Rong Diao is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Raymond James & Associates. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in their recommendations.

Pratibha Sharma is a financial advisor at Merrill with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise, PNC Bank, and in insurance advisory roles. 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, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a wide range of individual, institutional, and nonprofit clients.

Bruce Hesse is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding the PFS™ designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. He has 31 years of experience in the industry, including a long tenure at his own firm, Hesse Financial Service, from 1984 to 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of a condominium association and manages a tree farming operation in Maine. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC supports a large network of independent advisors, serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services. The firm offers various program structures and investment options, including model portfolios and third-party managers, and oversees over $256 billion in assets.

Carmela D'anna is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Bank of America, and Merrill. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide 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.

Andre Bakhos is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Warren, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having five years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Equitable Advisors. He is also a member of Alpha Sigma Phi through 2025. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Meredith Vergara is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2001 and has also worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. 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 strategies developed by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Eric Burkett Jr. is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Merrill since 2013. He serves as a volunteer member of the Investment Advisory Committee for the American Bankers Association Foundation. 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 both model-based and discretionary investment strategies and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Patrick Woodward is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds the Series 66 designation. He has 28 years of industry experience, including 19 years at Metlife Securities and over a decade with MassMutual and its investment services affiliate. Woodward is also a partner at Optimum Financial and serves as a group health insurance agent. 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 financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, structuring planning engagements as collaborative, annual relationships using firm-approved analytical tools.

David Lambert is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2008 and was previously with Valley National Advisers Inc for five years. Outside of his advisory role, Lambert works as a technical editor for Wiley & Sons. 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 financial planning and portfolio management services through a large network of advisors, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies with access to advanced operational and research tools.

Austin Joyal is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined the Joyal-Ferraro Group in 2013 and focuses on helping clients connect all aspects of their financial lives to prioritize and pursue important goals such as education funding, retirement planning, healthcare cost management, and wealth transfer to younger generations. His client focus areas include corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, small business strategies, and tax minimization. Austin holds a Bachelor's Degree from Villanova University and a High School Diploma from Rutgers Preparatory School. He has earned multiple professional designations, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He also holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations. Outside of his professional work, Austin is involved with Special Olympics Pennsylvania. He enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, football, golfing, hiking, horseback riding, scuba diving, skiing, and spending time with his family and traveling.

Louis Ferraro is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined The Joyal Group in 2014 and brings a background in banking, investments, and retirement products to his role. Louis works with a range of clients including business owners, senior executives, professionals, and individuals who have inherited assets, offering customized wealth management strategies. With 19 years of experience at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Louis assists clients in pursuing their objectives through discretionary management of custom investment strategies, selection from Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment options. His expertise extends to retirement and 401(k) planning, small business strategies, and holistic wealth management. Louis emphasizes a team effort in wealth management and engages in detailed discovery processes to optimize asset allocations. Louis holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Rider University. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). His personal interests include baseball, football, ice hockey, reading, scuba diving, swimming, and spending time with his family.

Montgomery Gallant is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Hamilton, NJ, holding a Series 63 designation and 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Gallant also owns the Gallant Group, a business involved in payroll and office expense management. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, offering tailored Recommendation Reports and a range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its extensive institutional platform.

Darren Lange is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2019. Prior to that, he spent over two decades at TD Ameritrade in various roles. 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. As a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines institutional advisory services with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Stephen Gribben is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process is grounded in modern portfolio theory and includes a broader set of financial product offerings than typical institutional advisers, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Robert Junge is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 37 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and has previously worked at Private Advisor Group, PNC Wealth Management, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Uvest Financial Services Group. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Douglas Mouridy is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. He works with individuals and families to develop personalized financial plans aimed at providing peace of mind. He focuses on building ongoing relationships and serves as a primary advisor to monitor clients' financial plans over time. Douglas has held various roles at Fidelity Investments since 2013, progressing from Financial Representative to Relationship Manager, Investment Consultant, Planning Consultant, and currently Financial Consultant. Prior to joining Fidelity, he gained experience as a Wealth Management Intern at Merrill Lynch in 2011.

John Von Nessen is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2019, following prior roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Insight Private Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Hillsborough Raiders Touchdown Association and is a board member at Mary Mother of God Church in Hillsborough, NJ. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through independent financial professionals, utilizing proprietary and third-party strategies with various custody and platform options.

J. Michael Seymour is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Sagepoint Financial, Inc. for 14 years before joining OSAIC in 2023. Seymour is also the owner of UNI Private Wealth Strategies, a sole proprietorship that provides insurance and fixed annuity recommendations and monitoring. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of integrated brokerage and advisory services and uses various portfolio construction and management tools supported by multiple advisory platforms.

Edward Skarbnik is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s process is investment policy statement–driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broader range of financial products than many institutional advisers, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Zeeshan Mir serves as a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over 35 years of experience in wealth management, having joined Merrill in 2002. His client base includes business owners, medical and legal professionals, corporate executives, and others with growing wealth across the nation. Zeeshan specializes in assisting business owners throughout the stages of the business cycle, offering strategies related to cash management, financing, succession planning, and the implementation of defined benefit or defined contribution plans. He holds several professional designations, including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) awarded by the National Association of Plan Advisors, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). These credentials enable him to provide fiduciary advisory services to defined contribution and benefit plans. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Rutgers College. Zeeshan resides in Basking Ridge, New Jersey with his wife and two sons. Outside of his professional work, he is a member of the United States Chess Federation and participates in tournament chess. His personal interests include travel, biking, exploring, golf, and involvement with the community organization Girls on the Run.