James Schmidt is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on developing financial strategies tailored to wealthy individuals and business owners, providing comprehensive advice to help clients pursue their long-term goals through personalized or defined strategies. His areas of expertise include college education planning, executive compensation, services for defined benefit plans, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy and liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, individual and corporate investment strategy, and tax minimization. James holds several professional designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. Outside of his professional role, James is the founder of the "Fore Our Schools" foundation, which raises funds for local schools. His personal interests include boating, fishing, golfing, hunting, and traveling.

Shelley Hancock is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2011 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment advisory solutions grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s services include investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking, with a notable range of financial products including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Jeffrey Hastings is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Avantax and leadership positions in his own accounting and tax preparation firms. He is actively involved in tax planning and compliance services and provides trustee services for client trusts. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts, offering a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers. The firm supports a variety of program structures and custodial relationships while overseeing more than $256 billion in assets under management.

Martha Madrid is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been serving clients since 1979. With over 40 years in the financial industry, she focuses on providing a comprehensive approach to wealth management that begins with understanding each client's unique financial situation and personal priorities. Martha helps clients develop customized and flexible strategies that can adapt to changing market conditions, leveraging the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America. Her areas of expertise include college education planning, personal retirement planning, and addressing the financial needs of women and wealth. Martha holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed her high school education through the State of New Jersey Department of Education. She lives in the Bay Area and balances her professional responsibilities with personal interests such as traveling, cooking, tennis, dancing, sewing, and watching movies. Martha is also committed to community involvement, volunteering with local organizations in line with Merrill's tradition of service.

Magnus Du Borg is a CFP® professional with 17 years of experience in financial advisory roles. He is currently affiliated with RBC Capital Markets and City National Bank, having previously worked at Morgan Stanley and its private banking divisions for over a decade. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in real estate investment as a passive capital partner in several entities. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored investment strategies through multiple advisory programs, utilizing both in-house and third-party managers and providing a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

David Williams is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank division since 2018 and has prior work experience with Target and Sonoma State University. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, including customized financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Nickolas Prieto is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 registrations and has worked at UBS since 2019. Prior to that, he was with Osborne Partners Capital Management and Brouwer & Janachowski. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory services, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, offering a range of products supported by proprietary research and a broad service platform.

Justin Allen is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB since 2022. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment management and financial planning services. The firm is notable for its scale and integrated structure, combining brokerage, custody, and advisory services with access to alternative investments and multi-asset model portfolios.

Stephan Choulos is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Raymond James & Associates, Howe Barnes Capital Management, and Merrill. 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 advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Jacquelyn Hernandez is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Hernandez serves as a board member for Benicia Youth Football, a community youth sports organization. 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 individual and institutional clients.

Premnauth Persaud is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Concord, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. He also serves as a Senior Premier Relationship Manager with BMO Investment Services. 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 financial planning and investment management services utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies across multiple account types.

Daoud Kayoumi is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2023. In this position, he partners with clients to understand their financial goals, develop personalized plans, and provide investing guidance. He focuses on ensuring clients understand where their money is invested, the performance of their investments, and associated costs. Prior to his current role, Daoud held positions including Account Executive at Salesforce from 2022 to 2023, Vice President Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab from 2021 to 2022, Financial Advisor at Equitable from 2019 to 2021, and Branch Service Specialist at Union Bank from 2017 to 2018. He holds a California Insurance License.

Darius Bahador is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with clients to understand their personal financial goals and develops tailored strategies to address their short-, mid-, and long-term objectives. His responsibilities include providing guidance on general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. He also facilitates access to specialists from Bank of America for services related to banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Darius holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from McMaster University. His approach emphasizes getting to know clients and understanding what matters most to them, which informs his ongoing advice and guidance as their needs evolve.

Ian Longtin is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise since 2017, including a prior role at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, Ian serves on the Board of Directors for Berean Christian High School and engages in public speaking and consulting for local groups, churches, and schools. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement, with a focus on clients who meet specific asset thresholds. The firm offers a range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions, utilizing a centralized retirement-income consulting team that employs both research and algorithmic tools to produce tailored, non-discretionary recommendations.

Darren Riley is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2013, with a brief period at Merrill from 2021 to 2022. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodology. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services through both direct and corporate financial planning arrangements.

James Babson is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He is currently with Charles Schwab, where he has worked since 2021. Prior to Schwab, he was employed at Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. and Aberdeen Fund Distributors, LLC from 2016 to 2020. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and related managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory models with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a range of integrated brokerage, custody, and cash-sweep services.

David Traverso is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 58 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and the Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association 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. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

William Caddick Jr. is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he has an investment-related interest in single-family real estate ownership. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service tailored for individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, providing detailed Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis, with a centralized consulting team supporting advisors in delivering customized, algorithm-assisted retirement income recommendations.

Kyle Ashcraft is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 license and four years of industry experience. His career includes multiple terms at Wells Fargo Clearing and Edward Jones. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services, managing approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors.

Ian Lee is a financial advisor at Cetera with 33 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 license and has been with Cetera and its related entities since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, Lee serves on the investment committee for the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church Foundation and is a member of the stewardship committee at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts through a nationwide network of advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services with access to various program platforms and third-party managers.