Mary Hong serves as a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with Bank of America/Merrill since 1992, supporting affluent families, individual clients, closely-held businesses, and non-profit organizations. In her role, Mary works closely with clients and her team to establish quantifiable goals, prioritize client needs, and implement customized financial strategies leveraging a broad array of financial instruments. As a Senior Portfolio Manager, she manages her own personalized and defined discretionary strategies, which may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. These strategies can also be made available to clients working with other Merrill Advisors. Mary's services encompass portfolio development, education plans, liability management, trust and estate planning, insurance and retirement planning with emphasis on lifetime income, as well as sophisticated strategies for defined benefit and 401(k) plans, and philanthropic planning. She holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM®), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR® (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor, and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Music and a Bachelor of Music in Performance, graduating cum laude with department honors from Dominican University of California. Mary also completed the Certified Portfolio Manager program at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and attended the Global CEO EMBA program offered jointly by Yeonsei University and the University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea. Mary is involved with community organizations such as Woman To Woman of LA and resides in South Pasadena, California. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, music, reading, singing, traveling, and writing.

Alex London is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and investment modeling.

Alexander Dickson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2009 and has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers a broad range of retail and institutional services.

Brian Britt is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Torrance, CA since 2020. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years. Outside of his advisory role, Brian manages financial reporting and accounting for apartment buildings. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals nearing or in retirement, combining research and modeling with tax-efficient strategies. The firm offers a wide range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its large institutional platform.

Fred Hidalgo is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been working since 2025. In this role, he focuses on helping clients develop financial plans tailored to their unique needs by understanding their personal, financial, and investment situations. His approach aims to ensure clients feel confident and comfortable with their financial plans. Fred's experience at Fidelity Investments spans several roles, including Financial Consultant I, Planning Consultant, Relationship Manager, and Financial Representative, beginning in 2020. This progression reflects his broad experience in financial consulting and client relationship management within the firm. Fred holds a California Insurance License. Outside of his professional work, he has interests in fitness, football, and pets.

Paul Joseph is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including his current role at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for a trust based in Calabasas, California. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning that incorporates firm-approved tools and scenario modeling. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and combines planning services with a variety of investment and financial products.

Winnie Leong is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 28 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2017 and previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Securities America, Inc. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in artistic pursuits as an artist. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad clientele including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs supported by research and model portfolios, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management solutions.

Jessie M Vargas Gutierrez is a financial advisor with Merrill in Downey, CA. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, TSG Wealth Management, and Tax Rise Inc, among others. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Erica Pitrone is a financial advisor at Merrill with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Merrill since 2015. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations.

James Townes II is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has held prior roles at Lincoln Financial Securities, Pacific Advisors, Leisure Wenden & Tsary Agency, Mutual of Omaha, and Aflac. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Townes Financial Consulting, providing business consulting for small business owners and financial education to community colleges and clergy members. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services with access to multiple platforms, third-party money managers, and employs a variety of tools for portfolio construction and management.

J Mattingly is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 registrations. His prior work experience includes roles at Chocolatte Enterprises, American Art Construction, NYLife Securities LLC, New York Life, and Saint Marc USA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients with a comprehensive advisory program. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies alongside affiliated mutual funds and tax-efficient services.

Jean Paul Afif is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 license and 12 years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at Bank of America, Merrill, Wells Fargo Private Bank, and Morning Star Wealth Management. Outside of finance, he has been involved with the Screen Actors Guild as an executive producer and actor in commercials, films, and television for more than two decades, and he is the creator of a technology app called Star of the Sea NIL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and comprehensive asset management.

Henry Narvaez is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 17 years of industry experience and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has worked at several firms including J.P. Morgan Securities, UnionBanc Investment Services, and LPL Financial. Narvaez also serves as a financial advisor with Kinecta Wealth Management. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Juan Martin is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Bank of America, and Merrill. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, delivering recommendations through a non-discretionary program supported by an in-house manager solutions team and a centralized due-diligence framework.

Veronika Alekyan is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in offering personalized wealth management and investment guidance to professionals, entrepreneurs, and families. She aims to help clients simplify complex financial decisions and develop strategies that balance everyday demands with long-term financial and personal goals. Veronika joined Merrill in 2025 after working as a Private Client Banker at J.P. Morgan Chase and prior experience with a MassMutual affiliate. Before transitioning to her advisory career, she held roles in commercial real estate investment underwriting with real estate development and private equity firms, as well as a global real estate advisory firm. Her responsibilities included managing analytical support for sales and acquisition transactions with total annual valuations exceeding $1 billion. She holds a Master's degree in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University and a Bachelor's degree from Yerevan State Institute of Economics. Veronika is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and an active member of the CFA Society of Los Angeles. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, playing chess, and spending time with family and friends.

Boyuan Zhou is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has also worked at Bank of America, N.A. since 2016. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to fiduciary clients of Bank of America through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional accounts, combining internal and third-party management with comprehensive trading and custody support.

Yuko Matsuo serves as a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, Yuko works with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing their long-term goals. Her approach reflects a commitment to understanding each client’s unique financial situation and priorities. Yuko’s expertise includes family wealth management, international wealth management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. She emphasizes working collaboratively with clients to tailor strategies that align with their objectives. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Yuko enjoys fishing, hiking, music, reading, singing, and spending time with her family. She also values community involvement, continuing the Merrill tradition of active participation in the communities served.

Sean Hegardt is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Torrance, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley since 2022, along with prior experience at the University of Arizona and Teksystems. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a wide array of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning process involves structured discovery and firm-approved tools, providing advisory services that do not include individual security recommendations as part of standalone planning.

Kevin Phillip is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in San Pedro, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Painewebber Inc and UBS Financial Services since 1995. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, providing services such as principal trading, market-making, and proprietary research to support client investment strategies.

Joseph Halder is a ChFC® with over 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with MassMutual and its affiliated firm, MML Investors Services, since 1987 and 1994 respectively. Beyond his advisory role, Halder serves on the board of directors for St. Lucy’s Priory High School, an all-girls Catholic high school. MML Investors Services, LLC, a subsidiary of MassMutual, provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers comprehensive planning engagements supported by advanced analytical tools and also provides educational seminars and specialized event-driven planning services.