Bertha Valentine is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor for a special needs trust. Merrill, along 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 both model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Robert Sessa is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 42 years of industry experience. His prior roles include 17 years at Western International Securities, Inc. and 21 years at Walk-Safe Industries, Inc. 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 range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

May Liu is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at Logix Federal Credit Union, Invest Financial Corporation, J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services Corp., Merrill, and Citigroup Global Markets. Liu is based in Thousand Oaks, CA. 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 range of advisory and brokerage services through its network of investment adviser representatives, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized investment strategies.

Andrew Grieder is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2024. Prior to his current role, he held positions in various fields including food and grocery delivery services and higher education. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on comprehensive, goal-based analyses and broad financial planning topics without discretionary portfolio management.

Juan Gonzalez is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC. Prior to his financial services career, he was employed at Fry's Electronics for five years. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Derek Newell is a financial advisor with Merrill holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill, along with various positions outside the financial industry. 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.

Matthew Miner is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with Equitable Advisors in Woodland Hills, CA. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2025 and has prior experience as the owner and publicist of Enabler PR since 2015. Additionally, he worked for LA Weekly from 2015 to 2020. Equitable Advisors serves a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and asset management through multiple advisory programs and third-party managers, focusing on matching client needs to appropriate investment solutions.

Ashlyn Wetmore is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Simi Valley, CA. She holds the Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Oliver Labs Inc, Castle Management LLC, Islands Restaurants, Focus and Testing, Simi Valley Aquatics, and Royal High School. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients by providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers various advisory models implemented via third-party managers and LPL-sponsored programs, covering mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, and ERISA fiduciary services.

Andrey Pashayan is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Encino, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Citigroup Global Markets, Citibank, and Wells Fargo. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a home-based barbecue catering service. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, utilizing a quantitative asset-allocation approach combined with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Christopher Simonoff is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2010, with prior roles at Athas Capital Group Inc and Nina Lending LLC. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Kristen Lopez is a financial advisor at Merrill with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Farmers Financial Solutions and Morgan Stanley. She is based in Newbury Park, CA. 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. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Grant Goldstein is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, based in Woodland Hills, CA. He has two years of industry experience, including roles at J.P. Morgan Securities, Jpmorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and One Capital Management. 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 through a team of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities.

Jing Liu is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2008. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment solutions, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and a centralized operational structure.

Megan Pritchard is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates and holds a Series 66 designation. She has three years of industry experience, including roles at Centene, University of California - Davis, and multiple hospitality businesses. 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, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

James Madigan is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in 2008 as a Research Associate at another firm and joined Merrill in 2012. He focuses on helping clients with education planning, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. James graduated Cum Laude in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation in 2017 through the Investments & Wealth Institute™, taught in conjunction with the Yale School of Management. In 2018, he obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. His professional designations also include CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is involved with organizations such as the College for Financial Planning and the Investments & Wealth Institute. James participates in community activities, including volunteering with Pepperdine University. His personal interests include baseball, basketball, reading, running, spending time with his family, tennis, and yoga.

Emily Desimone is a CFP® professional with 17 years of experience in the financial industry. She is currently with Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, where she has worked since 2011. Prior to that, she worked at Back Bay Financial Group, Inc. and Modera Wealth Management, LLC. Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver systematic model portfolios.

Bobak Mirmiran is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Woodland Hills, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade and Axa Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Chief Operations Officer at MIR Express, Inc., a UPS Store franchise where he manages business operations and process development. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering a combination of advisory, brokerage, custody, and cash-sweep services. Schwab’s investment approach includes non-discretionary guidance with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and utilizes multi-asset model portfolios supported by in-house research and alternative investment due diligence.

Anthony Durham is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked within various Wells Fargo entities since 2013, including Wells Fargo Bank NA and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Christian Fuess is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Woodland Hills, California. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation and serves clients by developing personalized financial strategies to help them pursue their long-term goals in various areas including college education planning, executive and equity compensation, family wealth management, retirement planning, tax minimization, and legacy planning. With over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Christian focuses on assisting foundations, endowments, public and private retirement plans, businesses, and individual clients with wealth accumulation and preservation decisions. He earned an Associate's Degree from Moorpark College, a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from San Diego State University, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration specializing in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University. In addition to his CFP® certification, he holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Christian is involved in his community as a weekly mentor for C.A.R.E. Foster Kids, a board member for the Cancer Hope Foundation, and a participant in Malachi Dads. He resides in Westlake Village, California, with his wife Stephanie and their two children.

Sylvia Rodriguez is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016 and holds a Series 66 designation. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in sole proprietorship of real estate investments. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools to support its clients’ financial goals.