Michael Ayache is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo, Nationwide Investment Services, and Bank of America. 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, with an advisory process supported by centralized due diligence and incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research.

Christine Wilkinson is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has dedicated her entire financial career to Merrill, beginning over 20 years ago at Merrill Lynch Trust Company, now known as Bank of America Private Bank. Christine works as part of The A Team, one of the largest advisory teams in Scottsdale, which includes senior consultants, financial advisors, and client associates collaborating to provide a broad range of financial advice and investment solutions. Her background in trust and estate services enables her and her team to assist clients with legacy and charitable planning while helping them achieve investment and retirement goals. Christine’s areas of expertise include education planning, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, personal retirement planning, socially responsible investing, tax minimization, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, among others. She holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Christine lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of 20 years and has two adult children, one of whom serves in the U.S. Army. Outside of work, she enjoys adventure sports, cooking, dancing, gardening, hiking, reading, running, and spending time with her family and her Bernedoodle puppy.

Benjamin Howard is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he works as an independent contractor providing massage therapy services at Colair Beauty Lounge and Med Spa. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models to set personalized asset allocations, primarily using Vanguard funds and ETFs, and serves a large client base through its digital platform and team servicing model.

Logan Kannes is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Scottsdale, AZ. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard in 2017, he worked at Northern Arizona University, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Rio Salado Community College. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice for retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, combining digital delivery with a large advisor team to manage a high volume of client relationships.

Bruce Laird is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Chattanooga, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 20 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 2005 and with Ventura Foods since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in sales of loan products and home security and automation referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management primarily through its Lifetime Investment Program, which offers model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a tiered wrap-fee structure and curates third-party asset managers while maintaining oversight of model offerings.

Connor King is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2026. Outside of his advisory role, King is also affiliated with Renaissance Financial, where he acts as a financial advisor. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios constructed largely from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Joseph Miller is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Scottsdale, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2008. 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 roughly $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Michael Ward is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently advising at LPL Financial since 2024. He previously worked at BFC Planning, Inc. and Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc., with additional experience at Barnard Wealth Management, Inc. Outside of advisory services, he acts as an insurance agent with CreativeOne, Crump, Senior Market Sales, and Rogers Benefit Group. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, utilizing both proprietary research and third-party strategies, supported by advanced operational tools.

Jennifer Walker is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has been with Merrill and Bank of America since 2012. Merrill serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional investors, providing managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage execution services. The firm emphasizes manager selection and tax-efficient investment strategies, supported by its integration with Bank of America’s broader banking and capital markets platform.

Stuart Bates is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 certifications and possessing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab for 29 years and is also involved in several business ventures, including Natural Hen LLC, Arizona Life Sciences LLC, and Genial Ventures LLC, which focus on consulting, animal healthcare products, and chicken feed. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily consisting 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 offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance using multi-asset model portfolios and maintains a distinctive integrated structure combining advisory services with custody and brokerage.

Matt Clarkson is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. His prior work includes positions at James Clarkson Insurance Agency and various roles within Vanguard-affiliated entities since 2007. He is based in Scottsdale, AZ. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach and manages client relationships at scale through a combination of digital platforms and a broad advisor network.

Matthew Edwards is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Charles Schwab in 2022, he held roles at VEREIT and served as a University of Oregon Ambassador. Charles Schwab 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 blend of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management using multi-asset model portfolios supported by centralized custody and operational resources.

Joseph Wilson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at OSAIC with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securities America, Inc., Securities Service Network, Inc., Questar Capital Corporation, and Questar Asset Management. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporations through a multi-advisor platform offering brokerage and advisory services supported by model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization tools.

Mark Emberton is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at firms including The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Client One Securities, and Rock Bridge Financial. Emberton is also commissioned as a notary in Phoenix, AZ. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and offers access to third-party asset managers alongside financial planning and insurance products.

Shane O'Keefe is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cetera in Scottsdale, AZ. His prior experience includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Renaissance Financial, and Securian Financial Services, Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across various program structures.

Bryan Dunn is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and UBS Financial Services. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions, supported by a nationwide adviser network and a range of portfolio management styles.

Tracy Milanese is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Phoenix, AZ, where she has worked for 12 years. She serves on the board at Madison Rose Lane Elementary in Phoenix. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, incorporating discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and is notable for its large retail advisor network and affiliated financial capabilities.

Elaine Muandumba is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and six years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at PIMCO Investments, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Charles Schwab, and The Vanguard Group. She also spent two years with the Angola Ministry of Youth & Sports. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach using proprietary models and offers a range of portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Amy Pongratz is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co. in Scottsdale, Arizona, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Capital Wealth Partners, Sunstone Wealth Management, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, and RBC Capital Markets. She is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, which serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services, utilizing both manager-traded and model-traded strategies along with internal research and artificial intelligence tools.

Theodore Crowley II is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 38 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs with tailored investment strategies that incorporate a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services.