Michelle Wang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. She joined the firm in 2026 and has prior work experience at Accenture from 2004 to 2025. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios. The firm operates as both a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment adviser, with a range of program choices and affiliated retirement entities supporting plan clients.

Donald Baran is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. holding a Series 66 license and five years of industry experience. His professional background includes roles at The Leaders Group Inc., FSG, Pizza Hut, Edward Jones, Weiman Products, and EMCO Chemical Distributors. He also works as an insurance wholesaler for fixed insurance products directly with financial advisors through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent representatives, sub-advisors, and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Robert Fenby is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2012 and has a concurrent role at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company dating back to 2011. Fenby is also involved in life insurance brokerage through multiple roles, including Regional Marketing Director at Penn Mutual, Senior Vice President at Insurance Wholesale Solutions, and proprietor of Fenby Life Insurance Planning. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, combining SEC-registered advisory services with broker-dealer capabilities and managing over $8 billion in discretionary assets.

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.

Michael Leonetti is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at HighTower Advisors since 2017. He previously led Leonetti & Associates, LLC from 2008 to 2019. HighTower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across a range of investment strategies.

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.

David Reilly is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with 22 years of experience, currently with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2013. His prior experience includes 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 a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities. The firm offers a range of services such as wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, and investment management consulting, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies.

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.

Joanna Geier is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently working at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. She previously spent nine years at Jackson Financial Management. Outside of her advisory role, she consults on physical therapy data entry for Tomson Rehab. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, foundations, and non-profits, offering a range of advisory services including investment management, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm uses a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and implements portfolios through a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

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.

Douglas Clermont is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 63 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at The Leaders Group, Inc., GBS Insurance & Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Co., and PrinCor Financial Services. He is also licensed as an outside insurance agent, selling fixed life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Its approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, with a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios that uses risk questionnaires to customize portfolios reviewed quarterly.

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.

Mariusz Niedbalec is a financial advisor at William Blair with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair & Company since 2005. 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, providing proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

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.

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.