Miguel Ortiz is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with individuals, families, and business owners to simplify complex financial decisions and create strategies designed to pursue their goals with confidence. His approach involves understanding what is most important to each client to provide personalized guidance, ongoing advice, and proactive solutions tailored to their evolving needs. Miguel's expertise includes college education planning, employee benefits planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, and tax minimization. He holds professional designations as a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His education includes a Bachelor's Degree from Florida International University and several accredited certificate programs from Florida International University, The University of Chicago, and the Investments and Wealth Institute. He is a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute and is involved in community organizations such as Camillus House and The Biltmore Village. Miguel is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, German, and English.

Maria Soria is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as an owner in real estate-related businesses, including MG Enterprises Miami LLC and a real estate education entity. 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.

Lloyd Macedo is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2013 and holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as President of the CFA Society of Miami and Treasurer of the Toast of Las Olas Toastmasters in Fort Lauderdale. UBS Financial Services provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm integrates proprietary research and model-based asset allocations with institutional trading capabilities to deliver tailored financial planning and portfolio management solutions.

Hiram Hernandez is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 15 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Metlife Securities and Massmutual Life Insurance Co. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of a consulting firm that provides advocacy and support services to individuals with special needs in Florida. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a collaborative, goal-oriented planning process and provides various event-driven planning programs.

Patrick O'Connell is a CFP® professional with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has been with Ameriprise and its predecessor firms since 1992. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis delivered through a centralized consulting team, emphasizing assets held in Ameriprise Managed Accounts and utilizing algorithmic automation overseen by a Retirement Income Oversight Committee.

Robert Margolies is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2024, he worked at Stelliam Capital Management and Stelliam Investment Management. He is also an insurance agent selling life insurance products and serves as treasurer for his family’s foundation accounts. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth investors, pension plans, and municipal entities. The firm offers tailored, typically non-discretionary services with a focus on risk-based reviews and serves state and municipal clients through its affiliation with a public finance department.

Bradley Lipkowitz serves as a Senior Resident Director and International Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he frequently travels domestically and internationally to work closely with clients and their families, helping them pursue their financial goals through personalized wealth management strategies. He integrates investment insights from Merrill and banking and lending solutions from Bank of America to provide a comprehensive approach to managing clients’ financial needs. Bradley began his career at Merrill in 2005 after interning there during college, and he has been part of various leadership teams within the Southeast Division, Miami Americas Market, and Greater Fort Lauderdale Market. His expertise includes international wealth management, family wealth strategies, legacy planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, as well as supporting diverse client groups such as women and the LGBT community. He emphasizes thoughtful planning of assets and liabilities to help clients deploy their wealth more strategically. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Beyond his professional commitments, Bradley is engaged in community volunteering, aligning with Merrill’s tradition of service. He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughters, and friends, and his personal interests include baseball, football, golfing, hiking, cooking, traveling, watching movies, writing, and practicing yoga.

Todd Watson is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Plantation, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2014 and at City National Bank since 2016. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs that provide customized portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles.

Leo Kleban is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates in Hollywood, FL, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Frazier Financial Advisors and Private Client Services. Raymond James & Associates is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser with over $500 billion in assets under management and more than 5,400 advisors. The firm serves a diverse client base—including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and government entities—offering wealth advisory planning and investment consulting primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Svitlana Dorofina is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She brings over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, having started her career in 2003 and joined Merrill in 2010. Svitlana specializes in high-net-worth client relationships and offers expertise in areas such as equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, and portfolio management. She approaches wealth management by integrating home, health, leisure, and philanthropy aspects to develop tailored strategies that meet her clients’ goals and aspirations. Svitlana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She has earned several professional designations, including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, she is an active member of the Chicago community and participates in initiatives such as Better Money Habits, a Bank of America program in partnership with Khan Academy, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Council. Residing in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood with her husband and rescue dog, Svitlana enjoys biking, vegetarian cooking, hiking, running, skiing, traveling, yoga, and reading. She is part of The Sheppard Group team recognized by Forbes as one of the Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams in 2024, and she has been named among Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State for 2023 and 2024 as well as Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State in 2023.

Manuel Kent is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, he worked at Goldman Sachs from 2020 to 2022. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and analytics. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides services through Financial Advisors and its Estate Planning Strategies Group.

Michael McMahon is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Fort Lauderdale, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015 and with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2012. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients. The firm offers structured financial planning and investment services, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Vivien Balcker is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Miramar, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2012. Balcker serves on the Board of Directors for A Place in Time Christian Ministries. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations primarily for clients with Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Kenneth Steinmetz is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Janney Montgomery Scott, Bank of America, and Merrill. Steinmetz is based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. It 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.

Maribeth Bates is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Fort Lauderdale, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors, Merrill, and Bank of America, and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2020. Bates serves as a board member for the Exit Planning Institute Ft. Lauderdale Chapter, overseeing membership and organizing events for professionals focused on business exit strategies. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizing firm-approved tools and methodologies to develop tailored financial plans.

Wayne Anderman is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 37 years of industry experience. He currently serves at Cetera and previously worked for Avantax entities for over 15 years and Anchor Capital Resources for more than two decades. He is also a member of the Forbes Business Council, where he contributes articles and newsletters. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm supporting a large nationwide network of independent advisors. It serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts, offering a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services with multiple program options and affiliations.

James Goulet is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates in Fort Lauderdale, FL, holding a Series 66 designation with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James & Co since 2014. Raymond James & Associates provides financial planning and investment consulting through its Wealth Advisory Services Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and government clients. The firm also offers institutional consulting and sponsors wrap fee advisory programs.

Suzy Hsieh is an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments, where she works directly with clients to understand their financial situations and co-create personalized plans to help achieve their financial goals. She has been with Fidelity Investments since 2021. Her professional experience includes roles as a Financial Professional at Prudential from 2020 to 2021, a Banker at PNC Bank from 2019 to 2020, and a Financial Advisor at CUSO Financial from 2016 to 2018. This range of experience has provided her with a broad understanding of financial services and client relationship management. Outside of her professional work, Suzy enjoys activities such as hiking, traveling, and exploring different cuisines.

John Curran is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera since 2019 and previously with Foresters Advisory Services and Foresters Financial Services. Curran is involved in education as a board member of the Miami Dade County Public Schools Academy of Finance and teaches continuing education for industry organizations. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services with access to multiple program structures, third-party managers, and model portfolio options.

Justin Burdo is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple tenures at Wells Fargo Clearing and a one-year period at UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he has a minority ownership interest in GBJB LLC, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering services such as investment policy statement preparation, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes both discretionary and non-discretionary options, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.