Miles Bresee

Joshua is a Tenured Professor of Business who works with people across the country on their finances. He has over 20 years of financial services experience including as a credit union executive and a partner in an independent tech stock research firm during the late 90s. Joshua has been quoted in Forbes, Consumer Reports, CNBC, US News & World Report, and many other media. Joshua works with all types of people, but he does specialize in helping people navigate two of the great adventures in life: growing a business and building a family. Through comprehensive financial planning, he guides business owners, young professionals, and other clients toward living their great life, both now and in the future. From Joshua: ------------------ I believe financial planning should be a profession rather than an industry - that advisors should act more like doctors than car salesmen. When you go to a doctor, you expect the best diagnosis for your health, not to be sold a product. The same should be true of your financial planner. Before I began my journey to becoming a financial advisor, I wanted to make sure I would be entering a profession. Teaching is a profession because it is dedicated to improving the lives of the students, not enriching the professors. Sadly, what I saw in much of financial planning was an industry that created products and hired sales representatives to push the products. But I also saw a noble version of financial planning as a service profession where a trusted advisor helped guide clients toward their life goals. I take an integrated approach that considers your entire financial picture. Planning goes beyond investments and retirement to incorporate cash flow analysis, tax planning, risk management, business advising, career development, debt management, estate planning, and more. I view money as a tool to help you achieve your great life, both now and in the future. I begin by understanding your life goals and then develop your plan to help you achieve them. Every plan and every recommendation is designed with one goal in mind: to get you to your goals.

Collin Saydah is a Financial Services Advisor (FSA) with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on connecting clients to the people, plans, and processes that align with their individual ambitions and financial goals. Collin works with clients to address objectives such as funding education, preparing for retirement and potential health care expenses, and developing personalized long-term financial strategies. He holds the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington. Collin’s approach emphasizes understanding clients’ personal perspectives and priorities to create clear and transparent financial plans aimed at helping them manage their wealth effectively.

Alex Basmadjian is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2023. In this role, Alex focuses on building relationships with clients and creating customized financial plans to help them achieve their personal and financial goals. Areas of expertise include investments, retirement planning, income planning, and tax-efficient investing strategies. Alex has held various positions at Fidelity Investments, including Portfolio Specialist and Investment Management Consultant (2022-2023), as well as Investment Solutions Representative (2021-2022). Prior to joining Fidelity, Alex worked as a Relationship Manager at Bank of America from 2020 to 2021 and served as Vice President and Client Services Manager at Community Bank between 2016 and 2018. Alex holds a California Insurance License. Outside of work, Alex enjoys attending concerts, participating in family activities, listening to music, reading, and traveling.

Daniel Valenzuela is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2010. He advises high net worth clients and business owners on wealth accumulation, preservation, and transfer, developing individually customized wealth management strategies that consider clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Daniel leads a team that supports portfolio development, retirement and estate planning, tax minimization, liability management, and asset preservation, providing a comprehensive approach to client financial needs. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and has earned multiple professional designations, including Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He takes time to understand each client’s unique objectives to recommend strategies that utilize the resources and capabilities available through Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and approved third-party managers. Born and raised in Southern California, Daniel currently resides in Monrovia, CA. Outside of his professional role, his personal interests include adventure sports, basketball, camping, cooking, golfing, horseback riding, soccer, surfing, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Vivian Lo is a Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2020. She has worked in the financial services industry since 2008, with prior roles including Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch from 2014 to 2020 and Financial Planner at the Royal Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013. Vivian focuses on building trusting client relationships and sharing key financial planning concepts. She assists clients in managing changes and provides ongoing guidance to develop personalized financial plans. She holds a California Insurance License.

Frode Teigen is a Financial Advisor with the Ma Teigen Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he contributes to client success by applying his analytical skills and expertise in data analysis to design customized wealth management plans. He focuses on gathering relevant data, modeling scenarios, clarifying client priorities, and identifying actionable steps to help clients visualize and achieve their long-term financial goals. Before joining Merrill in 2021, Frode worked for decades in the information technology sector and was involved as a venture capital investor in tech start-ups. He holds a Master of Science degree (M.Sc.) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Frode also serves as a team leader within the Ma Teigen Group by overseeing operations, enabling team members to maintain close client relationships while fostering a high-touch service culture. Frode is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and communicates fluently in English, Norwegian, Swedish, and French. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys spending time with his family, exploring hiking trails in Pasadena, California, and traveling.