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 who do not have sufficient assets to get the help from industry giants. Jerry wants to bridge the financial planning accessibility gap by helping these families take control of their financial futures.

Helping you organize and simplify your finances, build steady income, and retire with clarity and confidence. Over the last decade, I’ve worked at different wealth management firms, gaining valuable experience alongside some incredibly smart, kind people. My biggest takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to personal finances. Customized financial planning works. And that’s what makes this work so rewarding. That’s why I created JRO Wealth Management. I built this firm for people who want to cut through the jargon and complexity and get real guidance from someone in their corner. Someone who understands how all the pieces of your financial life fit together — retirement income, taxes, investments, healthcare, legacy — and helps you make decisions across the board that actually work for you. My job isn’t to sell products or try to time the market. It’s to help you weigh the tradeoffs, see the bigger picture, and make smart, informed decisions with someone you trust by your side.

Joshua Richardson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional dedicated to helping individuals, families, and business owners bring clarity and confidence to their financial lives. His approach blends advanced planning knowledge with a practical perspective shaped by his early career in small business finance. Working alongside entrepreneurs taught him that financial decisions are never made in isolation—cash flow, investments, taxes, and long-term goals are all interconnected. That experience instilled in him a big-picture view that he now applies to every client relationship. In his advisory work, Joshua focuses on guiding clients through the complexities of financial planning in a way that feels approachable and actionable. He believes the best plans are those that not only look good on paper but also work in the real world, adapting to life’s changes. Whether it’s structuring a retirement plan, developing a tax-efficient investment strategy, or helping a family prepare for major life transitions, Joshua works to simplify complexity and provide a clear path forward. Joshua has a special appreciation for clients whose financial lives are more involved—such as professionals balancing career and family goals, or small business owners navigating the overlap between personal wealth and business success. His ability to translate complex strategies into straightforward, step-by-step plans allows clients to focus on what matters most to them, while knowing the financial details are well-managed. At the heart of Joshua’s philosophy is a commitment to client-centered advice. He acts as a fiduciary at all times, putting his clients’ best interests first. His goal is simple: to help people plan, invest, and prosper with clarity and confidence, knowing they have a trusted partner guiding them each step of the way.

Anthony Lafrano is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services with Morgan Stanley in 1999 and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2004. Anthony works with corporate clients, executives, and individuals, focusing on areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, equity compensation services, liquidity management, managing new wealth, and retirement income. With experience in navigating challenging markets, Anthony develops investment plans tailored to clients' personal goals and monitors performance over time. He utilizes the resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management alongside a personalized wealth management process to support his clients. Additionally, Anthony participates in client education through seminars on global political and economic trends offered by the LM Team. He holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a bachelor's degree from the California State University system. Outside of his professional work, Anthony enjoys camping, surfing, watching movies, and practicing yoga.

Keith Meeker is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on providing clients with personalized wealth management strategies that are flexible to adapt to changing market conditions and aligned with their individual goals and priorities. Keith leverages investment insights from Merrill and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America to address the comprehensive financial needs of his clients. Keith’s expertise covers a broad range of client focus areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income. He emphasizes understanding his clients’ full financial picture and life priorities to collaboratively create customized plans. Keith holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rider University and professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is actively involved in his community, volunteering as a coach for MVGSA softball and TLL baseball. Outside of work, Keith enjoys baseball, billiards, football, skiing, softball, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Dannielle Thomas serves as a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In her role, she collaborates with clients to develop strategies aligned with their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. She provides guidance on investing, retirement planning, and contingency savings and connects clients with Bank of America specialists for additional services including banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Dannielle holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed her high school education at Etiwanda High School. Her approach focuses on understanding the priorities of clients and their families to create tailored financial strategies.

Shirley Thompson is a Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Temecula, California. She brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in helping clients achieve their financial goals through collaboration with CPAs and attorneys. Shirley is a qualified Senior Portfolio Advisor who provides traditional advice and manages custom investment strategies, leveraging a broad selection of Merrill Lynch model portfolios and third-party strategies. In her role, she may also manage investment advisory program strategies on a discretionary basis. Shirley holds a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation, along with Series 7 and 66 FINRA registrations and an Insurance License. She has completed coursework including Fundamentals of Investments and Process and Environment from The American College. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with dual emphases in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of California, Riverside, and an MBA with a focus on Finance from California State University, Long Beach. In addition to her professional career, Shirley is involved in community organizations such as the Chinese Bible Church of Temecula Valley and the French Valley Baseball Softball Association. She also participates actively with Best Buddies, a nonprofit supporting friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shirley enjoys traveling and baseball, having visited all but four baseball stadiums in the United States. She resides in Murrieta, California, with her husband Robert, a licensed attorney and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and their four children.

Kevin Mayer is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a division of Bank of America Corporation. Since joining the firm in 2016, Kevin has developed a client base that spans the San Diego area, California, and over ten other states. He primarily serves active and retired physicians and business owners, including members of the LGBTQ community, who hold 401(k) and other defined benefit plans. Kevin holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Phoenix. His expertise encompasses risk-managed investing, retirement planning, tax minimization, estate planning, insurance, Social Security and Medicare guidance, and lending solutions through Bank of America. He customizes investment strategies using portfolios from Merrill Lynch’s Chief Investment Office, aligned with clients’ goals, risk tolerance, and timelines. Outside of his professional role, Kevin is involved with San Diego Pride and the Financial Planning Association. He enjoys hiking, traveling, and volunteering for San Diego Pride. He is also a car aficionado.

Gustavo Rodriguez Lopez is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping clients navigate financial challenges such as retirement income planning and educational funding by utilizing Merrill's wealth planning approach to identify and pursue their financial goals. He has experience assisting clients with various aspects of financial planning including college education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and retirement income. Gustavo emphasizes understanding clients' family situations, concerns, goals, and priorities to develop personalized plans aligned with their risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs. He also works to educate clients and their families about the financial planning process and market operations. Gustavo holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Business from Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of work, he is involved with Rotary International and The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Gustavo lives in Lake Elsinore, CA with his wife Diana, daughter Luciana, son Sebastian, and their dog Rocky, and enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his family.