William Melka is a financial advisor at William Blair with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with William Blair since 2014. 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 proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Kari Beyer is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in St. Charles, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Wells Fargo Clearing, and A.G. Edwards & Sons. She serves on the board of the Waterford Oaks Home Association, where she participates in budgeting and landscaping oversight. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of services such as financial planning, investment management, and advisory programs, employing proprietary strategies alongside third-party models.

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 his own firm, Brandt Financial Concepts. Outside of his advisory work, Brandt volunteers as a FEMA-certified trainer for disaster preparedness and serves as president of a homeowners association and a trustee on the Palatine Fire Pension Board. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, utilizing both firm- and third-party models that combine strategic asset allocation with ongoing manager due diligence.

Clayton Eaton is a financial advisor with T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience, all with T. Rowe Price since 2013. T. Rowe Price Advisory Services offers a retirement-focused advisory program that combines nondiscretionary financial planning, retirement income planning, and discretionary investment management. The firm serves individual investors and households, utilizing model portfolios invested exclusively in T. Rowe Price mutual funds and ETFs, with features such as tax-aware rebalancing and Monte Carlo-based retirement income projections.

Matthew Kling is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Saint Charles, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Knights of Columbus Assets Advisors LLC and Knights of Columbus Insurance for a combined total of 14 years. He serves as a board member and trustee for the Edward J. Baker Foundation & Henry Rockwell Baker Memorial Community Center, a nonprofit community organization. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Lindsay Foster is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has previously worked at Calamos Financial Services LLC for 17 years before joining Kestra Investment Services, LLC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors as well as institutional and individual clients, offering a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and due diligence-supported investment recommendations. The firm serves a diverse client base that includes large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Jeffrey Stensland is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds the PFS™ designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 35 years of industry experience, including over 20 years with Kestra Investment Services and a decade at Kestra Advisory. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of AFS Group Ltd., which provides administrative support. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of institutional and individual clients, including large plan sponsors. The firm provides services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advisory, with a client base that includes sovereign wealth funds and other large investors.

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.

Craig Morgan Jr. is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards since 2017 and previously held positions at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that combine proprietary and third-party strategies.

Mark Diorio is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2015 and previously worked at Parasol Investment Management, LLC and Pennant Management Inc. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes a range of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and a variety of investment vehicles, operating a turnkey asset management platform and offering discretionary portfolio management through advisor representatives and sub-advisory roles.

James Alexander is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and has previously worked at Edge Portfolio Management, TD Ameritrade Investment Management, and Scottrade. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services and uses a client-specific investment framework that combines proprietary quantitative screening and manager selection with access to alternative and private market solutions.

Robert Strobel III is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 36 years of industry experience. He currently works at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has been since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He serves as a board member for the Towne Place West Homeowners Association in Schaumburg, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management consulting using proprietary and third-party strategies.

Joshua Schultz is a financial advisor at RBC Rochdale, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at CNR Securities, LLC, Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner and general manager of a floor coating installation franchise, Egebrecht & Schultz Enterprises, LLC, which he co-owns with his wife. RBC Rochdale serves a diverse client base including high net worth individuals, corporations, and government entities. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process combining quantitative and fundamental analysis, and manages portfolios across various asset classes using proprietary tools and third-party sub-advisors.

James Juengling is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Dundee, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 50 years of industry experience and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2010. Since 1972, he has also owned and operated Juengling & Associates, providing various types of insurance. Juengling has been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors since 1973 and is involved with the Illinois Legislative Council. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes firm- and third-party models for portfolio management, combining strategic asset allocation with ongoing due diligence across a mix of passive and active exposures.

Craig Morgan is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 50 years of experience in the industry. His prior roles include positions at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, Xelan Financial Planning, Inc., and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, investment management, brokerage, insurance products, and certain M&A advisory services.

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 12 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 prior work includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm uses discretionary model portfolios and a variety of analytical methods to implement investment decisions, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

Richard Kasher is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is also the sole owner of Diversified Tax Services, Inc., where he serves as an officer and director providing accounting and tax consulting services. Kasher is involved in consulting engagements related to business valuation and forensic analysis. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model-driven investment approach combining passive and active strategies, with portfolio management and financial planning delivered through multiple platforms and third-party asset managers.

Robert Richardson is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Integrity Alliance, LLC and has held roles at firms including IZALE Financial Group and Lion Street Financial. Outside of advisory work, he owns and operates an online retail store through Cultivated Community LLC. Integrity Alliance, LLC is a large advisor network serving a diverse client base that includes individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of advisory programs, employing various allocation strategies through discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers.

Linda Diebold is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with 27 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. She previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. for 27 years and has been affiliated with Honkamp Krueger Financial Services and Diebold & Associates during her career. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning through a third-party provider, and integrates resources from the broader Cetera network.

Edward Meek is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cerity Partners LLC since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Alpha Cubed Investments, Edge Portfolio Management, and Fidelity. In addition to his advisory work, he is also an independent agent selling life, health, and disability insurance. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services through a client-specific investment framework that incorporates proprietary quantitative screening, manager selection, and access to alternative and private market solutions.