Lauren Kurz is a CFA® charterholder based in Chicago, IL, with four years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair since 2021 and previously worked at HomeMaking and William Harris Investors, Inc. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm pursues active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Daniel Levin is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at William Blair, Elm Street Technology, and Charles Schwab. Levin is based in Chicago, IL. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering solutions that include discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager strategies, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers along with proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles.

Roger Lofquist III is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial and Specialty Underwriters LLC. His background also includes roles outside finance, such as at Ascott Pools, Inc. and The Prairie School. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, pooled investment vehicles, and IRAs. The firm offers a wide range of programs and advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement services.

Hector Anaya is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2015 and has held an agent position at Agia since 2022, focusing on non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Gloria Russell is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at JP Morgan Securities, LLC, London Realty, and Nationwide Investment Advisors, LLC. She is based in Chicago, IL. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm utilizes Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and operates at scale with a focus on non-discretionary asset management.

Philip Brines is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Enterprise and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, he is a musician and drummer with Orchestra 33 Entertainment, a position he has held since 1998. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers through both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Lorraine Hutchinson is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2022 and previously spent 27 years with Wayne Hummer Investments L.L.C. in Chicago, IL. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes multi-manager portfolio solutions and proprietary research, serving clients such as pension plans, charitable organizations, and private pooled investment vehicles.

Michael Smith is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2023. His prior roles include positions at United Capital Financial Advisers and D3 Financial Counselors. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and integrated tax and family office services. The firm employs customized, discretionary portfolios supported by internal and third-party management resources and provides specialized retirement plan solutions and employer financial wellness tools.

Bryanna Unzueta is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at DePaul University, Propharma Group, and Rush University Medical Center. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients, utilizing active, research-driven strategies across various asset classes.

Veronica Giess is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Chicago, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Hightower, she worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank. Outside of her advisory role, she works seasonally serving beverages at a tent during the Lollapalooza music festival. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles to support discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Kevin Babb is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Mesirow Financial, LPL Financial, and CIBC Private Wealth Management. Creative Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various portfolio management techniques and retirement plan services, supported by a broad advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

John Roethle is a financial advisor at VALIC Financial Advisors with 39 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with VALIC Financial Advisors since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an agent with Agia, involved in non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Jennifer Dougherty is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Downers Grove, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and affiliated with New York Life entities since 2010. Outside of her advisory work, she owns Simply Gourdgeous, a seasonal business creating fall-themed displays using pumpkins and gourds. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a broad network of affiliated advisers. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Angel Montano is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2006 and has held roles at Chase Investment Services Corp., Banc One Securities Corporation, and Strong Capital Management Inc. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, using Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and research tools to tailor recommendations based on clients’ goals and risk tolerance.

Christopher Kurimay is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at U.S. Bancorp Investments and U.S. Bank. He is based in Chicago, IL. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains institutional-scale operations including in-house research, derivatives services, and bespoke solutions for large client relationships.

Christopher Pohlman Jr. is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 25 years of industry experience. He previously spent 19 years at Mesirow Financial, Inc. He serves on the advisory board of Empower Retirement, participates in the President’s Leadership Counsel at Benedictine University, and is a board representative for Choose DuPage, focusing on economic growth and development. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.

Violet Gesing Alicea is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has worked with Principal Life Insurance Company and Princor Financial Services Corporation since 2001. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Christine Bacharz is a financial advisor with Mariner Wealth Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by internal research and third-party managers, and it provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office services along with employer financial wellness tools.

Asha Goldstein is a CFP® professional based in Chicago, IL, with 19 years of industry experience. She currently works at Corient, joining the firm in 2026 after eight years at Vivaldi Capital Management, LLC, and seven years at Cedar Hill Associates LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines proprietary strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools and alternative investment options where appropriate.

Kevin Jackson is a CFP® professional based in Chicago, IL, with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with HighTower Advisors and HighTower Securities since 2016. HighTower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s approach focuses on manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment strategies.