Steven Whiting II is a Series 66-licensed advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors and has been in the industry since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Wfgia, American Airlines Group Inc., National Airlines, FedEx, and United Airlines. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios, with a range of discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Alexander Mueller is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and involvement in several fitness-related business ventures. Outside of his advisory work, he has ownership interests in rental properties that are not related to his investment activities. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account for employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and implements investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing automated portfolio management and third-party delegation.

Donald Cafero Sr. is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 42 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with TLG Advisors, Inc. He has worked at several firms including The Leaders Group Inc and Highland Capital Brokerage. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance brokerage through The Cafero Group and works as a point of sale and wholesale specialist with FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering services such as portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Their investment approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, with a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios that tailors portfolios based on client risk profiles.

Stephanie Goins is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. She is currently with Creative Planning and previously held roles at Principal Advised Services, Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance Company, Edward Jones, and HSBC. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by additional equity and tax-efficient trading options, and offers integrated retirement plan services alongside affiliated legal, trust, and recordkeeping businesses.

Eric Freckman is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015, following a 22-year tenure at LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Freckman is also a notary public. Private Advisor Group, LLC is an SEC-registered firm managing over $41 billion across more than 135,000 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate and retirement plan clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party asset management programs.

Dennis Anderson is a CFP® professional with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2013. He is also the owner of a grain and livestock farm in Viola, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets, providing services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a range of model investment strategies and offers various advisory programs, combining both discretionary and non-discretionary options with ongoing portfolio oversight.

Rod Russell is a financial advisor at Farther with 13 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at BNY Mellon and J.P. Morgan. Outside of his advisory role, he coordinates property development at Lake Roots Holdings, LLC. Farther provides discretionary investment management and related advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates, using a platform that combines proprietary model portfolios with algorithmic rebalancing and AI tools. The firm’s approach emphasizes Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Pranav Singh is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Fifth Third Securities 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 a tax-overlay service, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Donald Baran is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. holding a Series 66 license and five years of industry experience. His professional background includes roles at The Leaders Group Inc., FSG, Pizza Hut, Edward Jones, Weiman Products, and EMCO Chemical Distributors. He also works as an insurance wholesaler for fixed insurance products directly with financial advisors through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent representatives, sub-advisors, and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Robert Fenby is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2012 and is also associated with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, Fenby is involved in life insurance brokerage as a Regional Marketing Director for Penn Mutual and as Senior Vice President at Insurance Wholesale Solutions, as well as owning Fenby Life Insurance Planning. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans by offering advisory services through third-party asset manager platforms, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes client-directed implementation and oversight, managing the majority of its client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Eric Eimen is a financial advisor at William Blair with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining William Blair in 2022, he worked at BMO Private Bank from 2011 to 2022. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers 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 provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Dominic Defazio is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2011. He is also the owner of Aqua Body Floats, a business focused on designing upholstery for recreational activities. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, distinguishing itself through its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Todd Bessey is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC. He previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 17 years before joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2021. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office and retirement plan advisory services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs, focusing on customized portfolios that combine internal management and third-party asset manager oversight.

David Reilly is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets, serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and charitable and educational organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of firm-developed and third-party model strategies across various asset types, with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee and a distinctive operational structure that includes custody and clearance capabilities alongside a primary clearing relationship with Pershing.

Jennifer Merida is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including 818 Capital Group, Money Concepts Capital Corp., ADP, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 2% owner and performs back-office work for Kaidence Chiropractic & Wellness, a business owned by her husband. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and participant savings rates.

Joanna Geier is a CFP® professional with over 14 years of experience in financial advisory roles. She has worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2019 and previously spent nine years at Jackson Financial Management. Outside of her advisory work, she consults on data entry for physical therapy visits at Tomson Rehab. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using a range of investment vehicles and offers various related financial planning and consulting services.

James Brandt is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at Fortis Investors, Inc. and Brandt Financial Concepts, a firm he has been involved with since 1983. Outside of his advisory work, Brandt serves as a FEMA-certified trainer for the Community Emergency Response Team and holds leadership positions in local organizations including a homeowners association and the Palatine Fire Pension Board. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing various investment platforms and third-party managers, with approximately $11.3 billion in regulatory assets under management.

James Wormley is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Woodstock, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies that include firm-developed and third-party models with periodic strategic reviews.

Frank Schoen is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Hoffman Estates, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 27 years of industry experience. He is the owner of The Force Agency, Inc. and S2C Tax & Accounting Services LLC, where he provides tax preparation and accounting services. Schoen has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment models in discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Tyrone Ball is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network based in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes eight years at Edward D. Jones & Co. L.P. and four years at Best Energy LLC. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides advisory programs, technology, and operational support while offering a variety of investment solutions, including discretionary model portfolios and customized program structures.