David Simpson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in San Marcos, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at National Planning Corporation and Pacific Financial Group. Outside of advising, he serves as CEO and owner of Pacific Tax & Financial Group, a tax preparation and accounting business. 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 portfolios, and institutional platforms, supported by technology tools and a large network of over 22,800 advisors.

James Bohm is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Carlsbad, California, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2008. 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 advisory relationships and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.

Evan Hennessy is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Carlsbad, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 42 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc for 14 years before joining Ameriprise. He is also the owner of Hennessy Hedge Holdings LLC. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning with tax-aware withdrawal strategies and ongoing advice.

Utkarsh Vasa is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Carlsbad, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016 and concurrently associated with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he shares ownership of a residential property with family. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning processes supported by proprietary tools.

Grant Kane is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with Series 66 credentials and has been in the industry since 2025. Prior to joining UBS, his background includes a period as a student and brief unemployment. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, providing a broad range of investment and capital markets solutions.

Michael Lerner is a CFP® professional with over 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with LPL Financial and has held positions at Cetera Advisor Networks, CWM, Nautica Wealth Advisors, and LPL Financial in prior years. Outside of advising, he serves as a notary public. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and investment management through a large network of representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage solutions, including model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Asako Okuma is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Carlsbad, CA. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, she was self-employed for nine years. Outside of her advisory work, Okuma tutors Japanese students in English and performs translation work. 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 range of financial planning, portfolio management, and institutional services delivered through a large network of advisors using both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Lloyd Manzanilla is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2012. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Carlsbad, CA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Tassia Taylor is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career in the securities industry as a paralegal assisting in the litigation of securities and investment fraud cases on behalf of consumers. After 14 years as a client advocate at a local law firm, Tassia transitioned to financial planning, proactively helping clients achieve their retirement and financial goals. Her experience in the legal field provides her with insight to help clients overcome financial obstacles and identify potential pitfalls. In 2020, Tassia joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management alongside her husband, Randy. Together, they provide a comprehensive wealth management experience that leverages both Randy's investment and planning expertise and Tassia's legal background. Tassia holds a Bachelor's Degree from Point Loma Nazarene University and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She is fluent in English and Portuguese. Tassia and her husband reside in North San Diego County with their children. They enjoy playing music together, traveling, serving at their local church, and spending time at the beach in their free time. Tassia emphasizes understanding clients' life priorities to create personalized financial plans aligned with their goals and aspirations.

Robert Briones is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates a part-time custom woodworking business, creating furniture and decor for private clients and public sale. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, offering broad financial planning without portfolio management for institutional clients. The firm delivers holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under separate billing.

Michael Gallop is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Gallop has worked at several firms, including Commonwealth Financial Network and SagePoint Financial, and is co-owner of Terramar Wealth, Inc., a private entity facilitating securities, advisory, and insurance business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual and institutional clients through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, including access to model portfolios, third-party asset managers, and institutional platforms.

Scott O'Connell is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been contributing since 2008. In this role, Scott focuses on developing personalized financial strategies for high net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. His approach takes into account each client’s risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, investment goals, and cost considerations. Scott offers expertise across a broad range of services including cash management, custom financial strategies, risk management, retirement planning, educational savings plans, estate planning, corporate 401(k) plans, commercial real estate loans, and customized lending through Bank of America, N.A. (NMLS#1537122). Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. He has earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist™ (AAMS) certification awarded by the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp and has completed the Longevity Training Program at the University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology. Additionally, his professional designations include Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Originally from Apple Valley, Minnesota, Scott currently lives in San Diego, California. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, fishing, music, reading, and spending time with his family. Scott is engaged in community service and values volunteering with local organizations in alignment with Merrill’s tradition of community participation.

Kyle Tatro is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Carlsbad, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network, Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual Investment Management, and Morgan Stanley. He is also the owner of Think Financial Wealth Management, Inc., a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. 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 broad range of services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive technology and a large network of advisors.

Spencer Birch is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in San Marcos, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2017, he worked for nine years at Quantum Learning Network. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jaclyn Mazur is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at OSAIC since 2024. She previously worked at Ruzam, LLC, Woodbury Financial Services INC, and RSG Partners. Mazur is the founder of the Financial Behavior Institute, a coaching and training program that teaches behavioral finance concepts and practice management tools to financial professionals. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients through a multi-advisor platform. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory services with an investment process focused on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and risk management.

Brandon Dalgarno is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Avantax Investment Services and Diehl Evans & Co. LLP. Dalgarno holds leadership positions in financial services entities, including director and managing member roles. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that offers a multi-manager platform serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services. The firm supports a large nationwide network of advisors with access to diverse investment strategies and custodial arrangements.

Jordan Gales is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank since 2020 and previously was affiliated with Sequoia Wealth Management, JMC Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process that incorporates firm-approved tools and market simulations.

Robin Alefi is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Charles Schwab Bank SSB, CHARLES SCHWAB and CO., INC., and TD Ameritrade. Outside of finance, Alefi is involved with Epic Volleyball Club, where he has been active for over a decade. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, using multi-asset model portfolios and a centralized operational structure.

Hamasseh Pourhamzeh is a financial advisor at Fidelity with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including The Vanguard Group and Instawork. Outside of finance, he sells secondhand clothing on Poshmark. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients through discretionary portfolio management, fund advisory, and model portfolio delivery, using a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction.

Miguel A. Ortega is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been providing financial services since 2008. With a career in the financial industry beginning in 2005, Miguel specializes in helping clients develop personalized financial strategies by understanding their short- and long-term financial objectives. His areas of expertise include education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, portfolio management services, retirement income, and investment strategies for individuals and corporations. Miguel holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from San Diego State University and an associate degree from San Diego Mesa College. He has earned professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Fluent in both English and Spanish, Miguel is committed to building strong client relationships and guiding them through critical financial decisions. Residing in San Diego with his wife Andrea and their child Roman, Miguel is active in his community. He supports organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, One More Win, and Support The Enlisted Project (STEP), reflecting his commitment to giving back. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, biking, cooking, fishing, golfing, soccer, spending time with family, and traveling.