Stefen Blount is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Wells Fargo Clearing and has held prior roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Facet Wealth. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary advisory options. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broad investment menu that includes insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options.

Sean Rippen is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a role he has held since joining the firm in 2006. He is a qualified Portfolio Manager who provides clients with tailored wealth management plans designed to achieve their long-term financial objectives. Sean builds and manages personalized or defined strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. Through Merrill's Investment Advisory Program, he manages client strategies on a discretionary basis. Sean holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute™. He also holds FINRA Series 7, 66, and 31 securities registrations and a State of Maryland insurance license. Sean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Maryland's Scholars Program in College Park. His client focus areas include college education planning, executive compensation, LGBT wealth planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Outside of his professional pursuits, Sean enjoys playing piano and guitar, physical fitness, golf, woodworking, and spending time with his family. He resides in Brookeville, Maryland, with his wife Christine and their two sons, Beau and Austin.

Heather Lakner is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Palate Pleasers. Outside of her advisory role, she has been involved with Centerpiece Boutique and Design. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of wrap fee advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles through a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers.

Isandra Salinas is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Merrill, Charles Schwab, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary advice through a centralized consulting team.

Natalia Cuellar is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2022, also working at Wells Fargo Bank since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a delivery driver for DoorDash on a part-time basis. 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 range of financial product offerings including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Willie Tate is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in working with millionaires and high net worth families, focusing on accumulation, growth, and preservation of financial assets. His core areas of expertise include retirement planning, estate planning strategies, legacy planning, and tax efficiency. He works closely with clients on a range of goals, including college education planning, divorce transition planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, philanthropic planning, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from the University System of Maryland. Willie has earned several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He is fluent in English and French. Willie is actively involved in several professional and community organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the Georgetown University Alumni Association Black Alumni Council, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services Inc., Leveling The Playing Field, the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association, The Joyce-Gillespie-Harrington (JGH) Educational and Charitable Foundation, Inc., and the Urban Financial Services Coalition. In his personal time, he enjoys basketball, chess, football, golfing, singing, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Robert Kirkland II is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Clinton, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase & Co., SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo, and Supreme Ledning. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of The Kirkland Group LLC, a consulting business, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Cam Kirk Foundation. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Cory Paton is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping clients meet their financial goals by implementing personalized, well-rounded strategies tailored to their unique situations. Cory advises on areas including corporate executive services, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, and tax minimization. Cory started his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) within the Consumer Industrial Products & Services group, where he provided tax and consulting services to large public companies. He earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation in 2018 and held a manager role at PwC. Cory holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington & Lee University and a Masters in Accounting with a concentration in Tax Consulting from the University of Virginia. He also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, as well as Series 7 FINRA and Series 66 NASAA registrations. Residing in Annapolis, Maryland, Cory is active in the Annapolis/Anne Arundel Financial Education Coalition, which works to increase financial education among local residents. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys golfing, playing basketball, boating, and listening to podcasts. Cory does not provide legal or tax advice in his role at Merrill Lynch.

Behzad Baharloo is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Merrill, Regions Bank, Cetera, and Caci, as well as managing a family business, Orelity Family Fund, for nine years. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions across a broad range of financial products.

Scott Mcroy is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 39 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill for 33 years before joining Ameriprise in 2009. In addition to his advisory work, Mcroy serves as Vice Chair of the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation Board and chairs the foundation’s Finance Committee. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, offering tailored recommendation reports that incorporate income, Social Security, and tax strategies. The firm combines research and modeling with automated and personalized advice, focusing on assets managed within Ameriprise accounts.

Seth Bergen is the Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2025. He has been with Fidelity since 2020, progressing from Investment Consultant to Financial Consultant before his current role. Prior to Fidelity, Seth gained experience as an Investment Advisor at Glass Jacobson, a Wealth Advisor at Sawyer Wealth Management, and a Financial Advisor at AIG Financial Network. Throughout his career, Seth has focused on providing client-first financial planning, working closely with clients and their families to build confident financial futures. His professional journey reflects a consistent commitment to pursuing clients' financial success through strong and lasting relationships. Outside of his professional work, Seth has personal interests that include fitness, golf, playing instruments, motorcycles, snowboarding, and traveling.

Brian Gibbons is a financial advisor with Cetera in Annapolis, MD, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services, Mass Mutual, and Metlife Securities Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of independent advisors and employs a multi-manager platform with options ranging from model portfolios to bespoke strategies.

Bill Polizos is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at PNC Investments LLC, Capital One Advisors, LLC, Capital One Investing, LLC, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains involvement with Marniso Wealth Advisors Inc., a business entity used for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Irwin Sobers is a Certified Financial Planner® with 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2008 and previously at Merrill from 2002 to 2008. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved with Tower Federal Credit Union and has an ownership interest in a real estate rental business. 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 advisory and brokerage services, utilizing various portfolio strategies and technology tools, and oversees over $819 billion in discretionary assets through a network of more than 22,800 advisors.

Madison Decker is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with the Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, Decker held roles with the Miami Dolphins and the Miami Open and Hard Rock Stadium. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Marco Rosas Ruiz is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Columbia, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo Bank, NA since 2016 and is also involved in managing Timbuktu Restaurant as a cashier. 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 employs a large team of advisors and utilizes research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute along with third-party data to support diversified investment strategies.

Michael Norris is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Citigroup Global Markets. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to clients' risk profiles.

Matthew McGehrin is a Wealth Management Advisor and Merrill Institutional Consultant with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill in 2007, he has focused his expertise on serving nonprofits, foundations, endowments, and individual clients. His approach emphasizes clear communication and a strategy-first mindset, beginning with comprehensive planning tailored to each client's unique goals and values, with the aim of creating portfolios that withstand market volatility and adapt to changing economic conditions and client circumstances. Matt holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Maryland in College Park. Dedicated to continuous learning, he remains proactive in adjusting client portfolios in response to market developments. In his community involvement, Matt serves on the Board of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and coordinates volunteer efforts for the Alliance's Project Clean Stream, which focuses on improving local waterways through community engagement. He resides in Annapolis with his wife and two daughters.

Margaret Kosmerl is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Annapolis, MD, holding the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and accumulating 35 years of industry experience. She has been with LPL Financial since 1997. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Flight Plan Financial Services and NGFCU Wealth Management. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, with a platform supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Andrew Frazier is a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth, Inc. with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles outside the financial sector at Annapolis Yacht Club, Kent Island Resort, Harvest Thyme Tavern, and Coopers Hawk Winery. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to multiple investment platforms and third-party money managers.