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 his own firm, Brandt Financial Concepts. Outside of his advisory work, Brandt volunteers as a FEMA-certified trainer for disaster preparedness and serves as president of a homeowners association and a trustee on the Palatine Fire Pension Board. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, utilizing both firm- and third-party models that combine strategic asset allocation with ongoing manager due diligence.

James Wormley is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013, following prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that utilize proprietary strategies and third-party models.

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.

Megan Anderson is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Golden Technology and Randstad Technologies. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management, brokerage services, and M&A advisory, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Susan Winklebleck is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Palatine, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides separate broker-dealer services, acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, and employs a fiduciary standard within its RIA services.

James Juengling is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Dundee, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 50 years of industry experience and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2010. Since 1972, he has also owned and operated Juengling & Associates, providing various types of insurance. Juengling has been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors since 1973 and is involved with the Illinois Legislative Council. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes firm- and third-party models for portfolio management, combining strategic asset allocation with ongoing due diligence across a mix of passive and active exposures.

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 12 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of The Sanders Law Firm, where he provides legal services including real estate closing advice and estate planning. His prior work includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm uses discretionary model portfolios and a variety of analytical methods to implement investment decisions, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

Richard Kasher is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is also the sole owner of Diversified Tax Services, Inc., where he serves as an officer and director providing accounting and tax consulting services. Kasher is involved in consulting engagements related to business valuation and forensic analysis. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model-driven investment approach combining passive and active strategies, with portfolio management and financial planning delivered through multiple platforms and third-party asset managers.

Robert Richardson is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Integrity Alliance, LLC and has held roles at firms including IZALE Financial Group and Lion Street Financial. Outside of advisory work, he owns and operates an online retail store through Cultivated Community LLC. Integrity Alliance, LLC is a large advisor network serving a diverse client base that includes individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of advisory programs, employing various allocation strategies through discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers.

Katelyn Depew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm follows an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.

Sarah Tobolski is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2017 and previously spent three years at DiMeo Schneider. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm applies active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Sandra Nies is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Huntington National Bank, Park Avenue Investment Advisory, River Street Advisors, Old Second National Bank, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs on the Passageway platform, utilizing multiple third-party portfolio managers and strategies such as SMA, tax-overlay, and direct indexing.

John Rousos is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Highland Capital Brokerage and Investacorp Advisory Services. He is also involved in wholesaling and insurance-related activities through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Christopher Karam is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Independent Financial Partners since 2011 and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Sheridan Road Financial, LLC. Karam also serves as a Supervisor of Cuba Township in Barrington, Illinois, overseeing the township’s operations and finances. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform focused on individualized investment strategies and is noted for its retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Kyle Odeshoo is a financial advisor at Carson Wealth with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Carson Wealth and the March McLennan Agency. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $50.6 billion through a network of over 650 advisors. The firm serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and tailored investment solutions supported by a dedicated Investment Committee.

Sharon Zumstein is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. She is currently with Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services, having previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Merrill, and TD Ameritrade. Zumstein also holds an Illinois real estate license and works as an independent contractor with Century 21. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services through Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm’s approach includes point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

David Mcfeggan Jr. is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2006 and joined NewEdge Advisors in 2023. Outside of his advisory roles, he has been involved in tax preparation and insurance-related business activities. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services and employs multiple program structures supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Annette Hammortree is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities since 2005, with a brief tenure at MSI Financial Services. Beyond her advisory role, she serves on the boards of PACT, Inc. and Lifes Plan Inc., organizations that provide trustee services and support to people with disabilities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides tailored client solutions including financial planning, consulting, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory programs.

Katharine Lois is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for six years. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that combine proprietary strategies and third-party model providers.

Allison Swanson is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with one year of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Creative Planning, she worked at Sageview Advisory Group and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of financial advising, she provides private softball pitching lessons through her business, Coach A Softball Stars. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led approach that integrates low-cost indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market exposure.