Adam Band is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 2008 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2010. Adam works with affluent families, accomplished professionals, and business owners to provide goals-based wealth management. He focuses on simplifying clients' financial lives by acting as a central point of contact and integrating various elements of their wealth management needs. Adam holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Arizona, where he is part of the alumni organization Capitol Cats. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Outside of work, Adam enjoys coaching his two sons' sports teams, including baseball and swimming. He also volunteers locally at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Adam and his wife Joanna live in Potomac, Maryland with their two sons.

Michael Towhidi is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at Prudential from 2023 to 2025. Outside of his advisory role, Towhidi owns a fitness social media business where he creates fitness and lifestyle content, develops workout plans, and provides fitness consulting. Fidelity’s affiliate, Strategic Advisers LLC, offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including model portfolio construction based on proprietary research and quantitative analysis.

Pamela Sams is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has worked with firms including Securities America Advisors and Voya Financial Advisors and has owned Jackson Sams Financial Services since 2012. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in community activities such as substitute teaching in Loudoun County Public Schools, volunteering to provide financial consultations for women in transition, contributing articles on retirement planning, and serving as an AARP Community Ambassador. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm integrates brokerage and advisory services with a variety of investment tools and third-party solutions to construct and manage tailored portfolios.

Kil Chang is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Charles Schwab since 2000, including a role at Charles Schwab Bank since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he served on the Kemptown Elementary School PTA from 2018 to 2020. 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. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment due diligence, leveraging its large scale and integrated operational structure.

Stacy Allgood Smith is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Frederick, MD, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at PFS Investments Inc., Charis Realty Group, and Plastic Surgery One. Outside of finance, she has been involved in entrepreneurial ventures such as MJach Designs and Allgood Therapeutic Massage. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program that primarily serves individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, 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 overseen by third-party asset managers.

Kenneth Hecht is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 30 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2022, following a nine-year tenure at UBS Financial Services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery conversations and firm-approved planning tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs methodologies such as Monte Carlo simulations and Secular Return Estimates in its planning process.

Geoffrey Magee is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Gaithersburg, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 1998. In addition to advisory work, he is involved in sales of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, which includes model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors, operating primarily on a tiered wrap-fee structure.

Alexander Freed is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he focuses on helping high-net-worth clients pursue their professional and personal wealth management goals. He joined Merrill in 2017 and serves clients in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. His practice centers on developing in-depth relationships to understand clients' current situations and future aspirations, offering financial planning, tax minimization strategies, estate planning, customized lending solutions, and other services. Prior to joining Merrill, Freed earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business, studying Finance and Risk Management. He holds several professional certifications including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management, retirement income, and more. A native of the Greater Washington Region, Freed understands the unique financial needs of his community. He is involved with organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in activities like biking, bowling, fishing, football, golfing, hiking, and reading.

Matthew Smolsky Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for 19 years and The Barnes Group for 23 years. Outside of his advisory role, Smolsky serves as an Assistant Fire Chief with the Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue, a position he has held since 1977. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives. The firm supports individual investors, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions with a range of financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms.

Edgar Marita is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Potomac, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2010 to 2024 before joining Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services that include financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group.

Eli Kreger is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2019, with brief periods spent outside the industry. His prior work history includes roles at Pulse House of Fitness and Sherwood Hill Liquor Store. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual investors, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services, with tailored investment strategies implemented through a combination of in-house and third-party managers.

Mary Bottella is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a rental property in Naples, Florida. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, providing a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment options along with integrated brokerage, custody, and financial planning services.

Scott A. Spiers serves as the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill. He has been in the financial services industry since January 2015 and is a fully licensed financial advisor. Scott's approach centers on building wealth management strategies tailored to individual client needs, focusing on tax-efficient portfolios and retirement planning. Before joining Merrill, Scott began his financial services career with a smaller firm, achieving the highest level of production distinction in his third year. Prior to his financial career, he served nearly 21 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, commanding three squadrons and deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an MBA from the College of William & Mary, and a Master of Arts in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School. He holds professional designations including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Scott emphasizes that his work is about understanding clients' life priorities and creating personalized financial plans that align with their goals and aspirations. He is committed to community involvement, reflecting the Merrill tradition of service by volunteering with local organizations. His personal interests include a variety of sports and endurance activities such as baseball, basketball, biking, football, running, running marathons, soccer, and swimming.

John Lasheski is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an executor for an estate in Brookeville, Maryland. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide array of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and models.

Vicki Studt is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Frederick, MD, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her work history includes positions at Primerica Financial Services, D4C Dental Brands, and Amedisys. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in selling loan products, home security, automation, and other home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors is a large-scale asset management firm serving primarily individual, corporate, and charitable clients through a wrap-fee program that utilizes model-driven investment strategies managed by third parties, with support from BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.

Timothy Calabrese is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2008 and concurrently at Bank of America, N.A. since 2013. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services primarily to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of individual and institutional investors.

Mark Searles is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Grove Point Advisors, Grove Point Investments, SSN Advisory, and Medallion Financial Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Safe Money Concepts, a non-variable insurance business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Vladislav Romanov is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in North Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He is also involved with Metro Financial & Benefits, a business related to his LPL practice. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of advisors and advanced operational tools.

Joseph Myer is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2021 and previously held roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and A. G. Edwards & Sons. Outside of his advisory work, he is associated with several business entities, including Courser Capital Management and Stubblefield Farm, LLC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, with an emphasis on both advisory and non-advisory financial activities.

Lyssa Tavel is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016 and also operates Lyssa Tavel Interior Design LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services both directly and through Corporate Financial Planning agreements.