John Kokubo is a CFA® charterholder with 39 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wells Fargo Advisors, having joined in 2025 after a combined 16 years at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and 10 years at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. He is also the principal owner of a private wealth management firm. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm offers a broad range of planning services and integrates advisory offerings with other financial products and referral channels.

Michael Belknap is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. He has held positions at UBS since 2020 and previously worked at JPM Institutional Investments Inc. and JPMorgan Distribution Service, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary capital market assumptions, model-based asset allocations, and research from its Chief Investment Office and UBS Global Research to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and offers a broad range of capital markets and advisory products.

Richelle Verran is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Birmingham, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Spartan Wealth Management, Raymond James, Stephens Wealth Management Group, and Morgan Stanley. She also provides administrative support to Spartan Wealth Management, an independent investment advisor firm. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary capital market assumptions, model-based asset allocations, and research from its Chief Investment Office and UBS Global Research to tailor financial plans and portfolio management.

John Thibault is a financial advisor with Merrill in Bloomfield Hills, MI, holding CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 credentials and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. outside of his advisory role, he is the sole owner of a rental property business. 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, and institutional investors.

Nicholas Bowman is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Blue Chip Talent, THG Financial Strategies, and Canisius University. 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.

Jeffrey Steele is a CFP® and ChFC® with 36 years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Financial and previously worked at firms including Commonwealth Financial Network, Center for Wealth Management, Mass Mutual, and Metlife Securities. 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 advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives and provides a range of financial planning and asset management solutions.

Susan Wellman is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Highland, MI, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at United Wholesale Mortgage and Keating Network. Outside of advisory work, she serves as Vice President of Strategic Relations at Curus, a non-investment-related position. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients, utilizing model-delivery strategies created by unaffiliated asset managers. The firm supports approximately 3,698 advisors and $15.5 billion in assets under management.

Matthew Matuza is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their unique ambitions and long-term goals. Matthew focuses on a variety of areas including family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Matthew holds a Bachelor's Degree from GMI Engineering and Management Institute and maintains professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach centers on understanding clients' perspectives and priorities to create customized wealth management plans that help manage investment risk and turn financial goals into reality. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family and participating in sports such as baseball, basketball, boating, football, golfing, running, and soccer, as well as watching movies.

Steven Riga is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. He has 43 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. He has ownership interests in several real estate-related entities. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services grounded in modern portfolio theory.

Philip Appel is a Wealth Management Advisor and the lead advisor on The Stulberg Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over 30 years of experience in investment management, having joined the team in 1995. Prior to this role, he worked in the equity research department at Merrill headquarters in New York. Before entering the financial industry, he was a high school mathematics teacher in San Francisco, California. Philip earned a bachelor's degree with a focus on mathematics from the University of Michigan. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designation. His expertise includes corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, executive and equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and retirement income. Philip lives in Bloomfield Hills with his wife Kareen and their four daughters. His personal interests include cooking, music, and softball.

Steven Miodonski is a financial advisor with LPL Financial holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill, Edward Jones, PNC Bank, and Caliber Home Loans. Outside of his advisory work, he is the sole owner of a farm used for deer hunting in Harbor Beach, Michigan. 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 advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Melissa Johnson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she manages an advisory business through Bedrock Acquisitions LLC. Ameriprise serves clients primarily through its retirement-income planning service, targeting individuals with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary retirement income recommendations, supported by a centralized consulting team.

Kristen Faris is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Farmington Hills, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services since 2008. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, blending proprietary capital market assumptions, model-based asset allocations, and research to tailor financial plans and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and operates as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, and futures commission merchant.

Robert Dennis is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Bloomfield Hills, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 31 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement planning and tax-aware withdrawal strategies through a centralized team working alongside financial advisors.

Shahidah Benson is a financial advisor at Merrill with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

David Jennings is a financial advisor with Merrill in Bloomfield Hills, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1994. Merrill serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients by offering managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage and custody services. The firm’s investment management includes multiple program strategies and a wide range of manager-constructed options, supported by oversight from its CIO and platform governance, with added tax-efficient capabilities and integration with Bank of America affiliates.

Brock Caufield is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with one year of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at Foreside Fund Services, Rock Harbor, and involvement with professional hockey teams such as the Reading Royals and Newfoundland Growlers. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs and tailored financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning process utilizes structured discovery conversations and firm-approved tools to model outcomes but does not include individual security recommendations in its standalone planning service.

Brent Wichlacz is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Clarkston, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. and operating as an independent insurance agent. He is also involved with CCBW Capital, Inc., a business entity used for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies alongside additional financial services such as insurance and credit products.

Sarah Richards is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Ameriprise in 2026, she worked at The Huntington Investment Company for 14 years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides annual retirement-income planning with a focus on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. Their approach is supported by investment research, third-party data, and algorithmic tools, and includes restrictive enrollment criteria requiring a minimum level of investable assets.

Nicholas Nowakowski is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Waggoner Financial and Michigan State University. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans and portfolio management to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.