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 license and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2012 and is also associated with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, Fenby is involved in life insurance brokerage as a Regional Marketing Director for Penn Mutual and as Senior Vice President at Insurance Wholesale Solutions, as well as owning Fenby Life Insurance Planning. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans by offering advisory services through third-party asset manager platforms, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes client-directed implementation and oversight, managing the majority of its client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

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.

Michael Leonetti is a CFP® with over 31 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with HighTower Advisors since 2017 and previously led Leonetti & Associates, LLC for 11 years. Based in Buffalo Grove, IL, Leonetti holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. HighTower Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a multi-manager approach with both affiliated and third-party managers, employing proprietary research and a broad range of investment options.

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 financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets, serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and charitable and educational organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of firm-developed and third-party model strategies across various asset types, with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee and a distinctive operational structure that includes custody and clearance capabilities alongside a primary clearing relationship with Pershing.

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® professional with over 14 years of experience in financial advisory roles. She has worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2019 and previously spent nine years at Jackson Financial Management. Outside of her advisory work, she consults on data entry for physical therapy visits at Tomson Rehab. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using a range of investment vehicles and offers various related financial planning and consulting services.

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 Brandt Financial Concepts, a firm he has been involved with since 1983. Outside of his advisory work, Brandt serves as a FEMA-certified trainer for the Community Emergency Response Team and holds leadership positions in local organizations including a homeowners association and the Palatine Fire Pension Board. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing various investment platforms and third-party managers, with approximately $11.3 billion in regulatory assets under management.

James Wormley is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Woodstock, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies that include firm-developed and third-party models with periodic strategic reviews.

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.

Tyrone Ball is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network based in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes eight years at Edward D. Jones & Co. L.P. and four years at Best Energy LLC. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides advisory programs, technology, and operational support while offering a variety of investment solutions, including discretionary model portfolios and customized program structures.

Megan Anderson is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Golden Technology and Randstad Technologies. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment management services that include firm-developed and third-party model 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.

Kelly Tischart is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has 34 years of industry experience, having worked previously at LPL Financial and Ameriprise Financial Services. Outside of her advisory role, she is associated with a retail business specializing in collectible merchandise such as baseball cards and coins. The Huntington Investment Company serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities by offering advisory and brokerage services through multiple wrap-fee programs on the Envestnet MAS platform. The firm uses an open-architecture model that includes third-party sub-managers and proprietary Private Bank models, providing portfolio management and related services primarily through percentage-of-assets wrap fees.

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 at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 49 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Juengling has been with Independent Financial Group since 2010 and has owned Juengling & Associates, an insurance agency, since 1972. He is also a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and has served on the Illinois Legislative Council since 2016. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides brokerage, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers advisory programs through its AccessPoint platform and third-party asset managers, serving a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients.

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 11 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of The Sanders Law Firm, where he provides legal services including real estate closing advice and estate planning. His work history includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered investment approach that combines model portfolios from multiple sources with discretionary management and financial planning services.