Theresa Colson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Diversified Investment Advisors since 2011 and at Diversified Investors Securities Corp. since 2008. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through programs that provide managed portfolios and investment education, utilizing proprietary software and model asset allocations developed in partnership with Morningstar Investment Management. The firm operates at scale with a large client base and focuses on non-discretionary advisory services rather than high-net-worth or standalone financial planning.

Patricia Prado Gutierrez is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Aurora, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and has a longer tenure with Fifth Third Bank dating back to 2006. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm combines bank affiliation with broker-dealer and municipal advisor registrations, providing access to multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

William Hammond is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC and has previously worked at firms including T2 Asset Management and Woodbury Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he provides tax advice and tax preparation services under Hammond Capital Management Ltd, separate from his investment advisory role. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment strategies and technology platforms.

Michelle Martin is a financial advisor at Fidelity with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior work includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, American United Life, OneAmerica Securities, and AXA-Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Eric Saunders is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Aurora, Illinois, with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2000 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 certifications. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and maintains a commercial property in Aurora. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million clients, including individuals and institutions. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Seth Wormley is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Association for Individual Development and is an elected member of the Kendall County Board. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Charles Douglas is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Avantax Advisory Services and Avantax Investment Services, and he also serves as president of Microtax, a tax preparation and accounting business he has operated since 1994. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser with a large nationwide network of independent advisors, providing a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services to individuals, employer-sponsored plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers multiple program options including model portfolios, third-party managers, and bespoke strategies, managing over $256 billion in assets across more than 10,000 advisors.

Alvin Boyd is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Uber and CarMax. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including various types of households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a broad range of advisory services through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Mark Behrens is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Oswego, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and over 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones before joining LPL Financial in 2009. Behrens also serves as a trustee for family testamentary trusts. 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 through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of investment and planning solutions, including access to third-party asset managers and institutional platforms.

Wendy Malas is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Yorkville, IL. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience, including over a decade with LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member of the Yorkville Home Design Center Retail Owners Association. 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 and model portfolio programs, supported by various investment strategies and operational tools.

John Coffey is a financial advisor at Cetera with 35 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation, as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has worked with Cetera since 1995 and also operates Coffey & Associates PC, a public accounting and business consulting firm offering investment services and tax preparation. Additionally, he is involved in health insurance sales. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide network of independent advisors serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Shelly Sypien is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley, Edward Jones, and Cetera. Shelly is also the owner of Family Focused Financial, LLC, which she operates alongside her advisory work. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, corporations, and institutions, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management programs. The firm’s approach involves assessing client risk tolerance and utilizing third-party asset managers and advisory programs.

Christopher Forbes is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC since 2021 and previously held roles at Crosstown Financial Advisors, Waddell & Reed, and various insurance agencies. Outside of his advisory work, he is co-owner of a sports complex focused on personal training and travel baseball teams. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for clients approaching or in retirement, typically with at least $1 million in net investable assets. The firm provides comprehensive advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through a centralized consulting team that delivers non-discretionary, research-based retirement income recommendations.

Richard Sharp Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Aurora, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2010 and previously spent three years with Edward Jones. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a broad network to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, employing a variety of investment strategies and advisor support tools.

Joseph Backlund is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2014, with a prior role at Connor Group from 2019 to 2021. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in the sports collectibles market, planning to sell items through trade shows and online platforms. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services mainly to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, offering asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative modeling and centralized due diligence, incorporates an ESG eligibility framework, and operates within the broader J.P. Morgan banking organization.

Jorn Erik Madsen is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Edward Jones and Mutual of Omaha. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs. The firm uses a variety of advisory models and third-party managers to deliver services, covering mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and select alternative investments.

Stephanie Ross is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors since 2025. Her prior roles include six years at Edward Jones and leadership of Stephanie Hartke Agency, Ltd., an insurance agency she managed until 2019. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network offers investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutions, utilizing proprietary research and planning tools to create tailored recommendations across various planning areas including retirement, education, and business-owner transition planning.

Jeffrey Kellett is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 40 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Grove Point Investments, Grove Point Advisors, H. Beck, Inc., and The Financial Group, where he has worked since 1984. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions supported by proprietary research and third-party subadvisors.

Matthew Kewenig is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Aurora, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009. 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 financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, combining a broad range of advisory and non-advisory financial services through its extensive network of investment adviser representatives.

James Ward is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Yorkville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2003. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in rental real estate ownership. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, managing over $1 trillion in assets through a large nationwide network of advisors and branches.