Jesse Belville

Kim Lepley is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Taylor-Lepley & Associates team. She has been recognized on the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list for multiple years, including 2023 through 2026. Kim joined Merrill Lynch in 2010 following her tenure as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), along with Life and Health Insurance licenses. Kim’s professional experience spans financial advising, credit and lending, as well as finance, accounting, and information technology from previous positions at Alabama Power Company and Southern Company. She works closely with families and individuals to guide them through financial life planning, with particular expertise in retirement planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, and other focus areas such as college education planning and special needs planning. Active in her community, Kim has served on several nonprofit boards and has been involved with organizations including Girls Inc. of Central Alabama and The Bell Center. A native of Winfield, Alabama, she holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina. In her personal time, Kim enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, tennis, and traveling, as well as cooking.

William Simon is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in addressing the financial and investment needs of high-net-worth individuals and small businesses. Since joining Merrill in 1996, he has developed expertise in areas such as divorce transition planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, retirement income, and tax minimization. His approach balances a long-term investment philosophy with flexibility to accommodate clients who may prefer short-term speculative strategies. Mr. Simon holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University and an Associate's Degree from Mohawk Valley College. Committed to community involvement, he serves on the board of directors of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County and is a member of the Elkhart Noon Rotary. Originally from Lancaster, New York, William resides in Michiana with his wife, Ann, and they have three grown children.

Michael E. Sears is Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director of the Panama City, Florida office at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 1996 as a Financial Advisor and provides expertise in investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aligned with their long-term goals. Mr. Sears holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Salisbury State University and has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He has also served in leadership roles within the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, including Chairman of the Board and Executive Board member, and has been involved with the Military Affairs Committee. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Sears participates actively in his local community. He has coached soccer at North Bay Haven Charter School and dedicates time to volunteering with community organizations. He enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in outdoor activities such as biking, boating, fishing, golfing, scuba diving, skiing, soccer, and table tennis.

Will Lukow is Vice President and Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2018. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2009, progressing through roles including Regional Planning Consultant and Financial Consultant. Prior to joining Fidelity, Will worked as a Personal Financial Consultant at Allstate Financial Services and as a Financial Advisor at Smith Barney. Will holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. His professional approach focuses on understanding his clients' unique stories to provide tailored financial planning. Outside of work, he enjoys board games, concerts, golf, caring for pets, soccer, and traveling.