Cong Wang is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera, HSBC Bank USA, Avantax Advisory Services, Bohai Securities, and Everbright Securities. He also serves as an insurance agent selling fixed insurance products and works as a wealth management associate at TYWL Wealth Advisors, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Julio Mancilla is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with three years of industry experience. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2026, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JPMC BANK NA. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process.

Roobina Yahya is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 28 years of industry experience. She previously worked at RBC Capital Markets for 14 years before joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Yahya holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and structured discovery processes. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides financial planning services that include scenario modeling without individual security recommendations.

John Tran is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and charitable entities. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and affiliated insurance and trust services.

Ronald Thompson is a financial advisor at Fidelity with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Northwestern Mutual and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he is the sole proprietor of an Amazon publishing business. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs, and it is notable for its use of algorithmic methods and formal advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies.

Victoria Vargas is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Long Beach, CA. She holds the Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at Yelp for six years and Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes for six years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Brian Klimke is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience. He is associated with Cetera and has held roles at various Cetera entities since 2013, as well as positions at Tower Square Investment Management LLC and Avantax Investment Services Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual investors, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, operating a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers and various program structures.

Alexander Reuben is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Torrance, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edward Jones, JP Morgan Chase Bank, JP Morgan Securities, Raymond James Financial, and a CPA accountancy corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in a non-investment-related role at Jonathon P Reuben, CPA AAC. 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 broad range of services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by technological tools and a wide network of over 22,800 advisors.

Roger Stephens is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at UBS Financial Services, Morgan Stanley, and City National Bank, prior to joining RBC Capital Markets. He is based in Los Angeles, CA. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to each client’s risk profile, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Gregory Vernon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2017 and previously operated his own advisory firm, G.K. Vernon, LLC, for one year. Wells Fargo Advisors is a large national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes research and analytics to inform its investment approach and offers a broad range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Albert Smith III is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in advising corporate executives, financial professionals, founders, and professional athletes. He is part of the Private Executive Services team, where his practice focuses on managing complex financial lives through a coordinated, team-based approach. Albert collaborates closely with clients and their wider advisory teams—including CPAs, attorneys, and agents—to deliver comprehensive and customized financial planning and wealth management services. Albert earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Trinity College and his Juris Doctorate from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He holds FINRA series 7, 63, and 65 registrations, as well as insurance and annuities licenses. Albert also maintains the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He has been recognized as a member of the Private Executive Services team in Forbes' Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams and Barron's Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams. Beyond his professional role, Albert is involved with several community organizations, serving on the executive committees for The Hope Gala and The Rita Hayworth Gala for the Alzheimer's Association Young Leadership Committee. He resides in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with his family and enjoys activities including yoga, basketball, golf, music, reading, running, swimming, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Ryan Gill is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Waldorf Estoria and attended Arizona State University. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services 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.

Raul Hernandez is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and BMO Bank NA, having previously worked at Wells Fargo in various roles. Hernandez balances his advisory work across these firms, contributing significant experience in investment services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, operating at scale with over 22,800 advisors and $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Eddie Kaspar is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding ChFC® and Series 65 credentials and has 43 years of industry experience. He has worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America since 1978 and most recently joined LPL Enterprise in 2024. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm employs a model-driven approach to investment implementation and offers services including financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and participation in wrap programs.

Alex Persons is a Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2023. Prior to this, Alex has held several positions within Fidelity Investments, including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, Financial Representative, Central Relationship Manager, Investment Solutions Representative, and Customer Relationship Advocate, spanning from 2017 to 2023. Before joining Fidelity, Alex worked as a Mortgage Processor at JPMorgan & Co in 2016. Alex holds a California Insurance License. Their professional approach focuses on assisting clients in identifying their financial goals and objectives and building strategies to work towards financial freedom. Alex emphasizes the importance of planning in achieving financial success. Outside of work, Alex enjoys attending concerts and movies, as well as engaging in outdoor adventures such as skiing, surfing, and traveling.

Kyong Hwa Koch is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill Lynch since 2022, following roles at RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Peter Smaldino is a Wealth Management Advisor within the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management division of Bank of America. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Peter works with busy professionals and business owners to provide objective advice and client-focused service. His areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, defined benefit and contribution plan consulting, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, and retirement income planning. Peter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1993. He holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment (SE). Outside of his professional role, Peter enjoys baseball, football, golfing, hiking, spending time with his family, and traveling.

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.

Carol Wilshire is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving at RBC Capital Markets and City National Bank since 2020. She previously worked at UBS Financial Services Inc for 11 years. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a wide range of clients including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs with tailored portfolio strategies implemented through a combination of in-house and third-party managers, complemented by RBC’s extensive capital markets capabilities.

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.