Alvin Zheng is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2026, he worked at Morgan Stanley from 2024 to 2026 and Deloitte from 2021 to 2023. He also spent five years in full-time education before starting his finance career. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a large team of advisors and uses research-backed approaches including diversification and modern portfolio theory to evaluate investment options.

Amy Ryba is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Spring, Texas, where she has worked since 2019. She has six years of industry experience, including six years prior to Edward Jones at Alief Independent School District. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, including a broad range of households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates an extensive network of advisors and branch offices across the United States.

Charles Grossman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Karsten Interior Services and Specs Liquor before rejoining Edward Jones in 2022. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Ashish Mathews is a Certified Financial Planner® with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Osaic Wealth, having joined the firm in 2023 after 14 years at FSC Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a sole proprietorship focusing on sales and service support for disability, life, and health insurance products. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporate clients through a multi-advisor platform that offers brokerage and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach centers on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting discretionary and advisor-managed strategies across various programs.

Kensie Hunt is a financial advisor at Merrill with over 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Merrill since 1993. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Samuel Jordan is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. He previously worked at Packaging Corporation of America for eight years before transitioning into his current role. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority.

Gilbert Montoya is a financial advisor at Merrill with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Geico. 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.

John Varick is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cambridge since 2013, following roles at LPL Financial and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he volunteers annually at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, assisting patrons with merchandise. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension funds, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm manages a multi-billion dollar asset base and provides access to multiple platforms and third-party advisors along with proprietary model strategies.

Angel Mendez is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, USAA, and Morgan Stanley. He is based in Houston, TX. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of Wealth Advisors. Their non-discretionary program focuses on written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting, supported by centralized due diligence and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

John Fry is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2016 and previously held positions at Oppenheimer, Stanford Group Company, and Prudential-affiliated firms. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent specializing in health and life insurance in Houston, TX. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs through a network of financial professionals and multiple platform options.

Leilani Shortt is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with seven years of industry experience. She is currently with LPL Financial and has previously worked at First Allied Advisory Services and Efficient Wealth Management. 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 and asset management solutions, utilizing both model portfolios and customized strategies.

Lloyd Hecard Jr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Kingwood, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 1998. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in non-investment business ventures including co-ownership of a restaurant through Hecard Ventures, LLC, and ownership of Roux Design Group, LLC. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of discretionary separately managed accounts to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure rather than fixed fees.

Hector Martinez is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Kingwood, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2014 and associated with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2011. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary program that focuses on written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screens and qualitative research to develop model asset allocations, incorporating an ESG eligibility framework where applicable.

Elias Contreras is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides investment advice and strategies that are guided by an understanding of his clients' life goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs. Elias focuses on helping clients pursue long-term financial goals through personalized wealth management strategies. He works closely with current and future leaders, offering solutions for complex scenarios such as concentrated stock positions, options, and ESOPs. Elias holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor's Degree from the University of St. Thomas in Texas. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He is a member of professional organizations including OneGoal and The Executive and Professional Association of Houston. Born and raised in Houston, Elias is engaged in his community through volunteer work with Habitat For Humanity and the Houston Food Bank. He enjoys basketball, biking, cooking, and running in his personal time.

David Cottle III is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in The Woodlands, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory strategies and affiliated investment products supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Sue Burch is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Brydge Advisors, where she was also the owner of a consulting business unrelated to investments. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with specific asset thresholds, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary advice through a centralized consulting team.

Jacinto Villa is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors based in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Tekplan Solutions, PFS Investments Inc, Primerica Financial Services, and Stanley CSS. He also engages in sales of loan products and home security and automation referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual investors, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm employs model-delivery strategies developed by third-party asset managers and supports account custody and trade execution through BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.

Lewis Krinsky is a Series 63 registered financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co., where he has worked since 2006. He has 59 years of experience in the industry, including prior roles at Citigroup Global Markets and Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an officer of Ellen Krinsky Inc., a printing broker business. The DDK Group at Robert W. Baird & Co., where Krinsky is based, serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, and custody, utilizing manager-traded and model-traded SMA strategies along with tax management and direct indexing.

Jonathan Blakelock is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at LPL Financial. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, Edward Jones, Citigroup Global Markets, and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in agricultural activities, including raising goats through a family business in Texas. 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 portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, utilizing a combination of research-driven strategies and technology tools.

Antwan Williams is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Financial Distributors, Protective Life, Jackson National Life Distributors, and Symetra Securities. Outside of finance, he owns a clothing and apparel business called Kings Amongst Kings. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of investment advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.