Gregory Vernon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2017 and previously operated his own advisory firm, G.K. Vernon, LLC, for one year. Wells Fargo Advisors is a large national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes research and analytics to inform its investment approach and offers a broad range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Albert Smith III is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in advising corporate executives, financial professionals, founders, and professional athletes. He is part of the Private Executive Services team, where his practice focuses on managing complex financial lives through a coordinated, team-based approach. Albert collaborates closely with clients and their wider advisory teams—including CPAs, attorneys, and agents—to deliver comprehensive and customized financial planning and wealth management services. Albert earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Trinity College and his Juris Doctorate from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He holds FINRA series 7, 63, and 65 registrations, as well as insurance and annuities licenses. Albert also maintains the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He has been recognized as a member of the Private Executive Services team in Forbes' Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams and Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams. Beyond his professional role, Albert is involved with several community organizations, serving on the executive committees for The Hope Gala and The Rita Hayworth Gala for the Alzheimer's Association Young Leadership Committee. He resides in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with his family and enjoys activities including yoga, basketball, golf, music, reading, running, swimming, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Benjamin Lemon is a CFP® with 21 years of experience in the financial industry, currently serving at LPL Financial since 2021. His background includes leadership roles within the Financial Planning Association and involvement on the board of Montecedro. He has also been active in several business and networking groups, including BNI and local chambers of commerce. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions, offering financial planning, advisory programs, and retirement consulting through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Ruzanna Sargsyan is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank, nA and Pacific Premier Bank. 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 grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader set of financial product offerings than typical for large institutional advisers.

Raul Hernandez is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at BMO Bank NA, BancWest Investment Services, Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank. Hernandez is also active as an advisor with BMO Bank NA. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and technology to serve a diverse client base.

Cynthia Sherman is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2005. She serves as the owner and trustee of a family trust. 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 a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Xuemei Wei is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Pasadena, CA, where she has worked since 2016. She has 20 years of industry experience. Wei serves as Treasurer on the board of the Chinese-American Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California, a nonprofit professional organization focused on technical development and networking. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Alex Persons is a Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2023. Prior to this, Alex has held several positions within Fidelity Investments, including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, Financial Representative, Central Relationship Manager, Investment Solutions Representative, and Customer Relationship Advocate, spanning from 2017 to 2023. Before joining Fidelity, Alex worked as a Mortgage Processor at JPMorgan & Co in 2016. Alex holds a California Insurance License. Their professional approach focuses on assisting clients in identifying their financial goals and objectives and building strategies to work towards financial freedom. Alex emphasizes the importance of planning in achieving financial success. Outside of work, Alex enjoys attending concerts and movies, as well as engaging in outdoor adventures such as skiing, surfing, and traveling.

Kyong Hwa Koch is a financial advisor at Merrill with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill Lynch since 2022, following roles at RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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 integrates investment management with Bank of America’s broader platform, providing access to a wide array of products and services.

Peter Smaldino is a Wealth Management Advisor within the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management division of Bank of America. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Peter works with busy professionals and business owners to provide objective advice and client-focused service. His areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, defined benefit and contribution plan consulting, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and retirement income planning. Peter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1993. He holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment (SE). Outside of his professional role, Peter enjoys baseball, football, golfing, hiking, spending time with his family, and traveling.

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 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2017, with 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. 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.

Maria Almario is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in San Dimas, CA, holding one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Kaiser Permanente and several entrepreneurial ventures. 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 broad range of financial planning and advisory programs, utilizing model portfolios and research while providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management services.

Diego Gonzalez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, Citigroup, and multiple Wells Fargo entities. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s investment approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

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.

Jonathan Solis is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He assists individuals, families, and business owners with building, preserving, and managing their wealth through goal-focused financial strategies. Jonathan's approach emphasizes long-term planning, disciplined investing, and personalized guidance to help clients make informed decisions at every stage of life. He specializes in financial planning for busy professionals and business owners, providing expertise in education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Jonathan coordinates investments, retirement planning, cash flow management, and tax-efficient wealth-building strategies, offering ongoing guidance and accountability to keep clients aligned with their goals. Jonathan holds a Bachelor's degree from the California State University System and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Arizona Global Campus. His professional designations include Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In addition to his professional work, Jonathan is involved in the Monrovia Historical Society and Pasadena Beautiful. He enjoys activities such as hiking, traveling, photography, and spending time with family.

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.

Kim Pang is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Merrill and PIMCO Investments LLC. 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. Schwab offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment options, combining broad-scale client coverage with centralized supervisory, custody, and order-routing services.

Julie Nhan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Pasadena, CA, bringing 23 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing over an 11-year period before joining Morgan Stanley in 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in property management as a sole proprietor. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing tailored financial planning and advisory programs. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by approved tools and investment committee resources.

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.