Large-firm financial advisors working with Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx clients

WHY JERRY CHOSE TO BE A FINANCIAL PLANNER: His lack of financial literacy was not by choice. It was because personal finance was not taught in school or in his community. As a first-generation wealth builder, Jerry's money journey has been shaped by a profound understanding of both cultural and financial expectations. His experiences have uniquely positioned him to empathize with the challenges faced by first-generation families, inspiring a distinctive approach to financial guidance. His moment of profound solitude occurred during his transition from the Marine Corps back to civilian life. In uniform, Jerry felt in control, with camaraderie, financial stability, and a consistent salary. However, the day he left, all that stability vanished giving way to a cascade of emotions - depression, anxiety, and fear. Jerry, who had grown up facing financial hardships, relying on food stamps, and public aid, knew it was time to stop merely talking about wanting to build wealth and start acting. The realization struck deep: He needed to make a difference not just for himself, but for others facing similar issues. Motivated by a desire to help his family and friends, Jerry decided to be the guide he wished he'd had. He obtained his license, college degree, and joined a firm not only to enhance his life but the lives of other 1st-time wealth builders. After a few years of helping high net worth individuals grow their assets, Jerry felt the firm wasn't built to help families like his. In 2024, Jerry took the leap and launched Confianza Wealth Management as a guide for aspiring wealth builders. Jerry is on a mission to empower 1st-time wealth building families. Jerry wants to bridge the financial planning accessibility gap by helping these millennial families take control of their financial futures.

Deyka Charneco is a financial advisor at Cetera with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera in 2026, she worked at Edward Jones for three years and was involved with Biome Soaps, LLC from 2015 to 2018. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm that serves individual investors, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting over 10,000 advisors and managing more than $256 billion in assets.

Martha Fohlbrook is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who joined the financial services industry in 2022. She partners with clients to address their unique financial ambitions, providing guidance on college and education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, liquidity management, and retirement income strategies. Working collaboratively with Vice President Senior Financial Advisor Gregory DeVoursney, Martha emphasizes investment management, retirement counseling, estate and family legacy planning to deliver comprehensive wealth management solutions. Martha holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She maintains Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA registrations and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she serves as a resource for the local Hispanic community. Since joining Merrill, she has helped over 100 households achieve their financial goals through tailored banking and investment advice. Active in professional and community organizations, Martha is a member of the Greater Muskegon Woman's Club, Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership & Advancement (HOLA), Muskegon Rotary Club, and West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WMHCC). She is involved with several community initiatives, including Feeding America West Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, Life Remodeled, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. In her personal time, Martha enjoys golfing, photography, reading, running, traveling, and spending time with her husband Bobby and daughter Bella.

Denisse Arebalo is a financial advisor at Pacific Canyon Investments with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bay Street Capital Holdings and TD Ameritrade prior to joining Pacific Canyon Investments. Pacific Canyon Investments serves individuals, families, institutional clients, and plan sponsors, offering financial planning, asset management, and institutional advisory services. The firm’s investment approach blends a focus on disruptive innovation with value-based fundamental analysis and employs strategies including equity holdings and option tactics, alongside customized educational seminars for clients.

William Fuentes Torres is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. In his role, he focuses on connecting clients to tailored plans that align with their unique ambitions, helping them pursue personal goals such as funding education, securing retirement lifestyles, and managing long-term family objectives. William brings a bilingual approach to his practice, fluent in both English and Spanish, which enables him to support the local Hispanic community with financial and retirement guidance. He holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). William completed his high school education at Carmen Belen Veiga. Outside of his professional work, William enjoys spending time with his wife Marian and their two children. His personal interests include cooking, exploring different cultures and their cuisines, basketball, adventure sports, hiking, scuba diving, and engaging in discussions on history, military, and economics.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. 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, and institutional investors.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. 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.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.