Robert F. Escudero is a Wealth Management Advisor and Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides clients with access to the investment resources of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America to address various aspects of their financial lives. He designs and implements customized wealth management strategies aimed at helping clients and their families pursue personal financial goals while managing investment risk. Robert has been in the financial services industry since 2015 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2020. His areas of expertise include executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, and tax minimization. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Personal Investment Advisor designation. He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and completed an Accredited Certificate Program from Pepperdine University. Robert is involved in the community through Habitat for Humanity in Williamson County and maintains connections with Pepperdine University organizations such as the Pepperdine Rugby Club and Sigma Phi Epsilon - Cal Psi Chapter. His personal interests include cooking, gardening, hiking, spending time with family, and traveling.

Mark Drinnan is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2021, and previously was with Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing from 2011 to 2021. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs and tailored financial planning to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets through a structured planning process that employs firm‑approved tools and models.

George Howe is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Austin, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked with U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors, LLC, USCA Securities LLC, and Usca Ria LLC. Howe is co-owner of SB Wealth Advisors LLC, a business entity for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and corporations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management with access to model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Johnathan Parohinog is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, based in Cedar Park, TX. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at automotive and service companies such as Toyota and TQL. Outside of advising, he is a co-owner of FILO Residencies LLC, a business involved in arranging corporate leases. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, offering holistic, goal-based financial plans without portfolio management or institutional advisory functions.

Marissa Willis is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in investment strategy and financial planning, providing personalized guidance to clients navigating complex financial decisions. Marissa's approach combines disciplined planning, efficient portfolio construction, and behavioral guidance to help clients maintain confidence and achieve their financial goals. She holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. Marissa earned her Bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and has focused her expertise on areas such as college education planning, executive compensation, retirement planning, and tax minimization. Outside of her professional work, Marissa is involved with the NICU community through her board work with Hand to Hold. She balances her career with family life as a mother of two and enjoys activities such as golfing, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Marcus Leyva is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Austin, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and over 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Jjmack Group, LLC and Waddell & Reed, Inc., where he worked for 12 years. Outside of his primary advisory work, he has been involved with Jjmack Group, LLC for investment-related purposes and holds a license in non-variable insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and services, including financial planning and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by in-house and third-party research.

Cameron Buckelew is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial, Tricentis, Glg, Spencer Ogden, and the Houston Texans. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages C&A Capital, a holding company based in Austin, TX. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services that include investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broader range of financial products than many peers, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Melissa Strilka is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Austin, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools to support client goals.

Landon Marino is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 27 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Morgan Stanley in various capacities since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in real estate ventures, including land acquisition and subdivision through his privately owned company Fortress Builders. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with advisory programs and tailored financial planning, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s planning process relies on structured discovery and firm-approved tools, offering a broad range of investment and financial services.

Tina Matthews is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 30 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2023, she spent 14 years at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. Matthews is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and works with clients undergoing divorce, primarily assisting women in understanding and managing asset division. Additionally, she serves on the Mercy Committee of Austin Ridge Bible Church, which evaluates funding requests for individuals and families in need. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and access to multiple advisory platforms, utilizing asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance questionnaires, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios.

Mark Permenter is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc for seven years before joining Ameriprise in 2023. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning, utilizing proprietary research and tools to provide annual advice and written recommendation reports.

Melanie Dunn is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and DexYP. Outside of her advisory role, she owns an LLC related to a residential real estate property. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, mainly high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offering wealth advisory wrap fee programs, managed accounts, and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separate managed accounts and provides multi-asset model portfolios supported by research and alternative investment options.

Brett Bellcase is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2011 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory options. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options within its investment menus.

John Rowe is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Fidelity with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at COSTAR Group and Blue Ridge Bank, among other roles. 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 blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction in managing portfolios and serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Katherine Morsbach is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Merrill for 10 years before joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is a co-owner of a water, fire, and mold restoration business in Northwest Austin, though she is not involved in its operations. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and a range of advisory programs, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Darrell Rupert is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera. He has held roles at Avantax, 1st Global Advisors, and operated his own firm, Rupert Wealth Advisors, LLC. He volunteers providing pro bono financial coaching to widows and widowers through WINGS FOR WIDOWS. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers diverse portfolio management and financial planning services through a nationwide network of independent advisors and features a multi-manager platform with access to various investment strategies and third-party managers.

Akshay Gupta is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Austin, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill from 2019 to 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in electrical engineering through a separate business activity. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, combining proprietary research with third-party model portfolios and advanced portfolio management technologies.

Sarah Frazier is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2024. She has been with Fidelity Investments since 2022, having previously served as a Relationship Manager, Financial Representative, and Retirement Representative within the company. In her role, Sarah partners with clients and their families to develop and implement comprehensive financial plans aimed at helping them work toward their financial objectives. Her experience spans various facets of financial services, reflecting her commitment to building lifelong relationships with clients. Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys board games, cooking and baking, exploring food, social events with friends, caring for pets, and scuba diving.

Nathaniel Sorenson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Austin, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. Its advisory process is IPS-driven and based on modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Sara Wittbold Araoz is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 registrations and previously worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. from 2023 to 2026. Outside of finance, she has experience in education and filmmaking, including a role at Indie House Films. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services supported by proprietary and third-party research.