Ilghar Samadzadeh is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials. He has prior experience working at Wells Fargo Bank and George Washington University. 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.

Michael Palazzo is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2017 and previously worked at Capital One Advisors, LLC and Capital One Investing, LLC from 2015 to 2017. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary options. The firm’s advisory process is driven by investment policy statements and modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Pratik Bhavsar is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Ellicott City, MD, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and five years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at M&T Bank, Northwestern Mutual, PNC Bank, and Capital One. Bhavsar is also a commissioned notary in Ellicott City. 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 services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by research and technology tools.

Phillip Cecil is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Washington, DC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, he worked at Budget Blinds. Ameriprise is a large institutional firm offering a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet certain asset criteria. The firm provides written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies, combining research and modeling with algorithmic automation overseen by a specialized consulting team.

Jeremiah Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and beginning his advisory career in 2025. His prior work experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, FedEx, Macy’s, Kohl’s, and several educational institutions. 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 employs more than 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Rongxia Zhu is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Truist Advisory Services and TransGlobal Advisory. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The program relies on centralized due diligence combining quantitative and qualitative research and incorporates an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

James Strother is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked with Global Retirement Partners, LLC since 2017 and was previously affiliated with Mass Mutual Investors Services from 2005 to 2013. Strother also conducts investment-related seminars at colleges. 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 wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and access to third-party asset management, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Nyanya Joof is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. Joof has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients by providing investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting, managing roughly $671 billion in assets through a network of more than 14,000 financial advisors. The firm combines research and analytics with diversification principles and modern portfolio theory, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Adam Shams is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Caruso's Grocery, Sunglass Hut, Walter Johnson High School, and Masorti School. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients, offering brokerage and investment advisory services such as fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, and distribution of mutual funds and alternative products through a platform that integrates institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services.

Brian Avrunin is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Columbia, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for the Friends of Scott Berkowitz, MD campaign, managing campaign finance reporting independently of Ameriprise. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to provide non-discretionary, personalized recommendations. The firm also delivers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Brandon Mazur is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2000 and holds a Series 66 designation. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to alternative products using proprietary research and model-based asset allocations.

Alexander Gross is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to Ameriprise, he worked at The Motley Fool and has experience in various roles including peer tutoring and positions in the food and delivery sectors. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, known for its Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement planning advice focused on income reliability and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

John Pagano is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He is also involved in investment-related business activities through his ownership of PAGANO72, LLC and PAGANO GP, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network offers investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, using Wells Fargo research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations. The firm’s comprehensive planning services address areas such as retirement, education, risk, and specialized needs like business-owner transitions and divorce planning.

Connor Walsh is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Ellicott City, MD, with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Caves Valley and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Walsh is involved in Business Networking International (BNI) and is set to become chapter President starting November 1. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, known for its specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement-income planning with a focus on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Ahmon Smallwood is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been serving since 2025. In this role, he collaborates with clients to develop comprehensive financial plans, focusing on investments, insurance, retirement, and wealth planning to support clients' short and long-term financial objectives. Prior to his current position, Ahmon held roles as a Relationship Manager and Financial Representative at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2025. Before joining Fidelity, he worked as a Relationship Banker at Bank of America from 2021 to 2022. Throughout his career, Ahmon has gained experience in financial services across various client-focused roles, enabling him to provide strategic guidance tailored to individual financial goals. Outside of his professional work, he has interests in comedy, family activities, fitness, football, reading, and running.

Brian Clifford is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017. His prior experience includes roles at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Metlife Securities Inc. Clifford is also active as a licensed life insurance and health agent. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, emphasizing collaborative, goal-oriented planning supported by advanced analytical tools.

Jeffrey Carlson is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise in various capacities since 2016. Carlson is also the owner of CAWM Services LLC, through which he manages his advisory business. Ameriprise serves clients primarily through its retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered in partnership with clients’ Ameriprise financial advisors.

Jeffrey Corvin is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab based in Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank SSb since 2017. Outside of finance, he creates and sells mixed media art and photography through Dane Fine Art.com and works as a florist sales processor and rideshare driver. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment options. The firm provides integrated advisory, brokerage, custody, and financial planning services supported by strategic asset allocation models and a centralized operational structure.

Richard Gerber is a financial advisor with Merrill based in North Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2009 and concurrently affiliated with Bank of America, N.A. since 1981. Gerber is also a co-owner of a rental property business in Bethany Beach, Delaware. 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.

Dawn Durbin is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2014. Merrill, along 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 investment strategies supported by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.