Alain Gardner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage solutions. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and integrates research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with diversified investment approaches.

Lara Umberger is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Crosby, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with 14 years of industry experience, all of which has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm is notable for its extensive national network of advisors and branch offices, as well as its affiliated trust company and securities-based lending options.

Heidi Alikpokou is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Houston, TX, with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning processes supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

David Alper is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2004. 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, and institutional investors.

Robert Nichols is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates on a large scale, managing approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors, and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Audree Begay is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Houston, TX, holding a Series 63 designation and having 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, she has been involved with Jerry's Pools & Spas and Medi Col for over two decades. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored recommendations. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its extensive institutional platform.

Hector Santos is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2013 and previously held positions at Valic Financial Advisors and Edward Jones. He holds a Series 66 designation. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screening and qualitative research and includes capabilities in derivatives and commodities through affiliated entities.

Leonardo Duchini is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 license and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc and Strategic Financial Advisors, as well as a period with Bradley-Stinson & Associates. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management. The firm offers these planning services either as one-time engagements or ongoing relationships, integrating planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Yiping Wang is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in assisting affluent families and small to mid-sized companies by employing an objective and systematic process to offer effective financial strategies aligned with clients' individual needs. Her approach includes a comprehensive needs assessment to provide sound advice on creating long-term financial goals, developing asset allocation policies, and implementing customized investment solutions based on factors such as risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, overall investment objectives, and associated costs. Yiping regularly reviews performance and proactively adjusts strategies to help clients pursue their financial goals in various market cycles. Yiping holds a Bachelor's Degree from China Foreign Affairs University and a Master's Degree from Boston University. She is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and is fluent in English and Chinese. Her client focus areas include college education planning, corporate retirement plan services, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, executive compensation, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and women and wealth. In her personal time, Yiping enjoys golfing, scuba diving, and traveling.

Madeline Parker is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial and Waddell and Reed. Outside of her role at Ameriprise, she manages a separate advisory business, Tiras Wealth Management LLC. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to deliver personalized recommendation reports. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Eduardo Rosales is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with various J.P. Morgan entities since 2015. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s process integrates centralized due diligence with quantitative and qualitative research, offering a range of investment strategies supported by affiliates within J.P. Morgan.

Randall Sutton is a CFP® certified financial advisor with 40 years of industry experience. He is currently with Raymond James & Associates and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Raymond James & Associates 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 including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Ruben Blanco is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as well as Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a non-discretionary advisory program.

Andrew Gauthier is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and IberiaBank. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of White Oak Shooting LLC, where he provides sporting clays instruction. J.P. Morgan Securities offers institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on non-discretionary written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research with forward-looking capital market assumptions to build model allocations, incorporating ESG eligibility frameworks and derivatives capabilities.

Joe Flores is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, Starbucks, and the U.S. Marines. 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 through more than 14,000 advisors and offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Sallie Caruthers is a financial advisor at Cetera with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at BBVA Securities Inc., Hancock Whitney Investment Services, and Compass Bank. Additionally, she serves as a private banker at Hancock Whitney. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Reginald Allison is a financial advisor with Merrill in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at VALIC Financial Advisors for seven years before joining Merrill and Bank of America. Merrill, together with 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.

Christopher Ledoux is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Houston, TX, with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Raymond James Financial Services, Fidelity Investments, and TD Ameritrade. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary advisory program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s process integrates quantitative and qualitative due diligence and incorporates ESG frameworks, with implementation supported by affiliated investment-management entities.

Hector Trujillo Gutierrez is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities based in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2022, he worked at UBS Financial Services for eight years. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Trio Nexus LLC, an LLC established for real estate investment activities. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. Their advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research with centralized due diligence, offering recommendations that may include ESG eligibility considerations and broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Samuel Soderman is a Wealth Management Senior Relationship Manager at Fidelity Investments, serving as a primary point of contact for ultra-high net worth individuals and their families. In this role, he assists clients in conversations about growing and maintaining wealth, as well as planning and gifting strategies. When deeper wealth planning support is necessary, he facilitates discussions with a Wealth Management Advisor to address specific client needs. Samuel's professional experience spans multiple roles in financial services, including his current position at Fidelity Investments since 2021, where he also served as a Planning Consultant. Prior to that, he was a Senior Financial Advisor at Vanguard and held branch management positions at TD Ameritrade and Scottrade Financial Services. His career in the industry began as a Financial Office Assistant at Scottrade in 2004. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Samuel enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, concerts, and hiking.