Mary Hong serves as a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with Bank of America/Merrill since 1992, supporting affluent families, individual clients, closely-held businesses, and non-profit organizations. In her role, Mary works closely with clients and her team to establish quantifiable goals, prioritize client needs, and implement customized financial strategies leveraging a broad array of financial instruments. As a Senior Portfolio Manager, she manages her own personalized and defined discretionary strategies, which may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. These strategies can also be made available to clients working with other Merrill Advisors. Mary's services encompass portfolio development, education plans, liability management, trust and estate planning, insurance and retirement planning with emphasis on lifetime income, as well as sophisticated strategies for defined benefit and 401(k) plans, and philanthropic planning. She holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR® (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor, and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Music and a Bachelor of Music in Performance, graduating cum laude with department honors from Dominican University of California. Mary also completed the Certified Portfolio Manager program at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and attended the Global CEO EMBA program offered jointly by Yeonsei University and the University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea. Mary is involved with community organizations such as Woman To Woman of LA and resides in South Pasadena, California. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, music, reading, singing, traveling, and writing.

Steven Li is a financial advisor with Merrill in Arcadia, CA, holding a Series 66 credential and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Merrill and Bank of America since 2017 and has prior experience at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual, and MetLife Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is the sole owner of a rental property business in Upland, California. Merrill, along 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 various institutional accounts.

Maria Almario is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, she held various roles including positions at Kaiser Permanente and entrepreneurial ventures. 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 wide range of advisory and brokerage services utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies, supported by advanced operational tools.

Alex London is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual 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 uses a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and investment modeling.

Alexander Dickson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2009 and has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers a broad range of retail and institutional services.

Paul Joseph is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including his current role at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for a trust based in Calabasas, California. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning that incorporates firm-approved tools and scenario modeling. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and combines planning services with a variety of investment and financial products.

Winnie Leong is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Fullerton, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 28 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Securities America Advisors, Voya Financial Advisors, American General Financial Advisors, Valic Financial Advisors, and Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of her advisory work, she is also an artist. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and advanced technology tools.

Jessie M Vargas Gutierrez is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America, N.A., Jessie worked at TSG Wealth Management and Tax Rise Inc. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Erica Pitrone is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Merrill in Brea, CA, where she has worked since 2015. She has 11 years of industry experience. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Jesus Barboza Gonzalez is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill from 2014 to 2022. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Thomas Li is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in San Gabriel, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and previously operated LiT LLC from 2020 to 2023. Outside of finance, he is involved in a cosmetics business, Cashow LLC, which sells acrylic and gel nail products. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, and endowments through a non‑discretionary program focused on asset allocation advice, manager searches, and performance reporting. The firm integrates quantitative and qualitative research in its advisory process and offers broader derivatives and commodities capabilities than many institutional advisors.

Jean Paul Afif is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Private Bank. Outside of finance, he has a longstanding involvement with the Screen Actors Guild as an executive producer and actor, and he is the developer of a technology app through Star of the Sea NIL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and investment modeling techniques. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services both directly and in collaboration with employer-based financial planning arrangements.

Henry Narvaez is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 17 years of industry experience and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has worked at several firms including J.P. Morgan Securities, UnionBanc Investment Services, and LPL Financial. Narvaez also serves as a financial advisor with Kinecta Wealth Management. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Juan Martin is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Clearing during his career. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s process combines quantitative and qualitative research to build model portfolios and includes capabilities in derivatives and commodities.

Veronika Alekyan is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in offering personalized wealth management and investment guidance to professionals, entrepreneurs, and families. She aims to help clients simplify complex financial decisions and develop strategies that balance everyday demands with long-term financial and personal goals. Veronika joined Merrill in 2025 after working as a Private Client Banker at J.P. Morgan Chase and prior experience with a MassMutual affiliate. Before transitioning to her advisory career, she held roles in commercial real estate investment underwriting with real estate development and private equity firms, as well as a global real estate advisory firm. Her responsibilities included managing analytical support for sales and acquisition transactions with total annual valuations exceeding $1 billion. She holds a Master's degree in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University and a Bachelor's degree from Yerevan State Institute of Economics. Veronika is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and an active member of the CFA Society of Los Angeles. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, playing chess, and spending time with family and friends.

Boyuan Zhou is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has also worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2016. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to fiduciary clients of Bank of America through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional accounts, combining internal and third-party management with comprehensive trading and custody support.

Kevin Phillip is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in San Pedro, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Painewebber Inc and UBS Financial Services since 1995. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, providing services such as principal trading, market-making, and proprietary research to support client investment strategies.

Joseph Halder is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Santa Ana, CA, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 32 years of industry experience and has been with MassMutual and its affiliated firms since 1987. He serves on the board of directors for St. Lucy's Priory High School, an all-girls Catholic high school. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers tailored financial planning using advanced analytical tools and event-driven planning programs, including estate and employer-sponsored planning.

Eddie Rivera Jr. is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities, Rivera worked at PFS InvestmentS Inc and Primerica Financial Services. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a non-discretionary program supported by centralized due diligence.

Cesar Garcia is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' financial goals and circumstances. He focuses on a range of client needs including executive compensation, equity compensation services, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Garcia holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Southern California and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He is also involved in the professional community through participation in organizations such as USC Boxing. Fluent in both Spanish and English, he emphasizes understanding clients through one-on-one conversations to provide holistic solutions based on risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, investment goals, and associated costs. Outside of his professional role, Garcia values family and personal interests including working on building a '68 Camaro with his father and training for amateur boxing fights. He is accessible for consultations via phone or email to discuss how he can assist with wealth management.