial Secretary for the El Camino Elementary School PTA in Santa Barbara. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services with access to multiple investment platforms and third-party managers, utilizing firm-provided asset allocation tools and automated portfolio rebalancing.

Ronald Chen is a CFP® professional with 37 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC, where he has worked since 2023, and previously spent 28 years at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., followed by six years at Pacific Diagnostic Laboratory. Outside of his advisory role, he has engaged in selling life and health insurance incidental to financial planning. OSAIC serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients through a broad network of affiliated financial advisers, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers. The firm employs various asset-allocation tools and supports multiple investment platforms to construct portfolios tailored to client needs.

Ismael Mejia is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at JP Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Outside of his advisory role, Mejia is an independent sales representative for Amway, focusing on product distribution. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm’s advisory approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances.

Kayla Trujillo is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Charles Schwab since 2015 and Charles Schwab Bank since 2017, both located in Santa Barbara, CA. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base of 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 operates a primarily non-discretionary client relationship model and offers access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and research from the Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Daniel Johnston is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with OSAIC since 2025. He previously worked for Lincoln Financial Advisors for 11 years. Johnston is also an insurance agent offering accident and health insurance, disability insurance, fixed annuities, long-term care insurance, and traditional life insurance products. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services with access to multiple advisory platforms and third-party money managers.

Justin Pearlman is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Raymond James & Associates and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Citigroup Global Markets. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, advisory programs, and institutional consulting with a range of portfolio management options.

Josh Macaluso is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works one-on-one with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing their long-term goals. He leverages insights from Merrill and banking solutions from Bank of America to create flexible wealth management plans tailored to individual needs. Josh holds a Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State and a Doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law. He is also designated as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Beyond his professional responsibilities, Josh participates in community volunteer activities, reflecting the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

John Spruill is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he co-leads The Gamberdella - Spruill Group. He has built his career advising military officers and their families, focusing on complex financial and estate planning issues. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2009, John has held various roles, including Senior Portfolio Advisor and Retirement Benefit Consultant, leveraging his expertise to provide personalized investment strategies and retirement planning guidance to his clients. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Florida State University and an MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant and has earned the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®) and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC) designations. He is also a member of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council and holds multiple FINRA registrations and insurance licenses. Before his financial advisory career, John served five years as a weather officer in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Captain. He is an Eagle Scout and actively volunteers with organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Ventura County Rescue Mission. John lives in Oxnard, California, with his wife, Karyn.

Patricia Toner is a CFP® professional with 43 years of experience in financial advising. She has worked at Osaic since 2023 and spent 14 years at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. Additionally, she is active as a real estate sales agent in Montecito, CA. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a broad network of affiliated advisers. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, employing asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Darin Mast is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, currently leading a team headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. He began his career in financial services in 1998 at Merrill Lynch's downtown Houston office and has remained with the company throughout his career. Darin co-founded Vicknair Mast Taylor (VMT) Wealth Management, contributing to the team's recognition on several national rankings including Forbes' #1 ranking for High Net Worth Teams from 2022 to 2025 and Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams list during the same period. Individually, he has been named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list annually from 2018 through 2025. Darin manages personal wealth and financial strategies for a select group of clients, including families, retirees, business owners, and Fortune 500 executives nationwide. His client focus areas include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He coordinates wealth management objectives alongside clients' external advisors such as attorneys, tax professionals, and insurance experts. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University, where he was a four-year letterman on the men's tennis team. Darin maintains his interest in tennis and lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and three children. He is affiliated with the organization Friends of Fleming Park. His professional designations include CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA).

Nathaniel Erman is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Santa Barbara, CA, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2017, and previously spent two years at Bank of America and Merrill. Outside of finance, he is the author of a book on becoming a professional pilot. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory and brokerage services to both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm employs structured planning tools and a comprehensive investment approach supported by the Global Investment Committee.

Timothy Jou is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he joined the JJD Group in 2018. In his role, he provides comprehensive advice that empowers clients to achieve their important financial goals, taking a holistic approach that includes managing both assets and liabilities with a focus on goal-based wealth management. As a member of the JJD Group, he supports clients and assists the advisor team with a range of services including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, and tax minimization. Tim holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California system and has earned several professional designations such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His experience is informed by his personal background and commitment to using money as a tool to make meaningful impacts on clients' lives. Beyond his professional work, Tim has been involved with various community organizations including the Foundation of Shared Impact, Impact Circles, OWN Academy, and the UCSB Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, among others. In his personal time, he enjoys cooking, playing sports such as soccer, volleyball, and golf, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Sydney Walker IV is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) at Stifel with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, Walker serves as a board member and investment committee member for the St. Francis Foundation and participates on the outreach committee for All Saints by-the-Sea, both organizations based in Santa Barbara, CA. Stifel serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on proprietary forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Julie Smith is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Santa Barbara, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2013. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, with a financial planning process that includes firm-approved tools and modeling techniques. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides a broad range of retail and institutional offerings.

Michelle Marie Burmester is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank from 2014 to 2026. Outside of advising, she is involved as a partner in a commercial rental property venture in Carpinteria, California. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by proprietary research, third-party subadvisors, and various portfolio management options.

Felix Ruiz is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2024. His professional journey at Fidelity Investments includes positions such as Investment Consultant, Financial Representative, Relationship Manager, Onboarding Team Leader, and High Net Worth Representative, reflecting a broad range of experience within the financial services industry. Prior to this, he worked as a Registered Customer Representative at Robinhood and as a Service Center Representative at PlanMember Securities Corporation. Felix's mission is to provide clients with clear and personalized financial guidance, focusing on understanding their unique needs to offer trustworthy advice aimed at achieving financial goals and peace of mind. He holds a California Insurance License, enabling him to provide insurance-related financial services. No additional information on education or personal interests has been provided.

Andrew Christensen is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Santa Barbara, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Schwab in 2025, he worked at Pacific Life for two years and was involved with the San Luis Obispo Country Club in 2022. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 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, offering a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance supported by multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment due diligence.

Matthew Kelly is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Santa Barbara, CA. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.