Mark Gerard is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Rockford, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab since 2013. Gerard serves as a board member for the Pheasant Ridge Homeowners Association and participates in local government through the Village of Fontana Fire & Police Commission and as secretary for a homeowners association. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offering comprehensive wealth advisory, brokerage, custody, and financial planning services. The firm employs a primarily non-discretionary client relationship model, combined with access to discretionary separately managed accounts through its affiliate, Charles Schwab Investment Management.

Virgie Taylor is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. She has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2020 and previously was employed by Associated Bank and Alpine Bank/Midland States Bank. She is based in Rockford, IL, and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with tailored portfolio management and financial planning services, leveraging both in-house and third-party investment managers.

David Casalena is the Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill's Rockford, IL office. He joined Merrill in 1992 and leads a team that works with individuals and families navigating significant life transitions, such as retirement, home purchases, divorce, or the death of a spouse. David also has extensive experience assisting clients with the distribution options of employer-sponsored plans and company stock plans, including business owners and corporate executives with substantial stock options. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. David's advisory approach involves helping clients prioritize their essential goals, wishes, and concerns to foster confident financial decisions, protect their financial lifestyle, and manage investment risk thoughtfully. David is active in his community, serving as Chair of the Rosecrance Health Network's Foundation Board and coaching youth baseball and hockey in Rockford. He is also a board member of Rosecrance, Inc. David resides in Rockford with his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Saxon and Kash.

David Licary is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Roscoe, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 certifications and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at several firms including Strategic Wealth Management, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Securities America Advisors. Licary is also a co-owner of Strategic Wealth Management, a private entity focused on securities, advisory, and insurance business. 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 institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management programs and combines advisory services with non-advisory financial products and partnerships.

Jason Crouch is a financial advisor with Stifel in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel since 2018 and previously spent five years at B.C. Ziegler and Company. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide investment analysis and allocation guidance intended to support client decision-making.

Fred Belknap is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Rockford, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at SPC, Sigma Financial Corporation, and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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, supported by advanced operational tools and oversight of substantial discretionary assets.

Gary Love is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth since 2026. His prior experience includes sixteen years at Robert W. Baird & Co. INC. and roles at Klaas Financial Asset Advisors, Investacorp Advisory Services, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Principal Financial Services. He also participates on the Investment and Finance Committee of Rockford Christian Church. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse clientele including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients through a multi-advisor platform that offers brokerage and advisory services. The firm employs a model-based investment process emphasizing asset allocation and portfolio optimization, and it is notable for its large scale, complex affiliate network, and recent consolidation activity.

Holly Mathiesen is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and over 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at Thrivent Investment Management and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans since 2003. Outside of her financial advisory role, she occasionally performs as a musician, singing or playing instruments primarily in church settings. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, providing goal-based analyses and written recommendations across various financial planning topics. The firm allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option but does not provide discretionary trading authority for its planning services.

Ryan Jeffrey is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, with a large national network of advisors and branches.

Ken Bhatt is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Rockford, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2004. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement, focusing on clients with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide written, non-discretionary recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

Robert Custer is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation. He has been with Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2026. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he worked in various roles at Abnormal AI, Forcepoint, Evolve Security, and Coyote Logistics. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that offers advisory programs and tailored financial planning to both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process utilizing tools such as Monte Carlo simulations and the Global Investment Committee’s Secular Return Estimates.

Andre Irlbeck is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Regal Investment Advisors and currently serves as Director of Investments at Rohlík Financial Group. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers, with over $256 billion in assets under management across a broad network of advisors.

Michael White Jr. is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge since 2020 and previously held roles at VOYA Financial Advisors and Stancorp Investment Advisers. White is also an independent insurance agent and a partner at Waterside Financial Advisors, which provides CPA, enrolled agent, tax preparation, and accounting services. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients by offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm supports discretionary and non-discretionary management through multiple platforms and maintains proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Ann Ragnar is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Janesville, WI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in managing an independent advisory business, Fitzgerald Wealth Management, where she works as a paraplanner. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored written recommendations. The firm serves a broad client base through advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Bryan Orvis is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2004 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Assistant Financial Secretary for the St Anthony of Padua Church Holy Name Society in Rockford, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Brian Aarvig is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Rockford, IL, with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2009 and specifically at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs that include tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

James Meisch is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 38 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured discovery processes and firm-approved planning tools in its financial planning approach.

Tonya Kalodimos is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015, with additional experience at BMO Harris Financial Advisors. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of Wealth Advisors, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research with forward-looking capital market assumptions to build model asset allocations.

Michael Oberheim is a financial advisor with LPL Financial holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BMO Harris Financial Advisors, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Chase Investment Services Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-promoter of Midwest Premier, a trade show 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 with access to model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive operational tools and a large network of over 22,800 advisors.

Sarah Johnson is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Rockford, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and totaling 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entity since 2012. Outside of her advisory work, she serves on the Board of Directors for Gigi's Playhouse Rockford, a nonprofit organization. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement income planning advice through a collaborative, non-discretionary approach employing proprietary research and third-party data.