Michael Duty is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with three years of industry experience. Before joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2026, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for three years and spent eight years with Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, LLC. Outside of his financial career, he is involved in local community theater, serving as the set construction lead and a technical theatre consultant for Ridge Point High School’s theatre department. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that offers a broad range of investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored planning and advisory solutions supported by proprietary research and integrates these services with other financial products and referral channels.

Jessica Chen is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. Prior to her current role, she has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and held various positions including fitness instructor at Equinox. Outside of finance, she teaches group fitness classes at Equinox. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines quantitative and qualitative research in its investment approach and offers broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Parker Smith is a financial advisor with Merrill based in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include four years at Main Street Capital Corporation and a board membership with The Rice Owl Club, which supports athletics at Rice University. 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 investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutions.

Stephen Gilley is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked for Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation for 10 years. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed as an insurance agent offering various insurance products including accident, health, disability, long-term care, and fixed/indexed annuities. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm provides brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform, emphasizing model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization supported by various tools and strategies.

Joshua Krakowiak is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Pasadena, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at CUSO Financial Services, J.P. Morgan Securities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Edward Jones, and earlier tenure at LPL Financial. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, 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.

Jacob Wade is a financial advisor at Fidelity with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked in sales and marketing roles at Schraad Sales and Marketing, Advantage Solutions, and Acosta Sales and Marketing. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing an Airbnb rental property through the Mawa Group. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors. The firm employs a systematic investment process combining proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction.

Sally Praker is a financial advisor at Merrill with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she owns Stray Cat Fishing Charters, a for-profit fishing charter business based in Dickinson, Texas. 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.

Vidal Ramirez is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in financial and wealth management services for both domestic and international clients. He provides comprehensive investment management, private banking access, and wealth planning guidance to families, business owners, professional athletes, and corporate clients. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Vidal served as a Director in corporate and investment banking at Barclays Capital in New York. Vidal holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the varsity basketball team, and a Master of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He has earned multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC), and Sports & Entertainment (SE) specialist. He is fluent in English and Spanish and is committed to ongoing professional development through executive education programs and industry-specific certifications. Residing in Houston with his wife, Barbara, and their two daughters, Isabela and Bianca, Vidal is actively involved in the community. He has held leadership roles such as Chair of the Bank of America Hispanic Organization for Latino/Hispanic Advancement (HOLA) and is a member of Bank of America's Houston Hispanic Business Council. Vidal also supports Big Brothers Big Sisters and participates in various personal interests including basketball, hiking, and yoga.

Paul Margraves II is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With more than 25 years of investment advice and guidance experience since 1993, he supports individuals and corporations in navigating fluctuating markets. Paul's expertise centers on assisting corporations in establishing, facilitating, and maintaining their 401(k), deferred compensation, and corporate stock option plans. He also focuses on corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, and equity compensation services. Paul collaborates closely with clients across all levels and works in coordination with their other advisors and specialists, emphasizing teamwork, communication, dynamic advice, and planning as keys to success. He holds the professional designations of Equity Plan Consultant (EPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). A native Houstonian, Paul earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with minors in history and English from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He is a devoted father to three children. Outside of his professional work, Paul volunteers with St. Jude Hospital and participates in community organizations including the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and The Children's Assessment Center Foundation. He also enjoys baseball, gardening, golfing, hunting, spending time with his family, and table tennis.

Stacey Smith is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2009. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Daniel Wallach is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Houston. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2019, Daniel has focused on working with individuals and families on financial planning strategies aimed at reducing fees, taxes, and overall risk. He employs a disciplined, mathematical, and rules-based investment approach to help clients define and reach their financial and retirement objectives. Born and raised in Seabrook, Texas, Daniel comes from a family with a long history in financial advisory, including his grandfather, father, and brother. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in Marketing and Management with a minor in Sales. Daniel's expertise spans a range of client focus areas including corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, retirement income, and tax minimization. He holds professional designations such as Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, Daniel enjoys adventure sports, biking, boating, bowling, chess, fishing, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Jennifer Turrentine is a Financial Advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Thrivent Financial, Empower Financial Group of America, and the Texas Association of Realtors. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm offers goal-based financial planning covering a range of topics, delivered as standalone or ongoing engagements, without discretionary trading authority over client assets.

Ethan Poff is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2026 and previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2024. Prior to his finance career, he gained varied experience in the hospitality and retail sectors. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, offering written asset allocation advice, investment manager selection, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary advisory framework.

Desiree Batiste is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. She worked previously at NEXT Financial Group, Inc. for 10 years and has been involved in tax preparation and accounting with H&R Block for over two decades. 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 investment management services through a large network of advisors, utilizing diverse strategies and advanced operational tools.

Emily Abernethy is a financial advisor at Merrill with 34 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Bank of America, Barclays Capital Inc., and Lehman Brothers Inc. during her career. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Diamantina Araujo is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in The Woodlands, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked with Primerica Financial Services since 2010 and PFS Investments Inc. since 2011, and was employed at Ascension Press from 2012 to 2018. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a notary public and volunteers as a monitor for court-ordered child visitations. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors, operating with a percentage-based tiered wrap fee structure.

Sarah Hatch is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank in 2023, she spent time affiliated with Brigham Young University and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, and endowments through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s process combines quantitative and qualitative research to build model asset allocations and incorporates ESG considerations where applicable.

David Newton is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Alcon and Quorum Business Solutions, as well as time spent at Southern Methodist University. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and planning tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services both directly and through Corporate Financial Planning agreements.

Justin Flowers is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2012 and is also involved in a family ranch business that manages hay and cattle. Outside of advising, he maintains a long-term role with a foundation repair company in Beaumont. 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 wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and model portfolios, and supports its advisors with research tools and multiple investment platforms.

Mark Smith is a financial advisor at Cetera with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 designations and has been with Cetera Advisors LLC since 2013, including his current role starting in 2024. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates insurance-related businesses focused on property and casualty insurance as well as fixed insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.