Pamela Willison is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of experience at Thrivent Investment Management. Prior to joining Thrivent, she was a manager in business consulting, focusing on project management and human resources software implementation. She also has experience teaching in the Baltimore County Public Schools. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning on a range of topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing approach called “WealthPlan.”

David Cooper is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Eldersburg, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2013 and has previous experience with Carroll County Government. His business activities include sales of loan products and home security services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients, utilizing model-delivery strategies created by unaffiliated asset managers and supported by Pershing custody and BNY Mellon Advisors. The firm operates at scale with thousands of advisors and offices, primarily focusing on individual investors rather than institutional clients.

Benjamin Duhoski is a Series 66 registered advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Enterprise and has previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Northwestern Mutual. Prior to his financial career, he was a full-time student for nine years. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients through both advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers financial planning, access to model portfolios, third-party asset management arrangements, and a broad range of brokerage and insurance products.

Lionel Desbordes II is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, investment strategies, and affiliated solutions under a fiduciary standard.

Niesha Parekh is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 23 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for the An Open Book Foundation, a nonprofit focused on children and youth in Washington, D.C. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning process includes structured discovery and modeling tools, supporting clients in implementing and updating their plans.

Luke Welsh is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked at Goohoo Digital and held teaching positions at Coastal Carolina University and Glenelg High School. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing various investment management strategies and supporting technologies.

Michael Padilla is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with families, individuals, and business owners to develop long-term financial strategies that integrate savings plans, financial goals, and business plans with retirement objectives. He serves as clients' primary point of contact and partners with a team of specialists to assist in various aspects of their financial lives. Mike graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Business Management. His professional background includes owning and managing a home improvement company and working as a Personal Banker for Bank of America, where he helped clients with their checking, savings, and credit needs. He joined Merrill in 2012. Mike holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He lives in Montgomery County with his wife and two children and is active in his church and community. Mike spent time living in Brazil from 2002 to 2004 and is fluent in Portuguese. Outside of work, he enjoys participating in sports such as flag football, camping, hiking, and is involved with the Boy Scouts of America.

Richard Nisson Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2019. His prior work includes a position at Solar Energy Services and experience in the hospitality sector. 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 range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Clinton Hare is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in purchasing model homes from a homebuilder, renting them out, and later selling the properties. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model with both advisory and brokerage/insurance channels to deliver customized client solutions.

Rongxia Zhu is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Truist Investment Services and Globalink Securities. She is currently based in Kensington, MD. 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 through its Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Connor Walsh is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Ellicott City, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise since 2020 and is involved in Business Networking International, where he is set to become chapter president in November. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning that includes written Recommendation Reports and ongoing advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Richard Gerber is a financial advisor with Merrill based in North Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2009 and concurrently affiliated with Bank of America, N.A. since 1981. Gerber is also a co-owner of a rental property business in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Dawn Durbin is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2014. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program for Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Christina Marsalek is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Crofton, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 27 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 1998 and with Primerica Financial Services since 1995. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in the sale of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed accounts. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, providing portfolio management focused on retail investors rather than institutional plans.

Reed Eliff is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of experience in the industry. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2014. Merrill, in partnership with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Leonard Cohen is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Potomac, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee or co-trustee for a trust in West Palm Beach, Florida. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a wide array of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools and models to support its advisory services.

Thomas Lydon is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds the PFS™ and Series 66 designations and has 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Avantax Investment Services, Inc. and 1st Global Capital Corp. He is also the manager of Lydon Financial Advisors, LLC, a wealth management entity. Lydon serves as trustee for multiple irrevocable trusts and is president of Lydon Fetterolf Corydon, P.A., a CPA firm founded in 1980. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser offering services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm serves individual and institutional clients with a multi-manager platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services.

Thomas Cabral is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Co., having joined both in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Citigroup Global Markets, LPL Financial, and M&T Securities, among others. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved software for goal analysis and structured, annual planning engagements.

Matthew Tyler is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to his current role, he worked at Ted Britt Automotive for two years. 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 combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, utilizing multi-asset model portfolios and a centralized operational structure.

Jose Gomez is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Charles Schwab since 2023, following prior roles at TD Ameritrade and other organizations. Outside of finance, he has experience with community and nonprofit work at Misioneros Inc. and San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado Catholic Church. 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 offers a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment options supported by multi-asset model portfolios and research from the Schwab Center for Financial Research.