Stephanie Johnston is a Benefits & Planning Consultant in Executive Services at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2025. Prior to this, she served as a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2024. Stephanie has been working in the financial services industry since 2008, with progressive experience including positions at Baird, Exemplar Financial Network, Ameriprise Financial, Raymond James at Blackhawk Bank, and Baird again. Her expertise includes benefits and financial planning, having held multiple consultant and specialist roles throughout her career. Stephanie is committed to partnering with clients to understand their goals and develop personalized financial plans. Outside of her professional work, Stephanie enjoys camping, gardening, military service, reading, running, and volunteering.

Candace Van De Voorde is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at JP Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank. She has been associated with Self/Corey Zeiger since 2009 alongside her other professional engagements. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives, using various investment strategies and operational tools, and manages over $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Karlo Colak is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Metropolitan Capital Bank and has an educational background from Illinois Wesleyan University. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Kimberly Betke is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Grayslake, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Financial Services and PFS Investments Inc. since 2005. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in the sale of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and selective separately managed accounts primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure for its services.

Kathy Merritt is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 22 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at OSAIC, SagePoint Financial, Cambridge Investment Research, LPL Financial, and Money Concepts Capital Corp. She is also a co-owner of JPV Financial Inc., managing an advisory business alongside her work at Ameriprise. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on reliable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Steven Howard is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Outside of his advisory duties, he is also the owner of Howard Farms in Maquon, IL. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services through a large network of advisors, utilizing both proprietary research and third-party strategies.

Stephen Middaugh is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Lakewood, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of White Barn Door LLC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Brian Jensen is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at The Mutual Fund Store and Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. Outside of advisory work, he is an investor in a legal marijuana farm and distribution business in California. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm uses a committee-driven proprietary modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management options.

Lisa Micklevitz is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2012 and was previously with Wells Fargo Clearing from 2008 to 2012. Outside of advisory work, she serves in a township role assisting with field inspections and property measurements. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Morgan Presterl is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Spectrum Center Inc. for five years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service providing written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Brittany Hafferkamp is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022, she worked at Paychex, Inc. for nine years. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services using proprietary research and tools, delivering tailored recommendations through meetings and client summary letters.

Jeremy Piwnicki is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, and Citigroup Global Markets from 2004 to 2009. He is based in Crystal Lake, IL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individuals and institutional clients by offering a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and scenario modeling as part of its advisory process.

Drew Cullum is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Cambridge since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he is an independent insurance agent and serves as a committee member for the Village of Libertyville. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm operates through thousands of financial professionals and manages a multi-billion dollar asset base across multiple platforms and custodians.

Jennifer Curtiss is a Series 66-licensed advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Robert W. Baird since 2008. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of the Picnic Grove Homeowners' Association and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Fox River Grove. She is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies and both in-house and third-party managers.

Blake Hafferkamp is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by offering investment and fee-based financial planning services across a broad range of areas, including retirement, education, and specialized planning like business-owner transition and special-needs analysis. The firm uses proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations, with clients deciding how to implement them through various brokerage or advisory programs.

Gregory Powell is a Series 63 licensed financial advisor with 42 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cetera and has held various roles within Cetera and its associated entities since 2012. He also serves as a compliance officer at Horizon Financial Group and Horizon Financial Network. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to multiple investment managers through a multi-manager platform.

Jonathan Mrowiec is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with LPL Financial, where he has worked since 2017. He has 13 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Fifth Third Securities and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an adjunct instructor teaching advanced tax and accounting classes at Oakton Community College and Carthage College. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, with advice typically implemented by investment adviser representatives using a variety of investment strategies.

Robert Gauthier is a CFP® professional with 41 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cetera and has held positions there since 2013. He is also the owner of RMG Financial Services, an S-Corp financial services entity, and operates a DBA under Gauthier Wealth Partners. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable organizations, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Sharon Schwager is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. She has held prior roles at Creekview Wealth Management and previously worked at Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment strategies and advisory services. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Paul Maurin is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. since 2015. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in general tax and accounting activities through his ownership of Accountants & Financial Planning Associates and serves as CFO of DLS Computer Services, Inc. OSAIC Wealth serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform, offering brokerage and advisory services including financial planning, managed portfolios, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting discretionary and advisor-managed strategies across various custodial and legacy program arrangements.