Angelo Ciardella is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill for 17 years before joining Raymond James. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser overseeing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services through a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

David Cromack is a financial advisor at Stifel with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for 15 years before joining Stifel. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services with a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group. The firm provides episodic fee-based financial planning and supports a range of clients with tailored asset allocation and retirement analyses.

Jack Hansen serves as a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on helping families and business owners develop wealth plans that align with their life priorities, integrating guidance from Merrill's investing insights and banking solutions from Bank of America. His expertise encompasses various areas including family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income planning. Jack provides specialized services for high-net-worth individuals, offering access to institutional-grade tools and strategies such as advanced tax strategies, concentrated equity management, estate planning, exit planning, and M&A advisory through his team. Jack holds a Bachelor's degree from the Texas State University System and professional designations including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of work, he engages in activities such as baseball, basketball, boating, football, running marathons, skiing, and traveling.

Mushtaq Ahmed is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 31 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, AXA Advisors, since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Synergy Life Brokerage Group LLC. Equitable Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs. The firm’s approach includes matching clients to program models or discretionary managers, utilizing third-party asset managers and advisory programs, and providing ERISA fiduciary services through credentialed representatives.

Syed Afzaal is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 credential and over 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Merrill, Banc of America Investment Services, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, where he has been affiliated since 2009. Outside of finance, he is an owner and partner in a Crave Cookies franchise, involved in background operations part-time. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting.

Scott Monteverde is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at various Morgan Stanley entities since 2005, including Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured financial planning process incorporating firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Luis Gutierrez Jr. is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing nearly 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, international wealth management, and individual and corporate investment strategy. Luis holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the University of Texas System and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His approach centers on connecting all aspects of a client's financial life to prioritize and pursue their most important goals. Outside of his professional role, Luis participates in community and faith-based organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Men Called to Be Saints Men's Bible Class. He also enjoys baseball, fishing, golfing, music, softball, swimming, and watching movies.

Scott Staples currently serves as a Market Leader at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he leads a team of investment professionals focused on helping clients work toward their financial goals. His leadership is guided by a vision to transform lives, supported by a mission emphasizing collaboration, consistency, and commitment to excellence. Scott has an extensive history with Fidelity Investments, holding various roles over more than two decades. His previous positions include Vice President and Branch Manager (2013-2020), Assistant Branch Manager (2011-2012), Vice President and Senior Account Executive (2009-2010), Financial Planning Consultant (2003-2008), and Service Trader (2000-2002). This progression reflects his sustained experience in financial services and client management within the firm.

Surojeet Ghatak is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensed financial advisor with over 31 years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Financial and The Noble Group, having previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by advanced operational and research tools.

Cathy Buchanan is a CFP® and Series 63-registered financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. She is currently with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and has previously worked at Ameriprise and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Cathy is also the owner of Metam Wealth Advisors, LLC, a separate advisory business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension funds, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm operates through a large network of financial professionals and provides multiple platform options along with proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Michael Morcos is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities based in Houston, TX, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and having eight years of industry experience. He has worked at various JPMorgan entities since 2018 and previously spent ten years at Commercial International Bank. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm supports its recommendations with centralized due diligence combining quantitative and qualitative research and offers broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Nathan Burks is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been serving since 2023. He collaborates with clients to develop tailored financial strategies aimed at achieving long-term financial well-being and confidence for retirement planning. Prior to his current role, Nathan worked as an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Before joining Fidelity, he held positions as Lead Advisor at Aspire Wealth Advisors from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor at Principal from 2019 to 2021. Nathan's professional experience spans multiple roles in the financial advisory field, focusing on client collaboration and strategic financial planning. Outside of his professional work, Nathan enjoys outdoor activities such as beach outings, camping, fishing, running, and spending time with his pets.

John Osborn is a CFP® and ChFC® with 48 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2011 and has longstanding experience at New England Life dating back to 1985. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of a local Property Owners Association and is involved in administration and bookkeeping for qualified plans. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm supports both discretionary and non-discretionary management through multiple platforms and proprietary model strategies.

Travis Fitts is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Schwab in 2022, he worked at Robinhood Financial, Thrivent Investment Management, and Modern Woodmen of America. Outside of his advisory role, Fitts assists with management and upkeep of his family’s agricultural business producing cattle and hay. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts, utilizing multi-asset model portfolios and a formal alternative-investment selection process.

Gerald Mischon Jr. is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Black Diamond Incorporated, a holding company for concession equipment assets, serving as its secretary. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing financial planning and advisory services to both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and committee insights.

Lamar Morris is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He is currently with Stifel, where he has worked since 2020. Prior to that, he spent nine years at Bank of America, N.A. Outside of financial advising, he is involved in oil and gas exploration through Spooner Petroleum. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to support asset allocation and financial planning analyses.

Jessica Luuong is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2009 and also worked at Bank of America, N.A. from 2021 to the present. 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 for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Marcus Reed is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at TD Ameritrade and Scottrade prior to joining Schwab in 2019. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offering advisory, brokerage, custody, and financial planning services through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed account options. The firm’s model combines non-discretionary client relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and employs multi-asset model portfolios supported by research and due diligence on alternative investments.

Sean Gentry is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director leading Gentry, Masters & Associates, a wealth management team based in Houston, Texas. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2007 and serves as a senior partner of the team recognized on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list from 2023 to 2026. Sean and his team focus on providing customized strategies to business owners, corporate executives, and affluent families, managing over $1.6 billion in assets as of January 2026. Sean's expertise includes college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management, legacy planning, liquidity management, and retirement planning, among other areas. He and his team prioritize connecting all aspects of clients' financial lives to pursue their most important goals through personalized, boutique-like services. He graduated from the University of Arkansas (Walton School of Business) with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Sean is active in professional organizations such as the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. and the Financial Planning Association. His community involvement includes support for the American Cancer Society, University of Arkansas Alumni Scholarship, and participation on the University of Houston Advisory Panel and the W.A.T.C.H. DOG Program at his children's school. In his personal life, Sean is married with two children and enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and hunting.

Erin Spring is a financial advisor at Merrill with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2011. Based in Houston, TX, she works within a large institutional firm. 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.