Ben Welch

BellSouth LLC operates as a telecommunications holding company. It provides wire line communication services including local exchange, network access, intra local access, and internet services. The firm also offers print and online directory advertising. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

UBS Financial Services, Inc. is a registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in Weehawken, New Jersey. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UBS Americas Inc., ultimately held by UBS Group AG (SWX: UBSG; NYSE: UBS) in Switzerland. Founded in 1969, UBS Financial Services provides investment advisory services to individuals, banks, thrift institutions, mutual funds and other investment companies, pension and employee benefit plans, trusts, estates, charities, corporations and other business and government entities.

UVEST Financial Services Group, Inc. provides third party brokerage services. It offers investment and insurance programs to regional banks and credit unions. The company was founded on June 19, 1978 and is headquartered in Fort Mill, SC.

US Bancorp Investments, Inc. (USBI) is a dually SEC-registered investment advisor and broker-dealer headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 2003 and is owned by US Bancorp (NYSE: USB). USBI offers financial planning services and other advisory services to a wide range of clients, which includes individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other businesses.

Piper Sandler & Co. (Broker) (PSC-Broker) is the full-service brokerage division of Piper Sandler & Co., a financial service firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are a subsidiary of Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE: PIPR). The firm was founded in 1969 and previously known as Piper Jaffray & Co. They became Piper Sandler & Co. when Piper Jaffray Companies and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. merged to become Piper Sandler Companies in 2020. PSC-Broker provides brokerage and investment banking services to financial institutions, corporations and other financial investors. Their core focus sectors are Agriculture, renewables & cannabis, Business services, Chemicals & Materials, Consumer, Diversified industrials & services, Energy, Financial services, financial sponsors, Healthcare, and Technology.

Ameriprise Financial Services LLC (AFS) is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1971 and is a subsidiary of AMPF Holding Corp., which is owned by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). AFS offers brokerage services that enable clients to invest in many different types of investments including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange traded products, unit investment trusts, annuities and alternative investments.

Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (TSW) is a registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The firm was founded in 1969 and is a subsidiary of Pendal USA, Inc., which is owned by Perpetual Ltd. (ASX: PPT) in Australia. TSW provides investment advisory and management services to individual and institutional clients.

Duke University is an academic university that offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. It also has publications and research services. The university was founded in 1838 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc. (LTAM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1982 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advisor Group Holdings, Inc. LTAM provides consulting and fund management services to individuals, high net-worth individuals, small business owners, pension and profit-sharing plans, plan participants, trusts, estates and charitable organizations, corporations or other business entities, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other investment advisers.

Cerulli Associates, Inc. is an international research and consulting firm that provides financial institutions with guidance in strategic positioning and new business development. The private company is based in Boston, MA and has subsidiaries in Singapore and United Kingdom. The company's analysts blend industry knowledge, original research, and data analysis to bring perspective to current market conditions and forecasts for future developments. The company was founded in 1992 by David Nadig, Kurt Cerulli. Kurt Cerulli has been the CEO since 1992.

The University of St. Thomas is an institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The private company is based in St. Paul, MN. It offers over 150 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate programs in various fields such as business, engineering, law, education, social work, and arts and humanities. The University of St. Thomas was founded in 1885 by John Ireland.

Founded in 1958, Merrill Lynch Piece Fenner & Smith, Inc. is an SEC registered broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of BAC North America Holding Co. and their ultimate parent is Bank of America Corp. (NYSE BAC).

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

Money Management Institute provides advice and professionally-managed investment solutions to individual and institutional investors. It provides advisory solutions through advocacy, educational initiatives, regulatory affairs, publications, data reporting and professional networking. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Carson Group, Inc. provides financial advisory services. It offers coaching and partnership services to advisor firms and straightforward financial advice to the investing public. The company was founded by Ronald Lloyd Carson Jr. and is headquartered in Omaha, NE.

Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1967 and is a subsidiary of Alliance Capital Management LLC, ultimately held by Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH). Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. provides trading and executions services to their clients.

LPL Holdings, Inc. operates as a holding comany for LPL Financial Services. It provides investment advisory, marketing, administrative, distribution and information systems services to the independent financial advisor network in the United States through its subsidiaries. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA.

Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association, Inc. (SIFMA) is an organization that represents the securities industry in the United States. The private company is based in New York, NY and has subsidiaries in the United States. The company's main focus is advocating for effective and resilient capital markets. The CEO of the company is Kenneth E. Bentsen.

The American Securities Association is a non-profit organization that advocates for the interests of broker-dealers and investors. The non-profit company is based in Washington. The association recently sent a comment letter to the SEC regarding new mandates related to cybersecurity policies. The American company also supports Representative Pete Sessions ’ legislation codifying a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff no-action letter that allows brokers-dealers to continue to be compensated for providing research services without registering as investment advisers. The association works in communities across the country to create jobs, grow the economy, and increase prosperity for all Americans.