William Benassi is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his financial advising career in 1984 and offers expertise in areas including college education planning, equity compensation services, philanthropic planning, retirement income, tax minimization, and wealth management for individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Benassi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roanoke College in 1984 and completed an MBA in International Finance through the University of Hartford’s American MBA in Paris program in 1994. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and serves on the Board of Trustees for Notre Dame Preparatory School. Additionally, he is co-chair and co-founder of the Roanoke Men's Lacrosse Legacy Alumni Committee and contributes to the Roanoke College Lacrosse Alumni Legacy Committee. He resides in Towson with his wife, Pilar, and their two children. Mr. Benassi is actively involved in community efforts, including Swim Across America-Baltimore to support cancer research, and volunteers as a coach and executive for various athletic programs.

Ashley Zephir is a CFP® with 21 years of experience in financial advisory. She is currently with Edelman Financial Engines, where she has worked since 2016, including prior roles at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. from 2018 onward. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm employs a committee-driven proprietary modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, focusing on diversified model portfolios and long-term strategies.

Brian Penn is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Robert W. Baird since 2009. Penn serves as an Investment Committee Member for Associated Jewish Charities in Baltimore. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group offers tailored consulting and portfolio services, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, with a focus on customized strategies using both in-house and third-party managers.

Joseph Mccann is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2009 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies including discretionary management, separately managed accounts, and overlay services.

Jason Harris is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Towson, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2009. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers a range of consulting and portfolio services tailored to client goals and risk tolerances, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, separately managed accounts, and overlay services.

Alan Wolfe is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 27 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for 15 years before joining RBC in 2024. RBC Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, tailored strategies, and access to both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Donna Buchanan is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2007 and is also involved with Benefit Watch, where she serves as an independent insurance agent. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, utilizing multiple portfolio management platforms and both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Lauren Novak is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Her career includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Inc. and The Financial Consulate. Novak is also involved with The Legacy Group as an agent. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving individual and institutional clients through financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial wellness services. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across multiple platforms and provides access to proprietary and third-party model strategies.

Jonathan Waligora is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010 and joined Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. in 2026. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and models.

Megan Avery is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 25 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Her prior experience includes roles at Woodbury Financial Services, Questar Asset Management, Questar Capital Corporation, and Legacy Associates. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in interior design as the owner of Anarchy Designs. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, using model portfolios and research from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

Sean Hagerty is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2004. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor investment strategies.

Joseph Pandullo is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. He is based in Baltimore, MD. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in assets. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs and financial planning services that utilize structured processes and firm-approved tools.

Austin Smith is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Towson, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and The Legacy Group, Inc. since 2017 and previously held positions at the United States Postal Service and Trazzi and Grasso. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent with The Legacy Group, Inc. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, utilizing proprietary and third-party model strategies with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

Duray Taylor is a financial advisor with Merrill and holds a Series 66 designation, bringing 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for seven years before joining Merrill in 2021. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors. The firm is integrated into Bank of America’s corporate platform, enabling access to a broad set of products and services.

Robert Stauffer III is a financial advisor at Stifel with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. since 2014. Stifel serves a broad range of clients including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group, which uses forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to support asset allocation and planning analyses.

Knoll Axt is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley who holds a Series 66 designation and has 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Prior to that, he was associated with Citigroup Global Markets starting in 2006. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques in its financial planning process.

Benjamin Mohan is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with Series 66 credentials and experience beginning in 2023. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2024, he worked at Rockefeller Capital Management and has an academic background including roles at Bucknell University and Sewickley Academy. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm‑approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and delivers services both directly and through Corporate Financial Planning agreements.

Jonathan Saxon is a financial advisor with Edelman Financial Engines in Towson, MD. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience. He has worked with Edelman Financial Engines and its predecessor entities since 2010. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm uses a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified model portfolios and both discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

Susan Van Metre is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2011. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with at least $1,000,000 in net investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver non-discretionary recommendations, with an emphasis on assets held in Ameriprise Managed Accounts and a process supported by algorithmic automation and oversight committees.

Ian Weisser is a financial advisor at Osaic with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co, and Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he is an owner and agent of Weisser Financial Inc., where he offers fixed annuities and traditional life insurance. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm provides integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, including financial planning and access to third-party money managers, utilizing advanced asset-allocation tools and various investment products.