Jason Ezzell affiliated with Hightower in 2014 as a Managing Director and Founder of Natoma Wealth (formerly known as The Ezzell-Conklin Group). Previously, he spent 15 years as a Senior Vice President of Wealth Management and Senior Portfolio Manager in the PIA Program at Merrill Lynch. Jay was a member of the Circle of Excellence, as well as Designated Retirement Plan Advisor, an elite group of Financial Advisors chosen by Merrill Lynch based on their experience in the Institutional Retirement Plan space.

Jay’s main areas of focus are Private Client and Institutional Services. Jay leads the group’s research and investment process, driving customized portfolio construction and management for affluent private clients, institutions and endowments. Jay also leads the firm's Business Value Enhancement process, providing advice for business owners and key executives as they prepare for a transaction. Jay provides Institutional Clients with fiduciary services that include the creation and maintenance of fiduciary governance processes, as well as independent analysis and due diligence of investments in qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, defined benefit plans and endowment funds.

Jay holds dual degrees from California State University, Sacramento and an advanced certificate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed the Certified 401(k) Professional (C(k)P™) program at The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU) at the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education, as well as the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) program through the Exit Planning Institute. 

Jay's dedication to his clients is reflected in the recent achievements of being named to "Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" list five years in a row (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) and the "Financial Times 401: Top Retirement Advisors" in 2017. Additionally, The Ezzell-Conklin Group was named to “Wealth Management’s Thrive Award” in 2019 and the "Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors" in 2017.

Jay and his wife Amy live in Folsom with their five children. Jay and his family are proud advocates of many non-profit support and educational organizations throughout Northern California, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, and the San Juan Education Foundation.