Patricia Fontan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill Lynch for 12 years and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2017, including a brief period at TRX Transaction Services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and investment advisory programs. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and analysis as part of its advisory services.

Jeffrey Berns is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 36 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. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning supported by proprietary tools and a structured process, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Armando Dirienzo is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner and 25% owner of Pebble in Your Shoe LLC, which operates a franchise called Stumpy’s Hatchet House, and he is also a co-owner of Tac House LLC, an entertainment venue. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement income planning with a structured recommendation process and incorporates a defined investment universe shaped by affiliated product relationships.

Joseph Reilly is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2015 to 2022 before joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2022. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s planning process involves structured discovery and firm-approved tools, offering advice without individual security recommendations as part of standalone plans.

Richard Jambrina is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services for 15 years before joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2025. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and advisory programs supported by firm-approved tools and investment models, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

David Mera Hernandez is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2019 and currently serves at Bank of America, N.A. since 2022. Prior to his financial services career, his background includes roles at Planet Honda, Fastenal Company, BJ's Wholesale, and Rutgers 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

James Hofmann is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He also owns and operates Information Technology Recycling, LLC, a business he has been involved with since 2011. Additionally, Hofmann serves as a committee member of the Sussex County GOP Republican Committee in Byram Township, NJ. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, 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 from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Sean Stevens is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, where he has worked since 2016. He has 10 years of industry experience, primarily within Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools to develop financial plans.

Michael Taggart is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Florham Park, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Securities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, and Merrill. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with a variety of advisory programs and customized portfolio management strategies incorporating both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Roderick Arias is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wachovia Bank, N.A. for 22 years and Ameriprise for one year. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm combines research and analytics with diversification principles to offer both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Stacey Roman is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and has held roles at Wachovia Bank, N.A., Banc of America Investment Services, Inc., Quick & Reilly, Inc., and Morgan Stanley DW Inc. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that offers investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm combines research-driven investment strategies with a broad range of financial products and operates with over 14,000 financial advisors managing approximately $671 billion in assets.

John Legband is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at E*Trade Securities LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and Bank of America. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides services through Financial Advisors and the Estate Planning Strategies Group.

Ryan Conklin is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated from 2014 to 2020 before joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individuals and institutional clients by offering a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning processes supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

James Elsman is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. from 2003 to 2008. He also serves as co-trustee for his parents' trust. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage solutions to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and uses research and analytics to inform its investment approaches, including discretionary and non-discretionary retirement plan services.

Gandolfo Taravella is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 27 years of industry experience. He has held prior positions at Morgan Stanley and Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing family-owned rental properties. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, and endowments through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s process integrates quantitative and qualitative research and includes capabilities in derivatives and commodities through affiliated entities.

Meredith D'Ovidio is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Her career includes multiple roles at Morgan Stanley since 2021 and prior work at Waterlily and Loyola University Maryland. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm uses structured discovery processes and advanced planning tools to develop tailored financial plans.

Richard Byank is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He currently works at Cetera and previously spent 19 years at Ameriprise Financial Services. He also has an active role as a Wealth Management Advisor with Wealthspring Financial Partners LLC, providing financial planning and portfolio management services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and consulting services.

Lori Villatoro is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Morristown, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2004. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process that incorporates advanced modeling tools.

Stephen Smoragiewicz is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has more than 20 years of experience advising leading hedge funds and asset managers in the finance industry before focusing on wealth management for individuals and families. Based in Summit, New Jersey, Stephen works with clients who have achieved considerable success, providing customized and comprehensive financial strategies that include asset and liability management to help clients reach their financial goals. Stephen graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He leverages his extensive background in capital markets to create differentiated wealth management experiences, assisting clients with areas such as retirement income, legacy planning, tax minimization, and family wealth management strategies. Outside of his professional work, Stephen is active in several community organizations including the Summit Soccer Club, Summit Youth Basketball, Summit Youth Lacrosse, and The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He resides in Summit, NJ with his wife and three children.

Kristopher Taubald is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Morristown, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2013 and previously worked at Axa Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a vice president for Track Group Stats, assisting with membership processes in a volunteer capacity. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and a range of asset-management programs. The firm utilizes both proprietary and third-party advisory models, including services delivered by credentialed Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.