Jonathan Cruz is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Walnut Creek, CA, where he has worked since 2018. He has seven years of industry experience, including six years at Comcast prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services using proprietary research and tools, delivering tailored recommendations through advisors.

Jennifer Whalen is a financial advisor at Merrill with 21 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Merrill since 2006 and concurrently with Bank of America, N.A. since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a teacher for the Orinda Community Center. 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.

Kevin Bryant is a financial advisor with Merrill based in Walnut Creek, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2012 and concurrently at Bank of America, N.A. since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a family rental property. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Mike Alho is a financial advisor at Merrill with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Bank of America. He is based in Walnut Creek, CA. Merrill, along 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, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Ariel Castillo is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Benicia, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, he worked at First Republic Bank from 2016 to 2023. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Patrisia Contreras Vigil is a Series 66–licensed advisor with Merrill in Walnut Creek, CA, holding six years of industry experience. She has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2020, and previously held positions at St Joseph Home and Community Care, Collabria Care, and OLE Health. 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 supported by internal and third-party managers for individuals, institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Ron Phillips is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Outside of finance, he is involved with the Combat Sports Academy in Dublin, California. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and strategies.

John Hutchinson is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates since 2025. He spent 14 years at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc prior to his current role. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-executor and acting trustee for a family trust, managing related fiduciary responsibilities. 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, institutions, and municipal entities—and offers a range of financial planning, advisory, and consulting services supported by various portfolio management styles and affiliated research resources.

Samir Arora serves as a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works directly with clients to understand their financial situations and introduces them to solutions available through Merrill and Bank of America. He provides ongoing advice and guidance to clients as their financial needs evolve. Samir's expertise includes general investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events. He emphasizes understanding what is important to each client to help develop personalized strategies for pursuing their financial goals. He holds several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He completed an Accredited Certificate Program at the University of Pune.

Donald Frank III is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Moraga Country Club and Safeway. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets across more than 14,000 financial advisors and utilizes research and analytics to inform investment decisions.

Lata Malla is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2017 and previously held roles at Bank of America and as an instructor at California State University, East Bay and College of San Mateo. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Wilko Schutzendorf is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Walnut Creek, CA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 15 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role at LPL, he worked at Becker Financial Group for 13 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is also active as a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services-Franciscan Properties. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions with a variety of financial planning and investment management solutions.

Brian Coburn is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in personalized comprehensive wealth management solutions, including banking, lending, investing, and insurance. His work focuses on helping clients pursue personal goals such as college education planning, retirement planning, and retirement income management. Brian holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley, where he also participated in baseball as a player and volunteer assistant coach. He earned a master's degree in educational instruction from Saint Mary's College. Before transitioning to financial advising, he spent twenty years teaching chemistry and serving as a baseball coach. Brian holds professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional career, Brian has served as president of the Stone Valley Education Fund and worked as a tutor for College is Real. He lives in the East Bay with his wife Lee Ann, the Managing Director and founder of The Coburn Team, and their two daughters. His personal interests include traveling with family, golfing with friends, and reading.

Ahamad Shaghassi is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at TEKsystems, Inc. and has held self-employed roles. He is a silent partner and sublessor at ZS Bros Partners, where he manages property-related responsibilities. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad client base, including retail and institutional investors, and employs a systematic investment process combining fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is noted for its advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies and use of advanced technologies in portfolio management.

Jordan Taylor is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2014 alongside his tenure at J.P. Morgan Securities beginning in 2012. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process incorporates centralized due diligence, combining quantitative screens and qualitative research with forward-looking capital market assumptions.

Kuang Te is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Ameriprise. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm’s investment approach is typically model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by LPL’s Research Department and third-party strategists, and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and participation in wrap programs.

Norman Kwong is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2007. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, 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.

Nicholas Linton is a CFP® and CFA® with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Raymond James & Associates and has previously worked at firms including Summit Financial Group LLC, Securian Financial Services Inc, and LPL Financial, LLC. His background also includes experience in the insurance sector and a role at Lyft. 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, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and consulting with a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research resources.

Austin Ballard is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley’s Private Bank and other Morgan Stanley divisions since 2018, with prior work experience outside finance at ColdStone Creamery. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including customized financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and investment modeling techniques.

Christopher Merrifield is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, First Republic Investment Management, and Flagstar Advisors. He holds the Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on non-discretionary asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research and incorporates an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.