Jacob Stoiber is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Evercore Wealth Management for six years and The Connable Office for three years. 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 active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Kelly Kovasic is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials. Kelly has experience at firms including Leelyn Smith, LLC and LPL Financial, both from 2021 to 2026. Outside of advisory roles, Kelly provides administrative support to Leelyn Smith, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a range of institutional and individual clients. The firm provides fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and utilizes multiple management platforms, serving clients including large institutions and sovereign wealth funds.

Ronald Harczak is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. He has 40 years of industry experience, including over 30 years with Securities America Advisors and LPL Financial. Outside of advising, he is a notary and operates a business entity for tax and investment purposes. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a network model with access to various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to support client needs.

David Polhill is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. He also operates as an insurance agent through his sole proprietorship. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a variety of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies managed by both internal and third-party managers, supported by several hundred advisors and tens of billions in assets under management.

Christopher Crisanti is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory and holds a Series 66 designation. He has experience working at Kestra Investment Services, Ameriprise Financial Services, and in legislative offices, including roles with State Senator Steven Landek and State Representative Michael J. Zalewski. Prior to his advisory career, he was involved with various organizations such as Bill Brennan State Farm Agency and FinTech Ranger LLC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers a broad range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, investment due diligence, and access to multiple management platforms, serving approximately $79.8 billion in assets under management.

Jessica Park is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at JWFS Equities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and PNC Bank. She has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions.

Jonathan Lamar is a financial advisor at William Blair with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair since 2016. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as 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.

Mary Schulte is a CFP® professional with 37 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2016. She is also registered as an agent for Raymond Schulte, working a limited number of hours per month in this investment-related capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and managed investment strategies, supported by a large team of advisors and substantial assets under management.

Scott Svoboda is a financial advisor at Farther with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Royal Fund Management, LLC DBA Tru Financial Strategies. Svoboda is also president of Svoboda Financial Group, Inc., where he operates an independent insurance agency focused on fixed annuities, Medicare supplements, life insurance, and long-term care. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios or bespoke allocations, algorithmic rebalancing, and a selection of exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Jeremy Frazer is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience and has been with William Blair & Company since 2014. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and is based in Geneva, Illinois. 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 multiple asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private fund opportunities.

Robert Wack is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank, having joined in 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Merrill (Bank of America), Scottrade, and TD Ameritrade. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers via its Passageway Managed Account Program and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor.

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Victor Champney is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and is also involved with The UTC Tax Busters and Inheritguard, LLC. Outside of finance, he operates a music studio, provides music lessons, and performs as a member of a musical band. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm delivers advisory services primarily through model portfolios and third-party managers, supported by a large advisor network and multiple program platforms.

Aurelio Reyes is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Woodridge, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at J.P. Morgan Securities and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a local DoorDash driver. 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 options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with a municipal-advisor registration.

Daniel Hedge is a CFP® professional with ten years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Hedge is active in local business communities as chair of committees for the St. Charles and Elgin Chambers of Commerce and serves as a guest speaker at Village Bible Church. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary wrap programs utilizing mutual fund and ETF model strategies, separate accounts, and custom portfolios, supported by an internal trading desk and an Investment Strategy Committee.

David Kohlmeyer is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent nine years at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the treasurer for the Wheaton Academy Foundation, a role involving quarterly evening meetings. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management services, using strategies managed internally and by third parties, with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee.

Jeffrey Perkins is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and also serves on the board of Marengo Area Outreach Enterprises. Outside of finance, he manages Perkins Farm, which sells hay and beef. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using third-party managers and proprietary solutions delivered through multiple platforms.

James Wilkins is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, OSAIC, Securities America Advisors, and National Planning Corporation. He also works as a wealth advisor utilizing variable annuities for financial planning solutions. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm serving over 24,000 clients through approximately 366 advisors. The firm uses an open-architecture investment approach, offering individualized asset allocations, model portfolios, and third-party manager programs.

Kahina Kherbouche is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Fifth Third Bank since 2019, with prior experience at MB Financial Bank, Liberty Tax, and Joson's Deli. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Daniel Sommers is a Certified Financial Planner® with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and has a long tenure at Kestra Investment Services, LLC, as well as Freiburger Financial Group. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as director of an education loan trust established by his family to assist grandchildren with secondary education funding and acts as a trustee for a 401(k) plan. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving large institutional investors and specialized clients such as sovereign wealth funds.