Lope Choa is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works directly with clients to develop personalized financial strategies that align with their long-term goals. His approach involves a comprehensive understanding of each client’s full financial picture, and he utilizes resources from Merrill and Bank of America to provide investment insights as well as banking and lending solutions. Choa’s areas of expertise include portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida and maintains professional designations as a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Committed to community involvement, Choa participates in local volunteer organizations and integrates this service-oriented philosophy into his client relationships. Outside of work, he enjoys baseball, biking, and golfing.

Hovig Ounjian is a financial advisor at Merrill with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held roles at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. 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, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates with Bank of America’s broader platform, providing access to a wide range of products and services.

Quentin Garcia is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors since 2021 and has prior experience at Loyola Marymount University, Community Builders Group, Gonzaga University, and Loyola High School. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment advisory options. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Melanie Sepanian is currently a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2026. She has built her career in the financial services industry, with prior roles including Relationship Manager at Fidelity Investments, Associate Representative at Thrivent, Teller at Wells Fargo, and Insurance Agent at World Financial Group. Melanie specializes in partnering with clients to understand their financial goals, such as retiring early, funding an education, or preserving wealth for future generations. She focuses on building multi-generational relationships and providing comprehensive financial guidance. She holds a California Insurance License.

Katy Zhao is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Pasadena, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014, including a role at Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2017. Outside of her advisory work, she has participated in a one-day modeling project for a clothing retailer’s holiday campaign. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning approach supported by proprietary tools and investment research.

Vivian Lo is a Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2020. She has worked in the financial services industry since 2008, with prior roles including Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch from 2014 to 2020 and Financial Planner at the Royal Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013. Vivian focuses on building trusting client relationships and sharing key financial planning concepts. She assists clients in managing changes and provides ongoing guidance to develop personalized financial plans. She holds a California Insurance License.

Frode Teigen is a Financial Advisor with the Ma Teigen Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill in 2021 and contributes to the team by overseeing operations to facilitate sustained client interaction. Frode applies his analytical skills and experience to design customized wealth management plans, gathering relevant data and modeling scenarios to clarify client priorities and identify action items. He also dedicates significant effort to investment analysis and research, evaluating competing investment options aligned with client needs and advising on parameters such as risk thresholds, time horizons, tax sensitivity, and liquidity. Before joining Merrill, Frode worked for decades in the information technology sector and was involved as a venture capital investor for tech start-ups. He holds a Master of Science degree (M.Sc.) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Frode is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™), and a CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA™). He communicates in English, Norwegian, Swedish, and French. Frode is married with two children and enjoys exploring local trails around Pasadena, California, with his family and their dog, Kiki. His personal interests include chess, hiking, reading, skiing, soccer, swimming, and traveling.

Jason Betts is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Raymond James since 2019 and previously held positions at Cantella & Co., Inc., Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. Raymond James & Associates offers financial planning and investment consulting through its Wealth Advisory Services Program to individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, as well as state and municipal government clients. The firm provides tailored financial plans and investment recommendations, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships.

Deborah Schwartz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2016, as well as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning through dedicated Financial Advisors and the Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm emphasizes a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and offers both direct and corporate financial planning services.

James Mcgarry is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2011 to 2016 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing, where he has been since 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, including a broader range of financial products such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Isaac Taylor is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Arcadia, CA, holding the Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, Taylor serves as a board member for the Pasadena Fire Foundation and the Pasadena Fire Department EMS Reserve, both nonprofit organizations focused on community safety and emergency medical services. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers goal-based, holistic planning covering a wide range of topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option, maintaining planning and investment management as separate services.

Patrick Chan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at B. Riley Wealth Advisors, National Asset Management, Hold Bros. Capital, LLC, and Integra Technology Inc. Outside of his financial career, he is the sole owner of a long-term rental property in Long Beach, CA. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and combines research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with third-party data to inform its diversified, modern portfolio theory-based investment approach.

Larry Roth is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Roth serves on the board of directors for the Chase Foundation in Encino, CA. 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 a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Daniel Johnson is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at City National Bank since 2018 and previously spent nearly two decades at Merrill and nine years at Bank of America. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a broad client base including individual investors, institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs that provide discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles.

Joanie Yau is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Merrill, located in Pasadena, CA. She has 17 years of experience at Merrill and seven years in the industry overall. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a family business called JY LoveCraft, where she creates and sells handmade crafts such as greeting cards and personalized clothing items online. 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, and institutional investors.

Cole Bryant is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Pasadena, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Peermusic, Azusa Pacific University, and Houzz. Outside of advising, he is the owner of BRYANT & SEG LLC, an LLC formed to manage a real estate investment property jointly held with another member. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority and providing ongoing plan reviews through its network of financial advisors.

Edmund Regan II is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets and City National Bank, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and offering 41 years of industry experience. He has been with these firms since 2016. Outside of finance, he is involved in multiple business ventures including restaurant operations and technology seed capital funds, and serves on the boards of a children’s group home and a theater organization. He is also a passive owner in thoroughbred horse racing. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual and institutional clients with diverse investment programs that offer discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Erik Klinger is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services from 2020 to 2024. Outside of his advisory work, Klinger is involved in several Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies as a co-owner and president. He is also the founder of Mugen Mindset, a life coaching business. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting services supported by research and model portfolios.

Justin Hong is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Pasadena, CA, with 11 years at the firm and 9 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools and modeling techniques to support its advisory services.

William Ouellette is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at PFS Investments, Inc. and Instacart, as well as a long tenure at Primerica Financial Services. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, along with corporate and charitable clients. The firm utilizes model-delivery strategies managed by third-party asset managers and supports trade execution and custody through Pershing and BNY Mellon Advisors.