Lavanya Palakurthi is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2020. Prior to that, she was with Bank of America Corporation and Merrill from 2002 to 2020. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework when recommending strategies.

Michael Mercado is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked within the Wells Fargo organization since 2011, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory work, he owns MILARO INVESTMENTS, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment and financial planning services, including specialized planning for business owners, athletes, and clients with special needs.

Matthew Topielski is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fremont Bank and First Republic Bank. Outside of advising, he is involved in music and receives royalties as an artist and musician. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning and model portfolio programs, supported by both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

James Deak is a CFP® with 28 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2011, including time at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory work, he owns TN&LG, LLC and serves on the finance committee of Cantare, providing input on financial reports and budgeting. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that offers investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of planning services and integrates advisory offerings with other financial products through a large network of advisors.

Mehul Khivesara is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities, he worked at Focus Partners Wealth, Adero Partners, and several other firms. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

Joshua Fishman is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fisher Investments and other advisory firms, including Personal Capital Advisors Corporation and Empower Advisory Group. Fisher Investments serves institutional and private clients worldwide, offering discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm utilizes a centralized investment process with a five-member committee, integrates tax-aware strategies, and manages risk through various defensive tactics and targeted trading.

Clifford Wichmann III is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2017 and previously worked at Robert Half for one year. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, offering a range of investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Reza Abcari is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving at Charles Schwab since 2019. His previous experience includes roles at AXA Advisors and The Entrust Group. Outside of his advisory work, he manages rental properties inherited by his family. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily consisting of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed accounts. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers integrated brokerage, custody, and advisory services.

David Rodriguez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Walnut Creek, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has nine years of industry experience and has worked at several firms including JPMorgan Chase Bank, First Republic Bank, and LPL Financial. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and integrates research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with modern portfolio theory principles in its investment approach.

Ronald Arrajj is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Walnut Creek, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Bloomberg LP in various capacities from 1993 to 2024. He serves as executor and trustee for several family trusts. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, using Wells Fargo research and tools to develop tailored recommendations. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including niche areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

Christopher Coghlan is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 26 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. 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 solutions. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and includes a broad range of financial products such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Georgiana Andersen is a financial advisor with Merrill in Walnut Creek, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 36 years of industry experience. She 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 plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Alexander Holguin is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Amazon and TD Ameritrade. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients with a broad range of investment and financial planning services. The firm provides tailored recommendations supported by proprietary research and planning tools, offering specialized services such as business-owner transition and special-needs planning.

Alexander Teodoro is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley Dw Inc. before joining Linsco/Private Ledger Corp., where he has been affiliated since 2003. Outside of his advisory work, he is a certified SCUBA diving instructor with Marin Diving Center. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services through a large network of advisors using both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Kyle Branham is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera in 2019, he worked at Foresters Financial Services and Foresters Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is CEO and co-owner of GameStars, a third-party platform for video games, and serves as Director of Analytics at SpikeWeek.com, where he develops statistical models and writes about fantasy football. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and consulting services through a large network of independent advisors, with access to multiple program platforms and third-party money managers.

Lauren Gershon is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Fidelity Investments, FIDELITY Brokerage Services LLC, TD Ameritrade, and TD Bank. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC, where she is based, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage model portfolios and offers advisory services including fund management and consulting.

Mark Hersman is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Oakland, CA, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and 36 years of industry experience. He has worked with Charles Schwab since 1994, including roles at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, and has been involved with Growth Capital Services, Inc., Mazakali LLC, and Portman Enterprises LLC throughout his career. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management with multi-asset model portfolios and access to alternative investments. The firm’s large scale and integrated structure provide centralized supervisory, custody, and order-routing services to a broad client base.

William Fraser is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Walnut Creek, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, with financial planning services supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides a range of investment solutions alongside advisory and brokerage services.

Elizabeth Roberts is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 48 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor and co-trustee for her mother’s estate. 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, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process incorporating firm-approved tools and market analyses.

Tracy Murphy is the Regional Managing Director for the Pacific Northwest Region of Merrill Private Wealth Management, headquartered in San Francisco. In this role, she oversees the activities of more than 35 private wealth teams across thirteen cities. She focuses on optimizing the client experience by leading initiatives that address the complexities associated with significant wealth. Tracy fosters a collaborative and consultative culture that centers on the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients, connecting individuals, couples, and families with advice and services that support their financial goals and legacies. She is also responsible for attracting and developing top advisory talent within her region, promoting an environment that values growth, creativity, and dedication. Tracy joined Merrill in 2000 and has progressively taken on increasing leadership roles. Her previous positions include Managing Director of the Venture Services Group, which provides operational support, transactional services, and strategic advice to company founders, venture capitalists, and private equity partners. She has also overseen the Wealth Management divisions in Northern California’s East Bay, as well as markets in Oregon and Southern California. Tracy earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Tracy is active in community organizations and is a member of Battery Powered, a group focused on supporting people and projects that strengthen society. Within Merrill, she serves on the Market Executive Strategy Council and has previously served on the Diversity and Inclusion Council. Tracy resides in Mill Valley, California, with her husband, Greg, and their two daughters.