Benjamin Staines is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been serving clients since 2008. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and maintains Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA registrations. His expertise includes building and managing customized wealth management strategies, with a focus on client portfolios, retirement income, tax minimization, and family wealth management. Benjamin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He and his team in Hunt Valley, Maryland, assist successful individuals, executives, businesses, and families in pursuing their financial goals. Born and raised in the Annapolis area, Benjamin currently resides in Towson, Maryland with his wife and three children. He is involved in the community through youth league sports. His personal interests include boating, fishing, football, golfing, hunting, spending time with family, and tennis.

Jonathan Burrell is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2019 and has prior experience in realty, fitness, and physical therapy sectors. Outside of his advisory role, Burrell assists part-time with childcare for a young boy with special needs. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Michael O'Connell is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in personal wealth management and financial strategies for business owners and high-net-worth families, as well as advisory and co-fiduciary management for qualified retirement plans. He works closely with clients to determine their needs and crafts customized financial strategies to help them pursue their goals. Since joining Merrill in 2003, Michael has worked with clients across more than 20 states, including business owners, physicians, and attorneys. His expertise includes advanced financial planning for cash flow, corporate 401(k) plans, asset and liability management, retirement strategies, risk management, estate planning services, and alternative investments. He holds several professional designations, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Michael is a graduate of Loyola Blakefield and Villanova University. He is married to his wife Lauren, and they have four children. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys baseball, basketball, football, golfing, tennis, coaching youth sports, and spending time with his family.

William Cummins is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 25 years of industry experience. He has worked with MetLife Securities Inc. and Metropolitan Insurance Co since 2000 and has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017. Outside of advising, he is involved with Joppa Energy Solutions LLC, a solar micro-grid company, where he studies solar benefits and visits the plant annually. MassMutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides collaborative, annual planning engagements using firm-approved software and delivers written recommendations focused on investment categories and strategies.

James Matthews is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining the firm in 2010, he has worked closely with clients to understand their financial circumstances, concerns, and goals for themselves, their families, and their businesses. He assists in developing and implementing tailored wealth management strategies designed to address a variety of financial scenarios. James holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as well as the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® designation. Additionally, he has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work, James has interests in football, golf, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Madison Smith is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Madison held roles at OSAIC, MassMutual Life Insurance Co, and Fulton Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning that utilizes structured discovery conversations and advanced planning tools.

Brian Sokalski is a financial advisor with Merrill in Hunt Valley, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2016 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2019. 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, and charitable organizations. The firm’s integration with Bank of America’s platform allows access to a broad set of products and services.

Robert Brown Jr. is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2009. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles.

Bryan Carney is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads a team of professionals focused on providing investment management and personalized financial advice to individuals and families. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Bryan specializes in delivering customized guidance across multiple generations. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a bachelor's degree from Mount St. Mary’s College. In 2019, Bryan was named to the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list, based on a selection process that included industry experience, client retention, and compliance reviews.

Alan Vassar is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of the Walker Station Homeowners Association and is a board member of the Ritz Condominium Association. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Premier Retirement Income service, which focuses on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Anthony Wiggan is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2016. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser with over $500 billion in assets under management and more than 5,400 financial advisors. The firm provides wealth advisory planning, investment consulting, and institutional services for a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and government entities, delivering non-discretionary planning and portfolio recommendations.

Michael Alessi Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2005 and also operates Summit Investment Advisors, Inc. dba Summit Financial. Additionally, he provides fixed insurance products to a limited number of clients annually. 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 range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches and supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Carter Chesney is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at UBS Wealth Management and has experience in the watersports industry. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional fiduciaries.

Elizabeth Andrews is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Hunt Valley, MD, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and previously worked at Citigroup Global Markets starting in 2006. Outside of finance, Andrews has experience working in food service roles including banquet server and suite attendant positions. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs emphasizing tailored financial planning supported by proprietary tools and analytical models.

Mark Averell is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. 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 advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Chad Eberly is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including SunTrust Advisory Services and City National Bank. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Churchville Soccer Club, a youth club soccer organization. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a broad range of clients including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles.

Troy Brewer is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Raymond James in 2022. Brewer is the owner and CEO of ClearPlan Wealth Management Inc., a support company he founded. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and institutional entities. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary financial planning and investment consulting, utilizing asset-allocation analysis and firm research to tailor recommendations, with a distinctive focus on advisory and implementation-support roles.

James Jaderborg is a financial advisor with Cetera holding the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license, with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including Elevation View Wealth Partners, LLC, Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, and Securian Financial Services, Inc. Outside of financial advising, he serves on the advisory board of Stop Alzheimers Now and is president of Booking Freedom AI, LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers through a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management.

Katherine De Hart is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, she worked at Janney Montgomery Scott for six years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an insurance agent affiliated with The Mettle Insurance Services agency. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutional clients such as pension plans and state and municipal entities. The firm offers tailored, typically non-discretionary advisory services supported by extensive resources in public finance and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Denise Rodriguez is a Financial Advisor with Moran & Associates in the Towson, MD office, affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works primarily with professional women and couples seeking guidance in managing their financial futures. Denise’s clients are often balancing careers and family responsibilities and look for clarity and security in their financial plans as they progress through different life stages. Denise specializes in creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to each client’s goals, focusing on areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, legacy and philanthropic planning, retirement, tax minimization, and managing new wealth. She begins with a comprehensive wealth plan to understand the purpose of each client’s assets and develops an investment strategy that aligns with their long-term objectives. Denise holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and participates in the Chesapeake Professional Women's Network. Outside of work, Denise enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.