Paula Betts is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 29 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at UBS Financial Services and Merrill, with tenures of six and ten years respectively. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and employs over 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Thomas Van Dellen is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 66 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Waddell & Reed Inc. Outside of his financial career, he serves as president of the Kiwanis Club of Frankfort and vice president of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, and he has worked as a basketball official since 1993. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a variety of investment programs and portfolio management options, supporting more than 10,000 advisors and overseeing over $256 billion in assets.

Michelle Rachford is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on developing personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' individual financial goals and adapting to changing market conditions. Michelle leverages investment insights from Merrill and banking services from Bank of America to provide comprehensive financial solutions. She holds professional designations as a CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Michelle earned a High School Diploma from Merrillville High School. In addition to her professional work, Michelle is engaged in community service and dedicates time to volunteering with local organizations, reflecting the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

Michael Barenie is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crown Point, Indiana, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones, Wilson, TopBloc, and Brooksource. His other business activity includes work with Oak Partners, Inc., an entity related to his LPL business. 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, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Ryan Penders is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 designations. His prior roles include positions at Midwest Equity Mortgage, Premise Capital, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and Epsilon. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with tailored portfolios managed through a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers, featuring various options for rebalancing, tax management, and responsible investing.

Cory Lazart is a financial advisor at Stifel with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Stifel Nicolaus since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner of MFOC, LLC, a rental property business. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach utilizes proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group to inform asset allocation and planning analyses.

Jacob Mudde is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Randall Minas is a CFP® with 50 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Stifel since 2017. Prior to joining Stifel, he worked at City Securities Corporation from 2009 to 2017. He serves as president of the Minas Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and holds multiple board roles at Indiana State University, including membership on the Board of Trustees and its finance and investment committees. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Jeff Miller is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015 and at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2013. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager selection, and customized performance reporting. Their advisory process integrates centralized due diligence with both quantitative and qualitative research and incorporates ESG criteria in their investment recommendations.

Kevin Ribordy is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, having joined the firm as a Financial Advisor in 2014. Based in Northwest Indiana, he works with clients in the Chicagoland area to help them achieve their financial goals. Kevin provides objective advice to high-net-worth individuals and families, focusing on risk management and risk mitigation through portfolio construction as part of their financial planning. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certificant awarded by the Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His expertise includes family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income planning. In addition to his professional work, Kevin is actively involved in his community. He serves as President of Union Township Dollars for Scholars, Vice President of Family House of Valparaiso, and coaches for Union Township Robotics. His personal interests include camping, running, and woodworking.

Corey Hecht is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Corey works with clients including retirees, business owners, and non-profits, focusing on areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Corey earned his bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph's College. His approach involves developing personalized financial strategies that reflect each client's unique goals, which he categorizes as essential, important, or aspirational. He operates with the resources of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to assist clients in meeting retirement cash flow needs, purchasing or refinancing homes, college funding, estate planning, and managing concentrated stock positions. Outside of his professional role, Corey is a member of several organizations including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders, Duneland Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Indiana Forum, and supports groups such as the Duneland Family YMCA, Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He resides in Chesterton, Indiana with his wife and four daughters.

Ryan Gibbons is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2020 following his studies at Northern Illinois University. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory programs with tailored investment strategies and integrated financial services.

Philip Farese Jr. is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and also maintains a law practice dating back to 1993. Outside of his advisory role, he provides legal document preparation and business advice for a family medical practice. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm combines in-house research and third-party analytics to support diversified investment strategies and offers a broad range of financial products and services.

Alfredo Ruiz is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at SII Investments, Inc. for 20 years. Ruiz is also a regular guest financial columnist for The Times Media Group and serves as a notary within the scope of securities and insurance business. Additionally, he is a for-profit board member at Horizon Bank Corp. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management solutions supported by advisor tools and research, serving over 22,800 advisors and overseeing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Michael Barancyk is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2018, he worked at SII Investments, Inc. for 16 years. Outside of advising, he is co-owner of a local real estate rental business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by advanced operational and research tools.

Paul Sterk is a financial advisor with LPL Financial who holds a Series 66 designation and has 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Old National Bank, First Midwest Bank, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and Merrill. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Thomas Duffner is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC, he worked at Woodbury Financial Services for 18 years and held positions at Equitable Advisors and Mony Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Health Benefits Consultants, Inc., which focuses on group health insurance sales. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform offering both brokerage and advisory services, including comprehensive financial planning and managed portfolios. The firm’s investment approach utilizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization with a variety of program options supported by affiliated broker-dealer and RIA relationships.

John Tellers is a financial advisor at Stifel with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Compass Group in various roles from 2015 to 2022. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on proprietary analysis and allocation guidance developed by its Investment Strategy Group, using forward-looking market assumptions and probabilistic modeling.

Jonathan Peller is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Northwest Indiana. He specializes in wealth management for families navigating significant financial transitions and making important family wealth decisions. Jonathan works with clients approaching milestones such as retirement, business ownership transitions, life after the loss of a spouse, receiving significant wealth, or seeking to be more intentional about their financial future. His services include guidance on investments, retirement income, tax-aware planning, estate considerations, charitable giving, family wealth, and long-term financial goals. He aims to help clients make confident decisions, reduce financial complexity, stay organized, and focus on what matters most. Jonathan holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wabash College.

Jonathan Zemaitis is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Oak Partners Inc., Walsh Construction Co., Vincere Wealth Management, and Teachers Credit Union. He has also been involved with the Butler Bulldog Club and Butler University. 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.