Shawnie Desmond is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She assists individuals, families, and businesses in reaching their financial goals by leveraging Merrill Lynch Wealth Management's services along with the banking convenience of Bank of America and Bank of America Private Bank services. Shawnie works closely with her clients to create personalized financial strategies aimed at establishing, growing, or transitioning their wealth. Her areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, LGBT wealth planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible investing, values-based and ESG investing, as well as women and wealth. Shawnie and her team develop tailored strategies that consider specific objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizons focused on wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer. Shawnie holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. She has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Beyond her professional work, she participates in various community organizations such as the Hispanic Latino Advisory Council at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, the Hispanic Latino Business Council Bank of America/Merrill, the Junior League of Phoenix, the Native American Professional Network, and the Regional A-Team Diversity and Inclusion Team. Outside of work, Shawnie enjoys dancing, travelling, and spending time with her family, which includes her husband John and their two adult children.

Chad Bettelon is a financial advisor with Merrill in Peoria, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation and having 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2003. 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 plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Fred Drake IV is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Phoenix, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation and having five years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Grand Canyon Education and United Parcel Service, as well as in digital media at The Vacaville Reporter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs through a large network of financial professionals and multiple platforms.

Samuel Lee is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Peoria, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Baird in 2022, he worked at RBC Capital Markets from 2014 to 2022. He serves on the Board of Development at Hardin-Simmons University, contributing to the university’s goal-setting activities. He is part of the DDK Group within Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services using a range of strategies, including traditional and non-traditional investments, with both discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Stockton Schultz is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Phoenix, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a partner in several business ventures, including Aerobat Ventures LLC, Morgan Maxwell LLC, and Schultz Marketing LLC. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, leveraging proprietary research and model-based asset allocations. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, operating as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, and futures commission merchant.

William Noble is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab since 2006 and at Charles Schwab Trust Bank since 2023, based in Phoenix, AZ. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and related managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts, offering a multi-asset investment approach supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.

Tye Dutcher is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services and holds a Series 66 credential. He has two years of industry experience and previously worked at Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance. Outside of his advisory role, he has experience in several small businesses, including food service and landscaping. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides customized, non-discretionary retirement income planning and ongoing advice, incorporating a range of proprietary research and third-party data.

James Vallery is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2023, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities for 11 years. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers both direct and employer-sponsored financial planning services.

Thomas Pilling Jr. is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Fidelity Investments since 2008, including roles at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm is notable for its registered commodity pool operator status, advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies, and the use of AI-driven research methods.

Levi Miller is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His recent work history includes positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Rocket Mortgage LLC. 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 a diverse range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations.

Timothy Gish is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Prudential Insurance Company of America and Principal Securities. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm primarily employs model-driven investment implementation and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and a range of affiliated insurance and trust services.

Karla Thalman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Sun City West, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years with the firm. She has 27 years of prior self-employment experience. Outside of her advisory role, she is a trustee of a family trust associated with a family farm and participates in a local business and community networking group. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs and strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Brianne Martinoni is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with six years of industry experience. Her work history includes multiple roles at Charles Schwab and Merrill. 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. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary advisory recommendations and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment options.

Ty Robinson is a financial advisor at Cetera with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked in educational positions at Northern Arizona University, Basha High School, and Payne Junior High School. Outside of finance, he is involved with The Northern Pines Restaurant. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of advisors and provides access to both affiliated and third-party money managers.

Steven Hecht is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Goodyear, AZ, holding a Series 63 designation and 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 1984. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an umpire for the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-HNW and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm operates at scale with thousands of advisors and offices, delivering advisory services through model-based strategies managed by third parties and supported by BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing for trade execution and custody.

Michele Kisenwether is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. She has worked with PFS Investments Inc and Primerica Financial Services since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, Michele receives compensation related to mortgage product sales and home services referrals through affiliates, including Primerica Mortgage, LLC and Primerica Client Services, Inc. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients, relying primarily on model-based investment strategies created by unaffiliated asset managers. The firm supports a large network of advisors and offers various strategic, tactical, and income-focused models, including options with cryptocurrency ETF allocations.

Brandi Palomo is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 7 years of industry experience and has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2016. Outside of advising, she owns Ember Sky Publishing, a company used to self-publish fiction novels. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC 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, educational seminars, and other services, with a focus on collaborative, goal-based planning using firm-approved analytical tools.

Reed Hughes is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been providing financial advisory services for over eight years. He is a member of the Hughes team, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Reed and his team focus on building lifelong relationships and educating clients on wealth management strategies tailored to meet their financial goals. Reed utilizes a goals-based approach that considers clients' personal considerations, risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs to develop personalized financial strategies. He works with clients to create clear financial plans, including retirement spending strategies and tax implications, to ensure their financial needs are met. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University and professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Reed also participates in community service activities aligned with the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

Jaime Avila is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo for six years before joining Charles Schwab. Jaime is based in Phoenix, AZ. 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. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment solutions, combining centralized supervisory, custody, and order-routing operations with access to alternative investments and multi-asset model portfolios.

Jacob Parent is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of industry experience, currently with Ameriprise in Glendale, AZ since 2024. He previously worked at Equitable Advisors for four years. Outside of his advisory role, he owns JSP Global Consulting, a consulting business based in Scottsdale, AZ. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides customized, tax-aware retirement income planning through a collaborative and research-driven approach.