Sarah Johnson is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Rockford, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and totaling 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entity since 2012. Outside of her advisory work, she serves on the Board of Directors for Gigi's Playhouse Rockford, a nonprofit organization. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement income planning advice through a collaborative, non-discretionary approach employing proprietary research and third-party data.

Rebecca Peterson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockford, IL, holding the Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at BMO Harris Bank and NFP Insurance Solutions, as well as seven years at Monarch Solutions. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by research and employs both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches.

Branden Johnson is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Beloit, WI, and has six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked at World Cup Packing for six years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.

Zorana Okilj is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Securities and Chase Bank. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and includes a broader range of investment options, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs, distinguishing it among large institutional advisors.

Holly Squicciarini is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member and investment committee member at the Rockford Art Museum and is involved in supporting a family-owned business. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning and consulting services using a range of investment strategies and firm-supported research, with an emphasis on non-discretionary relationships where clients make implementation decisions.

Scott Johnson is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2010. He is based in Rockford, IL, and holds the Series 63 designation. Outside of his advisory role, Johnson is a board member and treasurer of the Eagle Education Fund for Christian Life Schools and is also an author. He is part of the DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a variety of strategies and overlays to meet client goals and risk tolerances.

Christopher Johnson is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TD Ameritrade and Scottrade Inc before joining Edward Jones in 2020. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Joshua Mansavage is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Rockford, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has seven years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at MML Investors Services, LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance, as well as earlier positions outside the financial industry. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved software and collaborative annual planning to develop recommendations without investment discretion.

Joel Otto is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Beloit, WI, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on multiple nonprofit boards in the Beloit area, including Beloit Cares, Willow Women’s Center, and Outdoor Outreach, and occasionally sells sports cards through online platforms. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management or institutional client services.

Kevin Dwyer is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and holds a Series 66 license with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Carol Keedy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockford, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 34 years of industry experience, including 17 years with LPL Financial. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

Diane Cassens is a financial advisor at Merrill with 28 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Merrill since 2006 and Bank of America, NA since 2009. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Richard Taden is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockford, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2023 and has concurrently worked at Sigma Planning Corporation and Sigma Financial Corporation since 2012. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm provides financial planning, various advisory programs, and retirement plan consulting through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Katie Schlarb is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with eight years of experience in the industry. She previously worked at Midland States Bank and Alpine Bank and Trust Co. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for Second Chance Equine Sanctuary in Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs and tailored financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning approach includes structured discovery conversations and use of firm-approved planning tools.

Bertha Fernandez is a financial advisor based in Rockford, IL, affiliated with Morgan Stanley. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 16 years of industry experience, all with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers various advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and utilizes structured planning tools alongside its Global Investment Committee’s analyses to support client outcomes.

Mark Forberg is a financial advisor at Cetera with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at Associated Investment Services, Inc. He is also a partner at Mutually Focused Financial Advisors, LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, including discretionary and non-discretionary services, and oversees more than $256 billion in assets across over 10,000 advisors.

Stacy Brady is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Rockford, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2011. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory strategies and affiliated investment products, supported by a nationwide network of approximately 23,701 financial advisors.

Beth Lewis is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as power of attorney for her spouse. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering investment policy preparation, performance reporting, participant education, and discretionary management options. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Erich Vargaz is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Prior to that, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 2014 to 2016. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Rockford, IL. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with an investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Aaron Davis is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with clients to develop personalized wealth management strategies that address their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. Aaron provides guidance on a range of financial matters, including investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events. He also facilitates access to Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Aaron holds several professional designations, including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin System. Aaron emphasizes building and maintaining strong client relationships to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each client's financial situation. Beyond his professional work, Aaron participates in community activities through his involvement in the Lions Club and the Friends Forever Humane Society. His personal interests include baseball, cooking, football, golfing, woodworking, and spending time with his family.