Julie Julaine Cichy is a financial advisor at Merrill with 38 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2009 and at Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a volunteer co-chair for the Women's Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center’s annual fundraising campaign in Plano, Texas. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Robert Franze is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with eight years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, he worked at Clipper Magazine and had a brief period of unemployment. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm has a large network of advisors and branch offices and offers additional services such as tax-efficient investing and proxy voting under a fiduciary standard.

Charles Tran is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company from 2007 to 2017 before joining Thrivent in 2017. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm supports combining planning with managed-account programs via a consolidated billing option called WealthPlan, while keeping these services separate.

Sherrell Henry is a Series 66 licensed advisor with eight years of industry experience, currently working at J.P. Morgan Securities in Plano, TX. Prior to rejoining J.P. Morgan Securities in 2022, Henry held roles at Fidelity and Capital One Bank, as well as a brief tenure at Amazon. Henry is also involved with Adore Authenticity LLC since 2026. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, offering non-discretionary written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research supported by a centralized due diligence team and incorporates ESG frameworks, with a focus on eligible strategies and broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Craig Moen is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. from 2006 to 2008. 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 supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Kelsey Gaona is a financial advisor at Merrill with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2019. 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, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Clayton Rivera is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and currently at multiple Vanguard entities since 2026. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing member of The Developer's Oath LLC, an app development company focused on creating a card game. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach and manages a large client base with a high client-per-advisor ratio supported by digital platforms and team servicing.

Alan Thomas is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1998. Outside of advising, he owns and operates a cattle business in Honey Grove, Texas. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Nichole Smith serves as a Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2023. In this capacity, she leads a team of financial professionals dedicated to delivering a comprehensive client experience. Prior to this position, Nichole held several roles within Fidelity Investments, including Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2023, Senior Relationship Manager from 2019 to 2021, and Relationship Manager from 2017 to 2019. Throughout her career at Fidelity, Nichole has concentrated on fostering strong client relationships with a focus on holistic financial planning. She brings extensive experience in financial advisory and client management, supporting clients in achieving their financial goals. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Nichole enjoys attending comedy events and concerts.

Tia Safford is Vice President and Private Wealth Management Advisor at Fidelity Investments. In this role, she supports ultra-high net worth families in co-creating comprehensive financial plans that address complex needs including tax-efficient investing and estate planning considerations. She is a Certified Financial Planner (TM) and focuses on ensuring that every detail of financial and multi-generational wealth plans is cultivated and considered holistically. Tia has been with Fidelity Investments since 2005, progressing through roles including Financial Representative, Investments Consultant, Financial Consultant, and Vice President, Financial Consultant before assuming her current position in 2023. She holds an Arkansas Insurance License.

Otha Smith is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Plano, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, The Leaders Group, and Lincoln Financial Distributors. Outside of finance, he is involved in business ventures including book publishing, TV and web series production, and consulting for a transportation services company. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory and financial planning services to individuals and institutions, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets through structured planning processes without individual security recommendations in standalone programs.

Amanda Roedell is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank since 2017, with prior experience at Robinhood Financial, Compass Group USA, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Child Care Aware. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a selective group of Wealth Advisors, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process incorporates centralized due diligence, combining quantitative and qualitative research with a forward-looking approach to capital market assumptions.

Thomas Trussell is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Baton Rouge, LA since 2020. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with substantial investable assets, delivering written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary retirement recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Blake Redd is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Plano, TX. He holds a Series 66 credential and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard, he worked at several firms including Osaic Wealth, Concurrent Investment Advisors, and Bleakley Financial Group. Outside of finance, he has worked in data labeling for Telus Digital. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and eligible employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed mostly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization options and tax-aware features.

Richard Sowell is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Cetera and Regions Bank. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary methodologies to build personalized portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Michael Meneghetti is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard and its affiliated entities since 2022 and has prior teaching experience at Texas A&M University and Houston Community College. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, employing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base through a high advisor-to-client ratio, emphasizing digital delivery and customizable investment solutions.

Allison Tarpley is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in McKinney, Texas. She has been serving clients in the financial advisory field since 1999, leading her own practice within the Merrill Lynch office. Allison and her team focus on delivering wealth management planning, investment advice, and personalized service to clients, prioritizing integrity, hard work, and a client-centered approach. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Austin College in Sherman, TX, in 1999 and later earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Allison's professional credentials further include Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Her expertise encompasses comprehensive financial planning, including education planning, retirement, estate, philanthropic, and socially responsible investing strategies. Outside of her professional role, Allison is involved in her local church community. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Mark, and their two children. Family activities often include supporting their children's sports and enjoying time at their lake house.

Jason Felsman is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2017, he worked for Enterprise Holdings for 21 years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, separately managed accounts, and proprietary funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the United States.

Matthew Ford is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Raymond James Financial Services, Prospera Financial Services, Capital One Investing, and Fidelity. Ford is also involved with Legacy Retirement Planning. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, combining extensive non-advisory financial activities with oversight of over $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Taylor Cook is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in serving professionals, executives, business owners, and families who value thoughtful planning, clear communication, and a long-term perspective regarding their finances. Taylor focuses on providing comprehensive financial strategies and investment management services tailored to meet the needs of business owners and families. His expertise includes retirement planning, asset allocation, and wealth preservation, supported by his designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ and an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™. Taylor assists clients during significant life events such as career transitions, business growth, retirement, inheritances, and other situations that require informed financial decisions affecting various aspects like cash flow, taxes, benefits, and estate planning. Taylor holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Texas. Outside of his professional work, he is dedicated to family and friends and pursues interests including baseball, bass fishing, golf, and college football. He also engages in ongoing education and community activities.