Pratik Bhavsar is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Ellicott City, MD, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual and PNC Bank, among others. Bhavsar is also a commissioned notary in Ellicott City. 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 of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, research resources, and both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches.

Jeremiah Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and beginning his advisory career in 2025. His prior work experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, FedEx, Macy’s, Kohl’s, and several educational institutions. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and employs more than 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Rongxia Zhu is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Truist Investment Services and Globalink Securities. She is currently based in Kensington, MD. 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 through its Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Brian Avrunin is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Columbia, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for the Friends of Scott Berkowitz, MD campaign, managing campaign finance reporting independently of Ameriprise. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to provide non-discretionary, personalized recommendations. The firm also delivers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Connor Walsh is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Ellicott City, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise since 2020 and is involved in Business Networking International, where he is set to become chapter president in November. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning that includes written Recommendation Reports and ongoing advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Lauren Novak is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Her career includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Inc. and The Financial Consulate. Novak is also involved with The Legacy Group as an agent. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving individual and institutional clients through financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial wellness services. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across multiple platforms and provides access to proprietary and third-party model strategies.

Brian Clifford is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017. His prior experience includes roles at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Metlife Securities Inc. Clifford is also active as a licensed life insurance and health agent. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, emphasizing collaborative, goal-oriented planning supported by advanced analytical tools.

Jeffrey Carlson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise in various capacities since 2016. Carlson is also the owner of CAWM Services LLC, through which he manages his advisory business. Ameriprise serves clients primarily through its retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered in partnership with clients’ Ameriprise financial advisors.

Richard Gerber is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2009 and has worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 1981. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a rental property investment in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

Dawn Durbin is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2014. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

Reed Eliff is a financial advisor at Merrill with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2014. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries. The firm is integrated into Bank of America’s broader platform, providing access to a wide array of products and services beyond traditional investment management.

Leonard Cohen is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Potomac, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee or co-trustee for a trust in West Palm Beach, Florida. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a wide array of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools and models to support its advisory services.

Walter Johnson is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Columbia, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in a family farming operation with his spouse. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, emphasizing tailored plans and a substantial non-discretionary advisory business supported by an extensive affiliate network.

Thomas Lydon is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds the PFS™ and Series 66 designations and has 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Avantax Investment Services, Inc. and 1st Global Capital Corp. He is also the manager of Lydon Financial Advisors, LLC, a wealth management entity. Lydon serves as trustee for multiple irrevocable trusts and is president of Lydon Fetterolf Corydon, P.A., a CPA firm founded in 1980. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser offering services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm serves individual and institutional clients with a multi-manager platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services.

John Rohe III is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2014, including prior experience with Axa Advisors LLC. He also operates under the DBA Phoenix Private Wealth. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and various third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, offering both advisory and brokerage channels tailored to clients’ goals, risk tolerance, and time horizons.

Thomas Cabral is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Co., having joined both in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Citigroup Global Markets, LPL Financial, and M&T Securities, among others. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved software for goal analysis and structured, annual planning engagements.

Zain Khokhar is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and has a background that includes work in digital intelligence systems and travel. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Matthew Tyler is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to his current role, he worked at Ted Britt Automotive for two years. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, utilizing multi-asset model portfolios and a centralized operational structure.

Michael Bianca is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in the financial services industry in 2010 with Natixis Global Asset Management in Boston, MA, and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2014 to apply his experience and knowledge in helping clients pursue their financial goals. Michael offers investment planning and advice to affluent individuals, families, and businesses. He provides personal and in-depth services, utilizing industry-leading resources to assist clients in achieving their personal and financial objectives. His approach is diversified and risk-managed, aimed at bringing clarity to a complicated marketplace and fostering trust and understanding with clients. He graduated from DeSales University in 2009, where he was a member of the baseball team. Michael holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He resides in Westminster, MD with his wife Amanda, their sons Easton and Beau, and their chocolate lab Camden. In his free time, he enjoys baseball, biking, fishing, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Uka Saran is currently a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2022. In this position, Uka focuses on simplifying financial planning and developing personalized strategies that align with clients' goals using Fidelity's tools and resources. Uka has been in the financial services industry since 2014, beginning as a Client Services Specialist at TD Ameritrade. Over the years, Uka advanced through roles including Business Development Specialist, Financial Consultant, and Senior Financial Consultant at TD Ameritrade before joining Fidelity Investments. Specific details regarding Uka's education, credentials, personal interests, or community involvement were not provided.