Gilbert Tong is a Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director who leads the Merrill office in Santa Monica. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in advising ultra high net worth individuals, multigenerational families, senior corporate executives, entrepreneurs, financial professionals, and institutional clients with complex financial needs. His practice focuses on delivering customized, objective-driven wealth strategies aimed at preserving, growing, and transitioning capital across market cycles and generations. Holding a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) designation, Gilbert provides counsel in liquidity and exit planning, business valuation and monetization strategies, estate and legacy planning, asset protection, charitable foundation structures, and tax-efficient wealth transfer. Additionally, he serves as a Retirement Benefits Consultant to institutional plan sponsors, offering fiduciary guidance for corporate and nonprofit retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit, and cash balance plans. His institutional expertise includes plan design, investment oversight, governance, and executive benefits. Gilbert is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. He resides in Southern California with his wife and three children. Outside of his professional work, he is an accomplished endurance athlete participating in long-distance triathlons and serves as the Malibu Triathlon Team Captain. He is also involved with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Fred McNeely is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and more than 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2009 and previously operated MCNEELY FINANCIAL STRATEGIES, LLC dba LIFESTONE WEALTH MGMT. from 2009 to 2019. McNeely also manages a support company, Legend Wealth Management, based in Northridge, CA. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using various analytical tools and maintains specialized services in municipal finance and SIMPLE IRA employer advisory programs.

John Byers is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Santa Monica, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, as well as experience in real estate and self-employment. Outside of advising, he owns a shoe dressing business based in Los Angeles. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, serving as an ERISA fiduciary while offering a broad range of financial product options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Todd Melillo is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 42 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Western International Securities, Inc. and Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Inc. Melillo is also involved in family business entities for tax and investment purposes outside of his advisory work. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement consulting, supported by in-house and third-party research and advanced portfolio management technologies.

Dennis Magaldi is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 22 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Western International Securities and Financial West Group. Outside of advising, he serves as treasurer on the board of E*Central Credit Union and is president and treasurer of the Ridgecrest Thousand Oaks HOA board. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and advanced portfolio management technologies.

Darwin Perez De Pablo is a financial advisor with Fidelity and holds the Series 66 designation. He has less than one year of industry experience and prior work includes roles at Wilson Sporting Goods, the UC Berkeley Athletics Department, and EY. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, fund advisory, and model portfolio delivery. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and uses algorithmic portfolio construction across a broad investable universe.

Spencer Williams is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping clients identify their priorities and develop strategies to achieve their financial objectives. Spencer's approach centers on uncovering what matters most to clients and their families to inform tailored financial planning. He holds several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). Spencer earned his Bachelor's Degree from Harvard University.

Valerie D'Addona is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 47 years of industry experience. She has been with Raymond James since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she has a minor involvement in rental real estate. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and municipal advisory services.

Richard Stevens is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Woodland Hills, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Robert Carrington III is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Bank of the West. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services mainly to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework in its investment approach.

Anterias Nerses Hindoyan is a financial advisor at Merrill with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America and BLOM Bank. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Edgar Perez is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo in various roles since 2015. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Michelle Kamrany is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2017 and worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2015 to 2017. 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. As a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Barry Laufman is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera since 2013 and operates an independent insurance agency focusing on fixed insurance products, including disability, life, accident, health, and long-term care. He also serves as a power of attorney for a family member. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing multi-manager platforms and various program structures to accommodate diverse client needs.

Dana Goldfarb is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and totaling 46 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2010. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutional clients, and various organizations, offering financial planning, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services with a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Alex Mathis is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Western International Securities, Inc. for 14 years before joining LPL Financial. Mathis serves as president of the Camarillo Pony Baseball Association, a nonprofit organization. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with model portfolios and research from various sources.

Jennifer Curry is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 14 years of industry experience. She has held positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2019 and at J.P. Morgan Securities from 2016 to 2019. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

John Bauer is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Encino, CA, holding CFP® and Series 63 designations and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009 and has longstanding ties to Mutual Service Corporation dating back to 1999. Bauer is involved in the sale of non-variable insurance and serves in a fiduciary capacity related to an irrevocable trust. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research, model portfolios, and various investment strategies.

Ryan Richardson is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at various firms including Avantax Advisory Services and operates Richardson Financial as an investment-related business. Additionally, he is a part owner of Richardson & Co CPAs, which provides tax and accounting preparation services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients from individuals to institutional accounts through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers diverse portfolio management and financial planning services, with multiple program structures and access to both affiliated and third-party managers.

Michael Grosslight is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morton Wealth, MindBridge Analytics Inc, Blackline Inc, and Bloomberg L.P. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, using quantitative asset-allocation modeling and centralized due diligence, with recommendations guided by an ESG eligibility framework.