Laurette Dearden is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cetera. She has held roles at several firms, including Avantax and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. In addition to her advisory work, she owns a CPA practice specializing in tax preparation and accounting. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm operates a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers, serving over 800,000 clients and managing assets exceeding $256 billion.

Kimberly Gould is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 15 years of experience at the firm and four years in the industry. She holds a Series 66 designation. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved with Capitol Debate Inc. and Charter Senior Living LLC, an elder care business. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and research.

David Johnston is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as co-trustee for family-related investment trusts. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. Their advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among their investment offerings.

Garrett Conn is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Columbia, MD, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Mass Mutual Investors Services in 2018, he worked for Northwestern Mutual and Enterprise Holdings. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC 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 and offers various asset management programs alongside educational seminars.

Michael Hopkins is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 66 credential and over 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009 and with the Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. since 2017. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers both direct and corporate financial planning services.

Bradley R. Knapp is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Baltimore, MD office. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2001 and has held various roles within the Firm’s Global Wealth and Investment Management Division, including Vice President in the Financial Planning Department at Merrill Lynch Corporate Headquarters and Financial Advisor positions in the Rockefeller Center office in New York City and the San Diego, CA office. Brad's expertise encompasses all aspects of wealth management with a focus on investment selection and planning, retirement income strategies, philanthropic planning, and estate planning strategies. He is a qualified Portfolio Manager who can manage personalized or defined investment strategies on a discretionary basis. His client focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement planning, philanthropy, portfolio management, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Brad holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification and the CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST® (CIMA®) professional designation. He is registered with FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, holds a State of Maryland insurance license, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in small business with a minor in consumer economics from the University of Vermont, and obtained a Master's degree in financial and tax planning from San Diego State University. Outside of work, Brad lives in Cockeysville, MD with his wife Amber and their four sons. He spends time hiking, skiing, playing golf, coaching youth lacrosse, and serves as a qualified Alpine Patroller with the National Ski Patrol.

Luis Otero Lopez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing based in Columbia, MD. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has experience working at firms including J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Outside of finance, he has been involved with LSJC Services since 2021. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and combines research from its Investment Institute with third-party analytics to guide investment selection and portfolio diversification.

Matthew Riggin is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2015. 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. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers planning services supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies.

Andrew Miller is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Columbia, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Charter Financial Group and has been involved with Honeywood Rentals, a party and event rental business, as an inventory manager and installer. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.

Edward Feduke is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving with Cetera. His prior work includes roles at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, and multiple mortgage firms. Outside of his advisory duties, he volunteers as a college funding coach. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services and allows advisors to implement model portfolios, select third-party managers, or create customized strategies.

John Cox Jr. is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 22 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he engages in freelance writing and art, submitting short stories, poetry, and artwork for contests and publication. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Matthew Mc Govern is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Towson, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the president of the Wiltondale Improvement Association Board. Ameriprise is an institutional firm that offers retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm provides a range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions, utilizing a centralized retirement-income consulting team and algorithmic tools to generate tailored, tax-efficient recommendations.

Steven Hoffman is a financial advisor with Ameriprise based in Baltimore, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, he has ownership interests in a non-investment-related business called Pair of Queens. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement income planning with written recommendations and ongoing advice, using proprietary research and tools within a defined investment framework.

Brooke Myers is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at RBC Capital Markets and TD Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and structured discovery conversations. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides services that include both direct financial planning and corporate financial planning agreements.

Elizabeth Bafford is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Calvert Impact, Inc. for 12 years, UBS Financial Services for two years, and currently also at City National Bank. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a wide range of clients including individual investors, institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs combining discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with financial planning and brokerage services, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Alicia Mosebrook is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Columbia, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing six years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Axa Advisors, Clearone Advantage, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Outside of finance, she serves as vice president of the Thunderbolt Society and works as a banquet server at Wyndham Gettysburg. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party program sponsors.

Colin Roddy is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Merrill, Heritage Financial Consultants, and City Life Community Builders. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related investment options alongside traditional products.

Rita Russell is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Baltimore, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with various Wells Fargo entities since 2011, including Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Bank NA. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering services such as investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Samuel Kushner is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors, T. Rowe Price, and teaching experience at the University of Maryland and McDonogh School. 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 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 resources.

Ethan Pollack is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, he held various roles including positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank and the University of Southern California. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, using quantitative asset-allocation modeling and centralized due diligence. The firm incorporates ESG criteria in its investment recommendations and offers a broad range of product types through its affiliations and regulatory registrations.