Richard Mutua is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who collaborates with professionals, families, and business owners to navigate complex financial decisions. He focuses on creating strategic, actionable plans suited to each client's unique goals, including retirement, homeownership, and education funding. His approach emphasizes understanding clients' key priorities, such as health, family, and financial objectives, to ensure tailored guidance. His areas of expertise include corporate executive services, equity compensation, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, special needs planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Richard's philosophy centers on helping clients uncover what matters most to them and their families to develop strategies for their financial goals. He aims to provide clarity, disciplined execution, and long-term trust throughout the advisory process. Richard holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nairobi and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional role, he enjoys activities such as baseball, basketball, biking, boating, football, golfing, music, soccer, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Brooke Smith is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Primerica Financial Services, PFS Investment Inc., DiGi Financial, and the State of Maryland. In addition to advisory services, she is involved in the sale of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and provides advisory services through a large network of financial advisors.

Michael Peters is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include senior positions at Avantax Advisory Services, 1st Global Advisors, and managing his own accounting firm, Michael G. Peters, PA, since 1988. His background includes both investment advisory and accounting services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofits. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting supported by proprietary and third-party research, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Alexander Mairone is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2012 and Bank of America since 2014. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Alison Sagi is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill from 2018 to 2025 and spent six years at Johns Hopkins University prior to entering the financial sector. Sagi holds a Series 66 designation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and employs structured financial planning tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Ryan Quigg is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Annapolis, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His work history includes positions at RBC Wealth Management and RBC Capital Markets, as well as time spent in education and at the Baltimore County Revenue Authority. 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 various advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services tailored to each client’s risk profile.

Joseph Bell is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Columbia, MD, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple firms including Avantax Advisory Services and 1ST Global Capital Corp. He is also associated with Bell, Frech & Jacobs, a CPA firm specializing in tax preparation and accounting. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing model portfolios, third-party research, and technology-driven investment strategies.

Brendan Smith is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Equitable Advisors and Merrill Lynch, as well as multiple positions at Clemson University. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model, offering both advisory and brokerage/insurance channels to implement client recommendations.

David Hicks is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Triad Advisors and OSAIC before joining Cetera in 2025. Outside of his advisory role, Hicks is a partner in a joint venture managing apartment rentals and serves as president of his own business entity. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC operates as a large multi-manager platform serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services and supports advisors with multiple program and custodial options.

Ronnie Rounds II is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His work history includes positions at CWCapital and academic roles at Louisiana State University and Bishop McNamara High School. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs, operating through multiple program sponsors and third-party managers.

Robert Bowman is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Columbia, MD, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2025. His prior roles include various positions at James Madison University and other organizations. 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 and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Michael Stein is a financial advisor at Merrill with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65, 63, and 66 licenses and has previously worked at T. Rowe Price and PNC Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as trustee for The Harry Curland Irrevocable Trust. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Michael Balakirsky is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Columbia, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and having 22 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007. Outside of his advisory work, he has a small involvement in acquiring local tax liens. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers various advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with model portfolios and research support.

Kevin Hutt is a CFP® with 31 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Cetera and has held roles at Avantax and Onyx Asset & Wealth Management over his career. Outside of advisory work, he serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Celebration Community Development Corporation and the National Children’s Center, Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a variety of portfolio management options and program structures, supporting over 10,000 advisors and approximately 800,000 clients.

Kim Caldwell is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in comprehensive financial planning and investment strategies for clients with complex financial profiles. He primarily advises ultra-high-net-worth families, senior executives, and business owners, focusing on areas such as tax minimization, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and portfolio management services. Kim holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), and Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland College Park. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2007 following his work as an analyst with JMT Engineering, Kim has worked alongside The BFCP Group to deliver tailored wealth management solutions. He serves on the boards of the Terrapin Club and the Annapolis chapter of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. Kim resides in Severna Park, Maryland, with his wife and two children. His personal interests include biking, golfing, and hunting.

Gabriela Marchante is a financial advisor with Merrill holding a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2019. Her prior positions include roles at Wells Fargo, Uber, and Navy Federal Credit Union. 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 client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Connor Flynn is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2017, following two years at Axa Advisors, 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Patrick Durbin is a CFP® professional affiliated with Edelman Financial Engines in Ellicott City, MD, with 10 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, and Edelman Financial Services, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management solutions.

Justin Taylor is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017. He previously worked at METLIFE SECURITIES Inc from 2013 to 2017. Taylor also works as an independent insurance agent specializing in dental, group disability income, life, accident, health, and Medicare-related products. 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 provides financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, with a structured planning approach that emphasizes collaborative goal analysis and recommended investment strategies.

Kenneth Barkman is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2012 to 2016. Barkman serves as a trustee for family trusts, dedicating time to managing investment-related matters. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broad range of investment options, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.