Alexa Weldon is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill from 2016 to 2024 before joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. She holds the Series 66 designation and is based in New Orleans, LA. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety 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 using proprietary tools and modeling techniques.

Donald Abaunza Jr. is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera and Cetera Investment Services LLC since 2022 and has prior work history with Hancock Bank and Hancock Investment Services, Inc. He serves as a board member for De La Salle High School, where he participates in policy and procedural reviews. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm operates a multi-manager platform offering various investment solutions and manages over $256 billion in assets through a large network of advisors.

Nicole Deshotels is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been part of the Davis Deshotels Swander Group since 2011. She joined Merrill Lynch in 2003 and previously served as the Client Relationship Manager for the New Orleans complex, supporting multiple offices in Louisiana. Nicole specializes in legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and women and wealth. Nicole holds multiple professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and Personal Investment Advisor. She earned both her MBA and bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, after completing her high school education at Teurlings Catholic High School. Committed to community involvement, Nicole is an active member of the Junior League of New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to her professional work, she serves on the board of the Merrill Women's Exchange. Nicole enjoys boating, reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and family.

Ralph Leopold is a Certified Financial Planner® with 30 years of industry experience currently serving at Ameriprise. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliates since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in business ownership through entities that manage office space and equipment leasing. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency strategies to generate personalized, non-discretionary recommendations delivered in partnership with financial advisors.

Michael Reilly is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New Orleans, Louisiana, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, First Horizon Advisors, Iberia Bank, LPL Financial, and Standard Investment Advisors. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved planning tools.

Michael Marse is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Metairie, LA, holding 37 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously spent 30 years at Metlife Securities Inc. Marse also operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in property and casualty insurance, including flood insurance through FEMA and related programs. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers customized planning engagements supported by analytical tools and a range of investment and educational programs.

Maria Chang is a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise since 2018. In addition to her advisory role, she has been involved with Younique Products since 2014. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written Recommendation Reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Charles Christy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and HUB International Gulf South. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a variety of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Joseph Mannino II is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in New Orleans, LA, with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides 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 employs a planning process that incorporates firm-approved tools and quantitative models to assist clients in developing financial plans.

Audry Verrette is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Merrill since 2019, following roles at IberiaBank and Saybrus Partners. Outside of her advisory work, she owns a rental property in New Orleans. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Teresa Folkins is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in New Orleans, LA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cuso Financial Services for eight years before joining RBC in 2022. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a wide range of clients including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, tailoring strategies to clients’ risk profiles through a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers.

Samuel Brand is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in New Orleans, LA, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2025, he worked at VALIC Financial Advisors/Corebridge for six years and has experience in various delivery services and hospitality roles. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and investment options, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Tuan Minh Pham is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following a brief tenure at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics to support its diversified investment approach.

Shannon Ockman is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she has been involved with The Bayou Sports Shop since 2007. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies and affiliated financial services through a large network of advisors and branch offices.

Ricardo Thomas is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Metairie, LA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 42 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2018, he worked for INVEST Financial Corporation for nine years. Outside of his advisory work, he manages a band and artists through TWA Entertainment and consults for Compassion and Choices. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, various advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Michael Minvielle is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner and partner in real estate investment ventures. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional services supported by a nationwide adviser force and a range of portfolio management strategies.

Jacque Kuchta is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in New Orleans, LA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Kuchta serves on the Board of Directors for the Port Eads Fishing Refuge nonprofit, which promotes research, education, and recreation in Port Eads, Louisiana. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing model-based asset allocations and proprietary research to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, providing a broad range of financial solutions.

Greggory Harris is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, where he has worked since 2013. He has 18 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he holds passive ownership and management positions in several privately held businesses, including property and business partnerships. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser overseeing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, providing financial planning, consulting, and a broad range of portfolio management options.

Michael Slatten is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New Orleans, LA, and has four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Iberiabank, and Bisso Towboat, as well as time spent at Tulane University. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Kayla Plaisance is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2016, including three years at Bank of America, N.A. She is based in New Orleans, LA. Merrill, together 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 for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.