Michael Ogashi is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at Bank of America, The Home Depot Inc, and Office Depot Inc. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning covering a broad range of topics, with options to combine planning and managed-account services under a consolidated billing program called WealthPlan.

Brent Lilly is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing a broad range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutions, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Paul Lindberg Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise since 2017 and previously held roles at State Farm VP Management Corp and insurance agencies. Lindberg also manages an advisory business, DGW Worldwide, LLC. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that incorporate research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis. The firm combines advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated companies, supported by a centralized consulting team that generates algorithm-assisted, customizable recommendations.

May Burkett is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, she worked at KoonsFuller Houston and the Law Office of Robert S. Hoffman, P.L.L.C., and has experience in both legal and fitness instruction roles. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Barbara Salas Beltran is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank and JPMorgan Securities LLC since 2022. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations, delivering services on a non-discretionary basis.

Alisa Danaj is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In her role, she works closely with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies aimed at achieving those objectives. She provides ongoing advice and adapts portfolios as clients' situations evolve. Alisa holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She earned an Associate's Degree from the College of the Mainland and a High School Diploma from Clear Falls High School. She also attended the University of Houston System without obtaining a degree. She is proficient in Albanian and English. Outside of her professional work, Alisa is involved with several community organizations, including Blue River Animal Rescue, Habitat for Humanity, and the Houston Food Bank.

Johnny De Forest Jr. serves as a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Houston. Since joining Merrill in 2019, he focuses on educating and assisting clients to reach their personal and financial goals through tailored wealth management plans. His approach involves listening to the objectives and expectations of individuals and families and collaborating with his team to design strategies that aim to convert these goals into realities. De Forest specializes in areas such as corporate benefits, executive services, divorce transition planning, education planning, retirement income, and family wealth management strategies. He provides guidance for managing concentrated stock positions and addressing significant life events like retirement, inheritance, or business sales. Additionally, he facilitates access to services from Bank of America Private Bank and works alongside clients' legal and accounting advisors to coordinate comprehensive financial and legacy planning. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a specialization in personal financial planning from the University of Houston, where he was president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter. De Forest maintains professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Born and raised in Houston, he is a sports fan of local teams and enjoys spending time with family and friends, including his fiancé and their two sons.

Kathleen Gain is a financial advisor at Merrill with 36 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 1992. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program for Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Roy Salas is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Kemah, TX, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. He has 12 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Statoil Texas Onshore Properties LLC, related to oil and gas royalties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors and over $1 trillion in assets under management.

Joseph Olivares is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Bank of America and Merrill from 2018 to 2023. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC primarily serves institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, providing investment consulting and advisory services through a combination of quantitative asset-allocation modeling and centralized due diligence. The firm emphasizes a non-discretionary approach, applying an ESG eligibility framework and offering access to a broad range of investment products within a large financial organization.

Howard Williams Jr. is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing Services since 2018 and previously held roles at Salient Capital, L.P., Salient Capital Advisors, LLC, and Salient Partners, L.P. between 2016 and 2017. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm employs over 14,000 advisors and manages approximately $671 billion in assets, providing both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Kelly Wilson is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Primerica Financial Services and DCJ Transport, among others. Outside of her advisory work, she has maintained a personal connection to health products through Shaklee Corporation, though she has not actively used these products since 2013. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options under a wrap-fee structure. The firm curates third-party asset managers and delegates trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors, focusing on a tiered percentage-based fee model.

Frances Lummis is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Ryan Casey is a financial advisor at Merrill with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2007. Casey serves as a consultant and independent contractor for the Investment and Wealth Institute, assisting in the development and review of exam questions for the CIMA certification. 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 developed by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

James Calcagno is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2014, with prior roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. He also served with the Texas Association of Sports Officials for three years. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, utilizing a process that includes quantitative asset-allocation modeling and centralized due diligence. The firm incorporates an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations and offers a range of services through its Institutional Consulting Services program.

Diana Cortez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2020 and has been employed with Wells Fargo Bank, NA since 2014. Prior to her current role, she was associated with Pandora by Reeds in 2018. 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 advisory solutions. The firm’s approach is guided by investment policy statements and modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options within its investment offerings.

Cheryle Schmidt is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS since 2015. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services supported by proprietary research and a broad range of capital markets solutions.

William Leven is a Private Wealth Advisor with Merrill Private Wealth Management, specializing in serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. Since 1992, he has focused on developing comprehensive financial strategies including preparation for business sales, income stream building, and long-term intergenerational wealth planning. His practice also offers access to credit and lending services through Bank of America, addressing a wide spectrum of client needs. William holds a B.S. in Political Science from Rice University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He carries the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. Over his career, he has been named multiple times to Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors" list, Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors," and the Financial Times "Top 400 Financial Advisers" list. Outside of his professional work, William has been involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, serving as its Chair and participating on the executive committee. He enjoys basketball, hiking, and reading about history in his spare time.

Victor Cisneros is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having seven years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2018 and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2014. 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 advisory solutions. The firm’s IPS-driven approach incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broader set of financial product offerings, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Eric Aldape is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2026, he worked at JP Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank from 2014 to 2026, as well as at Frost Investment Services and Frost Brokerage Service from 2019 to 2020. 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 combines research from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources to evaluate investment options using diversification and modern portfolio theory principles.