Alexander Fernbach is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He has previously worked at Schumann Financial, CETERA Financial Specialists LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities. Prior to his financial advisory roles, he worked at Bowling Green State University and Monarch Landing. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of managed investment strategies through fee-based wrap programs and provides custody, execution, and trading services supported by an internal investment strategy committee.

Marta Krupa is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. She previously worked at PNC Investments LLC for 10 years before joining PNC Wealth Management in 2021. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only, discretionary model account available to select employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Jennifer Ferworn is a financial advisor at William Blair with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair since 2018. Prior to joining William Blair, she worked at Atlas Residential USA from 2016 to 2018. 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 active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its integrated platform.

Jeffrey Pavlik is a financial advisor at William Blair with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. He previously led Pavlik Capital Management LLC for 14 years before joining William Blair in 2022. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, and institutional clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, private funds, and co-investment opportunities.

Michael Lemaich is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management since 2013 and also owns Global Fund Management LLC, where he acts as an insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program, serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and TAMP services.

Jesse Szlaga is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in financial advising, currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2015. He is based in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by both in-house research and third-party managers, along with integrated tax and accounting services uncommon at its enterprise scale.

James Snider is a financial advisor with Planmember Securities Corporation in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been self-employed since 2003 and owns a business consulting firm, Snider & Associates, which provides general management services unrelated to securities. He also operates Tax Prep Partners, a tax preparation service. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans and offering participant-level investment options through their asset allocation portfolios. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation framework and risk-based mutual fund portfolios ranging from conservative to aggressive.

Chad Sturtz is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 1997 and Principal Life Insurance Company since 1996. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Sturtz Farm, LLC, which focuses on corn and soybean production. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Daniel Baer is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup since 2005. 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 operates with institutional scale, including in-house research, derivatives services, and bespoke solutions for large relationships.

Sandra Gentry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. She has worked at Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2020 and has been with Bankers Life & Casualty since 2014. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a unit field trainer agent for Bankers Life and Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions.

Michael Youakim is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Woodridge, Illinois. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Brian Vanderlugt is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2010. His credentials include the Series 66 license. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management services, utilizing a variety of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee.

Tristan Abalos is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC holding a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience with prior roles at Osaic Wealth Inc and LPL Financial. Outside of finance, he has operated The Screen Guys LLC since 2014. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs a variety of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform.

Michael Lawrence is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He has worked at CWM, LLC, Carson Wealth, and Carson Group since 2021, and previously spent 23 years at Chicago Equity Partners. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of partner offices and more than 600 advisors. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios and provides services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan solutions, and sub-advisory offerings.

Matthew Mirabella is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors LLC and independent contracting with Tax Smart, LLC and Scott Tucker Solutions, Inc. He has diverse work experience outside advisory services, including positions in retail and delivery. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a varied client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment approaches to serve over 127,000 clients through a platform-focused advisory model.

Tyler Welter is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has eight years of industry experience, including roles at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2018. He is also licensed as an insurance agent, providing life, health, long-term care, disability insurance, and annuities on a part-time basis. Principal Securities offers comprehensive brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and military personnel, with a focus on financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Jigar Doshi is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2015. Doshi serves as a board member for the Vernon Hills Indian Association, a nonprofit organization. Independent Financial Group is a large, integrated advisory and brokerage firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, business owners, and plan sponsors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party managed portfolios tailored to client risk profiles.

Matthew Dial is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience, including six years at US Bank prior to joining his current firm. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management consulting, utilizing strategies managed internally and by third-party managers.

Matthew Kocmond is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has two years of industry experience, including roles at Northwestern Mutual, LPL Enterprise, and New York Life. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Joanna Pomagier is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2017 and previously at Northern Trust Securities Inc. and Northern Trust Bank. 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 emphasizes active, research-driven management across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.