Christopher Demonte is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Cresset Asset Management, LLC since 2018 and previously worked at Neuberger Berman LLC from 2013 to 2017. He holds a Series 66 license and is based in Chicago, IL. Cresset Asset Management, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets for a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a diversified, asset-allocation-driven approach that integrates active and passive strategies and includes a structured due diligence program for manager selection and monitoring.

Sandra Lackhouse is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 42 years of industry experience. She has been with Mesirow Financial since 1993. Mesirow Financial Investment Management’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients including private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm employs a structured investment approach that includes preparing Investment Policy Statements, setting asset allocation targets, and conducting due diligence across various asset classes, while also offering access to proprietary and third-party investment products.

Erica Wiggins is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Hightower Advisors in 2021, she worked at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. and Clear Perspective Advisors from 2012 to 2021. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s advisory model emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers along with proprietary research and a variety of investment strategies.

Michelle Peterson is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Mesirow, CIBC, and The Private Bank. 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 process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Michael McGrath is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs.

Michael Ridge is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked at Oppenheimer since 2006. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of programs and advisory services across various portfolio types, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches.

John Ptak is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license, with six years of experience in the financial industry. He currently serves as an advisor at Corient and has held roles at Corient Services LLC, CIPW Service Company, LLC, and Gofen and Glossberg, L.L.C. since 2014. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers, supported by continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.

Edward Kennedy III is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. since beginning his career. Janney Montgomery Scott is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Charles Hodges IV is a financial advisor at William Blair with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 49 years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1976. 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. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Philip Monnier is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Western Springs, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC in 2018, he worked at Capital One Advisors, LLC and Capital One Investing, LLC from 2015 to 2018. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party-managed investment strategies.

Michael Miroballi is a CFA® charterholder with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at The Huntington Investment Company since 2017. Prior to that, he spent 10 years with BMO Harris Financial Advisors. He holds the position of President-Elect on the Board of the Bank Insurance and Securities Association and serves as Secretary of a local homeowners association. The Huntington Investment Company, operating as Huntington Financial Advisors, provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach featuring multiple wrap-fee programs that combine third-party and proprietary strategies, with portfolio management and custodial services facilitated through National Financial Services.

Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and private investment opportunities.

Argiris Kantzavelos is a financial advisor at William Blair with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2013 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and offers proprietary models, access to private funds, and co-investment opportunities.

Arlinda Yang is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Her background includes roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Riverside University High School. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts and estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting, utilizing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Joseph Kroll is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Harris Investor Services, Inc. for 14 years and has been with Citigroup since 2022. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by in-house research and extensive oversight committees.

Christopher Watson is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. He has 21 years of industry experience, including 19 years at Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of 1721 WC, LLC, a real estate holding company. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering investment advisory programs, broker-dealer execution, and custody services. The firm utilizes multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains in-house research and execution capabilities, supporting a range of investment products and solutions.

Andrew Golden is a financial advisor at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with CIBC Private Wealth Management since 2010. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors serves a broad range of clients including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm offers customized portfolio management, financial and estate planning, and access to sophisticated strategies, supported by internal investment teams and governance committees.

Thomas Fahey is a CFA® charterholder and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has five years of industry experience and is currently with TIAA-CREF in Chicago, IL. His work history includes roles at TIAA and TIAA-CREF dating back to 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering services under a fiduciary standard and utilizing both model and customized portfolios.

Kathrine Calahan is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC. She has worked at Noyes Advisors LLC and David A. Noyes & Company for over a decade. Calahan is also involved in the sale of annuities and life insurance. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, through a large network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers various portfolio management solutions and operates with a fiduciary standard when a written advisory agreement is in place.

Natasha Cooper is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. since 2024. Her prior experience includes roles at Merrill and Bank of America. She is active in the Chicago community as the Communications Chair on the auxiliary board of the Chicago Youth Center. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice within the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering clients annual financial reviews and investment recommendations supported by Schwab’s research tools, without exercising discretionary trading authority.