Justin Ponchak is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates Ponchak Management, LLC, a construction business. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, offering written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. As a large institutional firm, Ameriprise also offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Jaime Garza is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Pruco Securities LLC and Modern Brokers of America. Garza is also employed at Shell Federal Credit Union as part of the Ameriprise Financial Team. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm delivers structured recommendation reports using a combination of research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis, supported by a centralized consulting team.

Alyssa Gonzales is a Planning Consultant who collaborates with Financial Consultants and clients to develop personalized financial plans tailored to individual goals and circumstances. She focuses on building strong relationships with clients and their families, emphasizing reliability, transparency, and competency in her work. Her professional experience includes roles at Fidelity Investments, where she served as a Financial Representative from 2023 to 2025 and as a Relationship Manager from 2025 to 2026.

Kirk Lippert is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Clear Lake, Texas, where he has served clients for 18 years. He brings a comprehensive approach to wealth management, focusing on personalized strategies that align with clients’ long-term financial goals. His areas of expertise include education planning, retirement income, philanthropic planning, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, tax minimization, and portfolio management services. Kirk emphasizes collaboration with clients to develop flexible strategies responsive to evolving market conditions, leveraging the resources of Merrill and Bank of America. Kirk’s professional background spans over two decades as a Certified Public Accountant, a credential he earned in 1983 following his graduation from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration. His accounting career and global experiences—in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and The Netherlands—inform his advisory approach. He holds several financial designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Active in professional and community initiatives, Kirk is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and has contributed leadership through roles such as Chairman of the Houston Chapter of CPAs Bay Area Satellite Group and participation on the City of Friendswood Texas Community & Economic Development Committee. Outside his professional life, Kirk enjoys baseball, golfing, and spending time with his family.

Zachary Greer is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and beginning his industry career in 2025. Prior to entering the financial services field, he worked in education at several schools from 2013 to 2022. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving primarily individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm utilizes model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing for trade execution and custody.

John Rigdon is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and serves as a First Vice President with the VMR Group. With over 18 years of experience, he focuses on holistic wealth management planning that encompasses retirement planning, estate planning, insurance strategies, traditional and alternative investing, and tax minimization. His client services include executive compensation, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and retirement income planning. John holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston System. John applies a comprehensive approach to financial planning, aiming to provide personalized strategies aligned with each client's long-term goals and evolving market conditions. In addition to his professional work, John is involved in his community through volunteer activities with the SPCA. His personal interests include adventure sports, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and music.

Edmund Hollub IV is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Outside of financial advising, he has been involved with Modern Plumbing for over 15 years and participates in sales of home security, automation products, and loan products through affiliates of Primerica. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors alongside corporate and charitable clients. The firm employs model-based strategies and operates at scale with thousands of advisors and billions in assets under management.

Kyle Mather is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2025. He works closely with clients to simplify financial complexities and develop personalized strategies aimed at achieving lasting financial success. His approach focuses on empowering clients to make confident, informed decisions aligned with their financial goals. Prior to his current position, Kyle held multiple roles at Fidelity Investments, including Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, Investment Solutions Representative I, and Customer Relationship Advocate, gaining a breadth of experience in investment and client relationship management. In 2022, he also worked as an Insurance Agent at LionHeart Advisers. In his personal time, Kyle engages in activities such as family-related events, fitness, military service, caring for pets, reading, and traveling.

Johan Varghese is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with Series 66 credentials. He has recently started his career in the industry, joining Thrivent Investment Management in 2025. Prior to this, his background includes various roles in education and community organizations. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on comprehensive, goal-based financial planning without portfolio management for institutional clients. The firm offers standalone or ongoing planning relationships and integrates planning with managed-account services through a consolidated billing option.

Tabitha Estes is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Sugar Land, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2009. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, delivering written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide non-discretionary recommendations, primarily for clients with Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Ryan Greer is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in business activities including part-ownership in entities formed for Primerica-related purposes and receives compensation related to loan product sales and home security services referrals. Primerica Advisors is a discretionary portfolio manager that primarily serves individual investors, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm operates at scale, managing approximately $15.5 billion in assets through model-based investment strategies supported by third-party asset managers and custodians.

Mark Hetzer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, bringing six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Before entering finance, he worked in marketing and sports medicine. 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. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Pradeep Gokhale is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2016, working across both Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. 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, with a focus on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Ming Chen is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2014. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework when recommending investment strategies.

Nicholas Gonzalez is a Branch Leader who manages a team of professionals dedicated to delivering quality experiences in the financial services industry and assisting clients in working toward their personal and professional goals. He has held various roles in the financial sector, including Managing Director at Granite Harbor Advisors from 2024 to 2025, Vice President at JP Morgan from 2022 to 2024, and Financial Advisor positions at UBS and Merrill Lynch between 2020 and 2022. Earlier in his career, he served as a Registered Representative at H.C. Wainwright in 2019 and as a Stockbroker Trainee at Maxim Group from 2017 to 2019.

Dustin King is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in farming Wagyu crossed beef cattle through his ownership of DK Farm. 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 large team of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis while clients retain final decision authority.

John Sinclair is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he focuses on understanding clients' situations, priorities, and goals to develop strategies that help them work toward achieving those objectives. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked as a Financial Advisor at Equitable from 2020 to 2021. John holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California.

Stefanie Benesh is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2018, including seven years at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Her prior experience includes positions at Bank of America and Merrill. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools supported by the Global Investment Committee’s research.

Timothy Bonura II is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked with PFS Investments Inc. since 2010 and Primerica Financial Services since 2008. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in sales of loan products through Primerica Mortgage, LLC, and refers clients part-time for home security and automation services via a related affiliate. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs model-delivery strategies from third-party asset managers and supports trade execution and custody through Pershing, focusing on client advisory services rather than institutional portfolio management.

Britt Ester is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Dickinson, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2007. Outside of her advisory role, she is employed at DGW Worldwide, LLC, where she manages an advisory business. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals with significant investable assets, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary retirement recommendations, supported by a centralized consulting team.