Raul Hernandez is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and BMO Bank NA, having previously worked at Wells Fargo in various roles. Hernandez balances his advisory work across these firms, contributing significant experience in investment services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, operating at scale with over 22,800 advisors and $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Cynthia Sherman is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo in various roles since 2005. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as the trustee of her deceased mother's trust. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides 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.

Xuemei Wei is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Pasadena, CA, where she has worked since 2016. She has 20 years of industry experience. Wei serves as Treasurer on the board of the Chinese-American Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California, a nonprofit professional organization focused on technical development and networking. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

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.

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.

Steven Li is a financial advisor with Merrill in Arcadia, CA, holding a Series 66 credential and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Merrill and Bank of America since 2017 and has prior experience at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual, and MetLife Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is the sole owner of a rental property business in Upland, California. 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, and various institutional accounts.

Maria Almario is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, she held various roles including positions at Kaiser Permanente and entrepreneurial ventures. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a wide range of advisory and brokerage services utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies, supported by advanced operational tools.

Diego Gonzalez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Citigroup. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

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.

Jonathan Solis is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in providing financial planning and investment management services to individuals, families, and business owners. He focuses on helping busy professionals and business owners coordinate investments, retirement planning, cash flow management, insurance needs, and tax-efficient wealth building through long-term financial strategies. With expertise in education planning, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income, Jonathan offers personalized guidance to help clients achieve their financial goals. He holds several professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree from the California State University System and an MBA from The University of Arizona Global Campus. Outside of his professional role, Jonathan enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains, biking, camping, gardening, and traveling. He is involved in the community through organizations like the Monrovia Historical Society and Pasadena Beautiful. Jonathan is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.

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.

Kim Pang is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Merrill and PIMCO Investments LLC. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. Schwab offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment options, combining broad-scale client coverage with centralized supervisory, custody, and order-routing services.

Julie Nhan is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, Nhan is involved in property management as a sole proprietor. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning and a range of advisory programs, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

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 Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Merrill in Brea, CA, where she has worked since 2015. She has 11 years of industry experience. 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 using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

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 at J.P. Morgan Securities with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012. Outside of finance, he is involved in Cashow LLC, a cosmetics business specializing in acrylic and gel nail products. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 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. The firm operates within the broader J.P. Morgan organization and offers services on a non-discretionary basis.

Alexander Lee is a financial advisor with Cetera in Pasadena, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Leaders Group Inc and Ascendant LLP, where he is a one-third owner in a law practice. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with diverse portfolio management options and a large nationwide network of advisors.