Matthew Merlo is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Louisville, KY, holding a Series 66 designation. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2025 and has prior experience at The Charming Turtle, Five Iron Golf, and various roles within the University of Louisville and community organizations like the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati. He has engaged in both educational and recreational sectors before beginning his advisory career. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and modeling techniques to support its services.

Brent Stern is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank division since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing structured discovery conversations and firm-approved planning tools.

Chris Hudson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2012 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a college basketball official during the basketball season. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by offering a range 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 as part of its financial planning process.

Amy Cooper is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Stifel with four years of industry experience. She has been with Stifel since 2021 and previously worked at Prolacta from 2016 to 2017. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and state and municipal entities, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach relies on proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group, using forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to support asset allocation and financial planning.

David Gripshover is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at UBS since 2018, following earlier roles at Edward Jones, American Commercial Barge Lines, and the University of Louisville. He holds a Series 66 designation. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including portfolio management and fee-based financial planning. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans to clients' goals and risk tolerances.

Colin Backert is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Baird in 2022, he served in the United States Air Force for six years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a college football official on the replay staff for the Sun Belt Conference and will be serving as a traditional guardsman with the Tennessee Air National Guard. Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, including the DDK Group team, serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing internal research and a combination of manager-traded and model-traded strategies.

Charles Hawkins is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. in Louisville, KY, with 31 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Robert Baird & Co. since 2019, following a long tenure at J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. Hawkins serves as Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises a range of clients including high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. The group offers tailored investment advice and portfolio management through both in-house and third-party managers, utilizing traditional and non-traditional strategies to align with client goals and risk tolerances.

Kimberly Knight is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co. in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Robert Baird & Co. since 2019 and has been with J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. (including its affiliate Hilliard Lyons) since 1996. She is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department that serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management through separately managed accounts, and custody and brokerage services, supported by internal research, ongoing manager monitoring, and strategic partnerships.

Stokes Baird is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 31 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He serves as a board member of the Buckeye Trace Homeowners Association, where he participates in community safety and property-related decisions. Wells Fargo Advisors provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Michael Moranville is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. He has 43 years of industry experience, including 17 years at Raymond James & Associates. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutions, pension plans, charitable organizations, and government entities, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Lara Jenkins is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 27 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by offering a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by proprietary tools and modeling techniques.

Allison Fietsch is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in La Grange, KY, with three years of industry experience. She has worked with Edward Jones since 2017, with a brief tenure at Murray State University in 2019. Allison serves as Vice President of the La Grange chapter of BNI, where she manages membership activities and oversees the application process for new members. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of advisory services through a large network of financial advisors and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Barry Blalock II is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at PNC Investments for seven years. Blalock serves as a board member for the Douglass Hills Swim & Dive Team, a youth organization in Louisville, KY. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and research.

Austin Hays is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co., bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Robert Baird since 2019 and concurrently at Jjb Hilliard Wl Lyons LLC since 2015. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as a board member on the investment and finance committee of the Shelbyville Kiwanis Club. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, institutions, and charitable organizations. The group offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing both in-house and third-party managers across a wide range of investment strategies.

Steven Whitcomb is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Louisville, KY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of ChesterHeights LLC, a family partnership involved in the commercial breeding and selling of thoroughbreds. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management, brokerage, custody, and financial planning services. The firm is notable for its large scale, integrated operational structure, and multi-asset investment approach.

Andrew Doan is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Allied Advisory Services, Inc. and First Allied Securities Inc. He is also involved in independent financial contracting and serves as vice president of a non-CPA tax preparation firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts, offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform.

Robert Cregor is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base—including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities—and offers financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services.

Jax Goldberg is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with UBS since 2022 and previously worked in educational roles at the University of Louisville, Samford University, and Saint Xavier High School. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm integrates institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, offering proprietary research and a broad service platform.

Thomas Barnes Jr. is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2021, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in two restaurant and nightclub ventures in Louisville, Kentucky. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning, supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved planning tools.

William Benoit Jr. is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS Financial Services since 2010. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, providing a wide range of capital markets and advisory solutions.