Negin Banaei is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Unionbanc Investment Services, MUFG Union Bank, Bank of the West, and BancWest Investment Services. Outside of her advisory role, she is a partner at KLEEQ LLC, a company that provides high-precision industrial coating, engraving, and 3D fabrication services for aerospace, automotive, defense, and consumer product sectors. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Jenna Scandalios is a financial advisor at Capital Group Private Client Services, Inc. in Los Angeles, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. She previously worked at Aristotle and Pathstone before joining Capital Group. Capital Group Private Client Services provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations, utilizing a long-term, multi-manager approach that combines separately managed accounts with mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative strategy funds.

Kristen Perez is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at EP Wealth Advisors since 2020 and previously worked at Harris Financial Advisors, Inc. from 2016 to 2020. EP Wealth Advisors is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate clients, and retirement plans, offering wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and financial planning services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to construct customized model portfolios and provides additional services such as tax preparation and estate-document facilitation for qualifying clients.

Cilika Xie is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 65 license and having one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, she worked at Pennymac and has academic experience from the University of Toronto. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, retirement-plan consulting, and referrals to managed account investment managers for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in regulatory assets under management and employs a diversified, risk-class based investment approach blending passive and active managers, with portfolio oversight by an internal Investment Committee.

Kate Kittinger is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Cerity Partners since 2013, following three years at Pension Architects Advisory Group, LLC. Based in Los Angeles, CA, she is part of a large enterprise firm with 771 advisors. Cerity Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and combines quantitative screening, manager selection, and direct security selection with access to alternative and private market solutions for qualified clients.

Kathryn Costas is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at EP Wealth Advisors since 2020 and previously held roles at FMB Retirement Services and FMB Wealth Management from 2015 to 2020. EP Wealth Advisors serves individuals, corporate clients, and retirement plans with wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and financial planning services. The firm uses customized model portfolios and a variety of analytical approaches, while also offering tax preparation and estate-document services for clients meeting certain asset thresholds.

Donald Richner is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2025. Prior to that, he worked for 22 years at Churchill Management Group. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using a blend of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds.

Benjamin Wada is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists and LPL Financial. He is also an insurance agent with SB Group, Inc. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment approach combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

Kristy Green is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Pasadena, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 20 years of industry experience. Her career includes positions at National Planning Corporation and FINRA before joining TIAA-CREF in 2019. Outside of finance, she occasionally acts in movies and TV shows when opportunities arise. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides a range of discretionary management options alongside point-in-time planning services and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Intcher Bramlett is a CFP® professional at Capital Group Private Client Services, Inc. with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Capital Group Private Client Services in 2024, Bramlett was affiliated with Capital Group Companies from 2015 to 2024 and operated as a self-employed advisor from 2016 to 2020. Outside of advising, Bramlett serves as trustee of the Intcher K Bramlett Living Trust, managing real estate investment properties. Capital Group Private Client Services provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations, utilizing a multi-manager approach with separate account programs, mutual funds, ETFs, and access to private equity and alternative strategies.

Benjamin Fife is a financial advisor at EP Wealth Advisors with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at TD Ameritrade Inc., Charles Schwab Bank, and Charles Schwab during his career spanning from 1994 to 2024. EP Wealth Advisors serves individuals, corporate and business clients, and retirement plans, offering wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and ancillary services such as tax preparation and estate-document preparation. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, as well as alternative investment options, to construct customized portfolios.

Kyung Mee Lee is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 25 years of industry experience, including prior roles at AXA Advisors and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved with Dickerson Employee Benefit in a non-investment capacity. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored financial planning and discretionary management through proprietary and third-party platforms, combining advisory expertise with access to insurance and alternative investment products.

Charles Bachtell is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 35 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Western International Securities, Inc., GBS Financial Corp., and First Montauk Securities Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as President and Managing Partner of the Academy of California Examinations, which provides financial services licensing exam preparation. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Lee Chen is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Pasadena, California, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Chen serves on the board of directors for the San Gabriel Country Club. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining proprietary capital market research with a broad range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions.

Douglas Eaton is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Brea, California, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with various Morgan Stanley entities since 1998, including Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by providing a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and advanced modeling tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services through Financial Advisors and its Estate Planning Strategies Group.

Ezequiel Rodriguez is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, Bank of America, Merrill, US Bank, and Wells Fargo. He is also involved with Partners Federal Credit Union. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Robert Bayliff is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Los Angeles, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he spent 25 years at Cuso Financial Services, L.P. and over two decades at Water and Power Community Credit Union. 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 broad range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Kenneth Ibbetson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business called Nature's Realm. Wells Fargo Advisors serves 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, utilizing research and analytics to support its investment approach.

Hadi Fakhoury is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience, currently with Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill. Outside of advising, he has ownership and officer roles in several restaurant and hospitality businesses in Orlando, FL, serving as a silent or active partner in these ventures. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory services and financial planning to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm employs a structured planning process supported by proprietary tools and offers a range of investment and financial products.

Ernie Salgado is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2021 and previously held roles at Bank of America and Continental Currency Services. Merrill, along 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, and various organizations.