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.

Ryan Gill is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Waldorf Estoria and attended Arizona State University. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

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.

Eddie Kaspar is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 65 license. He has 42 years of industry experience, including a long tenure with Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. Kaspar is based in Orange, CA. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party asset managers, and an integrated platform that includes insurance products and lending solutions.

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.

James Erickson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 37 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a broad range of advisory programs to both individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides various investment products and services, including specialized planning and institutional offerings.

Kyong Hwa Koch is a financial advisor at Merrill with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill Lynch since 2022. Her prior experience includes roles at RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

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.

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.

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.

Alexander Dickson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2009 and has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers a broad range of retail and institutional services.

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.

Winnie Leong is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 28 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2017 and previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Securities America, Inc. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in artistic pursuits as an artist. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad clientele including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs supported by research and model portfolios, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management solutions.

Jessie M Vargas Gutierrez is a financial advisor with Merrill in Downey, CA. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, TSG Wealth Management, and Tax Rise Inc, among others. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Erica Pitrone is a financial advisor at Merrill with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Merrill since 2015. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations.

James Townes II is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has held prior roles at Lincoln Financial Securities, Pacific Advisors, Leisure Wenden & Tsary Agency, Mutual of Omaha, and Aflac. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Townes Financial Consulting, providing business consulting for small business owners and financial education to community colleges and clergy members. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services with access to multiple platforms, third-party money managers, and employs a variety of tools for portfolio construction and management.

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.

Thomas Li is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and is also the owner of Cashow LLC, a cosmetics business focused on acrylic and gel nail products. 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 an ESG eligibility framework to guide fund and strategy recommendations.

Jean Paul Afif is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 license and 12 years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at Bank of America, Merrill, Wells Fargo Private Bank, and Morning Star Wealth Management. Outside of finance, he has been involved with the Screen Actors Guild as an executive producer and actor in commercials, films, and television for more than two decades, and he is the creator of a technology app called Star of the Sea NIL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and comprehensive asset management.