David Valent Jr. is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Troy, MI, with two years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has worked in various positions including as a mechanic assistant at Pontiac Lake Service and roles in automotive and construction-related businesses. Equitable Advisors serves individuals across a range of wealth levels as well as institutional clients, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm utilizes a combination of proprietary and third-party advisory programs, focusing on personalized client assessment and matching clients with appropriate investment solutions.

Laura Smith is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Birmingham, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. 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 firm-approved tools and scenario modeling to support client planning.

Patricia Whitney is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Troy, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 39 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer for Variety Detroit, a charity supporting children with special needs. 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 and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client strategies.

Kevin Zions is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Troy, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for his sister’s trust on a limited basis. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that offers investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Isaac Van Dyke is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at PRUCO Securities, LLC and was a student for ten years prior to beginning his advisory career. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm typically uses model-driven portfolio management and offers access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and affiliated insurance and trust services.

Theodore Spickler is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He initially joined Merrill in 2011, focusing on assisting affluent clients and their families in achieving financial wellness. After a two-year hiatus to pursue a business opportunity, he returned to Merrill in 2019. He applies his experience in delivering holistic, goals-based strategies to help clients with managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. Theodore holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Theodore earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Iowa. His personal interests include basketball, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Mark Karcher is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked with Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2003 and has been associated with MassMutual Life Insurance Co since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates Karcher Agency Inc., which provides life, health, dental, and vision insurance services. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm emphasizes annual, collaborative financial planning engagements using proprietary software and provides specialized planning programs, including recent additions like standalone Divorce Planning.

James Melstrom is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Bloomfield Hills, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 33 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer and head of fundraising for Islam Really Cares Corp, a charitable organization, and is involved with Quest for Breath through the University of Michigan corporate and foundation development. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, offering tailored financial planning and consulting services supported by a broad range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Michael Thorstad is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Clarkston, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird since 2001. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group offers tailored financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services, utilizing a range of strategies from traditional equity and fixed-income to more complex approaches, including discretionary and non-discretionary management.

John Baxter III is a financial advisor at Merrill with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Merrill since 1987, including 15 years with Bank of America, N.A. in Bloomfield Hills, MI. 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.

Bradley Surman is the Vice President and Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2018. He began his career as a Wealth Management Banker at Bank of America from 2003 to 2009, followed by roles as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch before joining Fidelity Investments as a Financial Consultant in 2013. Throughout his career, Bradley has worked with wealthy individuals and families to develop long-term financial plans and provide education to help clients avoid common financial mistakes. His approach emphasizes planning, honesty, education, collaboration, and diligence. Outside of his professional work, Bradley enjoys attending concerts, cooking and baking, playing golf, watching movies, listening to music, and going to the theater.

Robert Rubarth is a financial advisor with Stifel in Rochester, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2018 and previously spent six years at Raymond James & Associates. Stifel serves a broad range of clients including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and allocation methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Mark Scofield II is a financial advisor at Merrill with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2017. Prior to that, he held positions at PNC Investments, PNC Bank, and Edward Jones between 2016 and 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in property leasing through several family partnerships. 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, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Andrew Bastian is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services Inc. and Michigan Securities, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Bastian is involved in tax preparation through his own LLC and teaches classes on estate and tax planning. He also works as a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway and Real Living Kee Realty. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base, including retail investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and advisory services. The firm employs a model-based investment approach with tools such as risk-tolerance questionnaires and portfolio optimization, and supports a multi-advisor platform with a variety of programs and third-party manager options.

Jeffrey Smaka is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has a longstanding affiliation with JPMorgan Chase Bank and Bank One since 1997. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm’s program delivers non-discretionary, written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting supported by centralized due diligence and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

Robert Garbutt is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2005. 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.

Benjamin Hawker is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His background includes various roles related to golf course management and operations as well as a four-year period at the University of Michigan. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing both proprietary and third-party advisory models.

Jessica Gibbs is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and Stifel. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning, combining investment research and algorithmic tools to deliver personalized, tax-aware recommendations.

Ethan Smith is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Troy, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with no prior industry experience. Before joining Equitable Advisors, he worked in various roles including at Commonwealth Financial Group and Denso Manufacturing. Outside of finance, he operates Smessco Power Washing LLC. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of investment adviser representatives and third-party managers.

Nicklaus Serafini is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Bloomfield Hills, MI, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Comerica Securities, Ameriprise Financial Services, PNC Investments, and Oppenheimer. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Princeton Harriman Insurance Solutions, LLC as a financial advisor. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services tailored to clients meeting a net-worth threshold, utilizing proprietary research and tools to develop customized recommendations.