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.

Philip Cole is a CFP® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2021 and previously spent over a decade with Hochman Cole Investment Advisors, Inc. and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base, including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management across a range of strategies and integrates financial planning, tax, and bill-pay services into many client relationships.

Christopher Owens is a financial advisor with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has three years of industry experience and previously worked at AE Wealth Management, Impact Partnership Wealth, and Station-M. Owens is also president of Owens Financial Group, LLC, where he is involved in insurance sales and client insurance and annuity plan reviews. Foundations Investment Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management to individual, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with an asymmetric rebalancing approach and employs third-party sub-advisers and custodians to support its services.

Ryan Begley is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill and Wells Fargo Advisors. &PARTNERS serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement-plan services through a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis. The firm operates as both a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and municipal advisory services.

Paul Wehner is a financial advisor at William Blair with 14 years of industry experience. He has held roles at multiple firms, including Kingswood Capital Partners, Schechter Investment Advisors, and Coe Capital Management. He is licensed with Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm uses an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies and provides proprietary models and access to private funds through its affiliated programs.

Rod Russell is a financial advisor at Farther with 13 years of industry experience. He has held positions at BNY Mellon and J.P. Morgan prior to joining Farther. Outside of his advisory role, he coordinates property development activities for Lake Roots Holdings, LLC. Farther provides discretionary investment management and related advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income, supplemented by AI tools under internal review.

Benjamin Heizer is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, bringing three years of industry experience. He has also been principal and owner at Thrive Wealth Group, formerly Heizer Financial Group, since 2008, where he provides insurance and retirement planning services. Foundations Investment Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management using a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, as well as sub-advisory arrangements through a network of affiliated offices.

David Hatton is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently with &PARTNERS and previously worked at Old National Bank, LPL Financial, and First Midwest Bank. &PARTNERS serves a diverse clientele, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and ERISA 3(21) consulting. The firm employs a range of strategies incorporating fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis and utilizes both proprietary and third-party portfolio management.

Steven Fortner is a financial advisor at William Blair with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at William Blair since 2018, following two years at Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services. 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 equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Sam Schwartz is a CFP® professional with 9 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Farther. He has held prior roles at Anchor Pointe Wealth Management, Assetmark Brokerage, AssetMark Financial, and State Street Bank. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates, utilizing a web and mobile platform alongside in-person consultations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and incorporates proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and a range of asset classes including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Lynn Zak is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2002 and is also affiliated with Fifth Third Bank, where she has worked since 1982. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Erin Sheahan is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and recently began her career in the industry. Prior to joining Mesirow, she held roles in education and hospitality. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. offers investment management and financial planning services to private individuals, institutional clients, and government entities. The firm uses both proprietary and third-party products, applying quantitative and qualitative due diligence to construct diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Jill Kaz is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Cetera Planning Partners and has held previous roles at firms including Avantax Planning Partners, Strategic Wealth Partners, and Securian Financial Services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified allocations through mutual funds and ETFs tailored to client objectives, supported by integrated services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate-planning solutions.

Steven Zendel is a financial advisor at William Blair with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at William Blair since 2018, following seven years at Citadel LC. 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 emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

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.

Quinn Schneider is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has previously worked at Altavista Wealth Management Inc. and Mission Health. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides wealth advisory, financial planning, retirement-plan platform services, and outsourced chief investment officer services to individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm combines asset-allocation modeling with third-party independent managers and employs both active and passive investment strategies across public and private asset classes.

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.

James Gaines is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Financial since 2015 and holds the Series 66 designation. Mesirow Financial Investment Management’s Wealth Management division serves private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, governmental entities, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning, utilizing both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products tailored through quantitative and qualitative due diligence.

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.