Eric O'Neill is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in New Lenox, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2018, he worked at Cetera Advisor Networks from 2013 to 2018 and has been self-employed since 1996. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in tax preparation and accounting services through his Financial ServiCenter business. 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, offering a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and institutional platform solutions.

Kristen Rose is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies, and manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Katie Groves is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Channahon, Illinois. She holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience, including five years at Rayjus prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than 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, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Lara Stehlik is a Benefits & Planning Consultant in Executive Services at Fidelity Investments. She has been with Fidelity since 2021, progressing from Financial Consultant to Planning Consultant before her current role, which she began in 2024. Prior to joining Fidelity, Lara worked as a Financial Advisor and Branch Office Administrator at Edward Jones from 2016 to 2021, and as a Relationship Manager at JPMorgan Chase from 2014 to 2016. Throughout her career, Lara has focused on helping clients build financial plans tailored to their goals, leveraging the tools and resources available through her roles. Her experience spans various aspects of financial advising and planning, emphasizing client support and benefits consultation. Outside of her professional work, Lara enjoys board games, fitness activities, hiking, social events with friends, and volunteering.

Jacky Smith is a financial advisor at Stifel with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2007 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member on the Economic Development Advisory Board in Orland Park, IL. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group, which focus on capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to inform asset allocation and planning analyses.

Michael Shackel is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2002. In addition to his advisory role, Shackel serves as the Supervisor on the Lemont Township Board in Cook County, Illinois, overseeing government operations and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, providing comprehensive written recommendations across multiple financial planning areas. The firm focuses on holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account services while maintaining them as separate engagements.

Sophia Diforti is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she worked at Riverside School District 96 and the University of Mississippi Physics Department. She also has experience in recreational and hospitality roles. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, offering services that include discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Brianne Wolf is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has worked with multiple firms including Avantax Advisory Services and 1st Global Capital, and serves as Vice-President and Accounting Manager at Bill Hickey & Associates, Inc. Outside of her financial advisory work, she operates a direct sales business selling women's and children's clothing. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm offering services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm serves individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients with a multi-manager platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Benjamin Heiler is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial in Plainfield, IL. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2015 and has prior experience at Heartland Bank and Trust Company and Decatur Earthmover Credit Union. Heiler is also involved in his family business, Silver Creek Gaming Lounge, Inc. 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 wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Michael Murphy is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with a Series 66 designation and 0 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles in food and beverage and design industries. 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 broad range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a network of over 22,800 advisors.

Christopher Smith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Mokena, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by various investment strategies and operational tools.

Luke Brady is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2024. Prior to his financial services career, he held positions at Ecolab and Viskase. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by offering a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and investment models.

Mark Pingul is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BMO Harris Financial Advisors and Edward Jones. From 2016 to 2018, he worked at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives, offering a range of financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

John Demarco is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with Avantax entities for a decade and currently owns Strategize Home Solutions LLC, a referral marketing business for mortgages. John also serves as treasurer for The Cruisin' Tigers GTO Club, a membership organization for Pontiac automobile enthusiasts that hosts an annual car show. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a large network of independent advisors serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Ashley Finney is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, JP Morgan Securities LLC, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Outside of advising, she is the owner and maker of The Red House Designs, creating and selling handmade designs at farmers markets and online. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a range of multi-asset model portfolios supported by centralized supervision and custodial services.

Ryan Carey is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2022. In his role, he focuses on assessing clients' financial situations, collaborating with them to develop tailored financial plans, and implementing those plans while monitoring progress to ensure alignment with their goals. He has 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, having held various financial consultant and planning consultant positions. Prior to his current role, he worked at Fidelity Investments as a Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2022, at Merrill Edge as a Premier Life Services Relationship Consultant from 2018 to 2021, at LPL Financial as a Financial Consultant from 2016 to 2018, at World Equity Group as a Financial Consultant from 2014 to 2016, and at J.W. Cole Financial as a Financial Consultant from 2006 to 2014.

Danielle Burton is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at LPL Financial and Opus Wealth Partners, and she has operated her own business, Homes & Heritage LLC, for over a decade. She is also a partner in a cryptocurrency mining venture where she monitors software and maintains hardware. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform, featuring both discretionary and non-discretionary programs with access to affiliated and third-party money managers.

Thomas Solis is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Orland Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside the financial industry, he was involved with Allegrettis Ristorante for four years. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process integrates centralized due diligence combining quantitative and qualitative research with an ESG eligibility framework.

Alec Gerlach is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been working since 2025. He has developed his career within the same company, holding various roles including Investment Consultant from 2024 to 2025, Planning Consultant from 2023 to 2024, Relationship Manager from 2022 to 2023, and Financial Representative from 2020 to 2022. In his current role, Alec partners with clients to build financial plans aimed at helping them achieve their life goals. He focuses on ensuring that clients not only understand and feel confident in their financial plans, but also feel secure about their future.

Heather Ziron is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Palos Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2016 and previously spent five years with Wells Fargo Clearing. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs tailored to clients’ risk profiles and uses a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers to implement portfolio strategies.