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.

Katelyn Depew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm follows an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.

Sarah Tobolski is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2017 and previously spent three years at DiMeo Schneider. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm applies active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Scott Biestek is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He serves as principal of Biestek Wealth Management, LLC, active since 2017, and also works as an attorney through his own law office since 2009. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing approximately $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad platform including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, retirement consulting, and custody services.

Sandra Nies is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Huntington National Bank, Park Avenue Investment Advisory, River Street Advisors, Old Second National Bank, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs on the Passageway platform, utilizing multiple third-party portfolio managers and strategies such as SMA, tax-overlay, and direct indexing.

John Rousos is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Highland Capital Brokerage and Investacorp Advisory Services. He is also involved in wholesaling and insurance-related activities through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Christopher Karam is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Independent Financial Partners since 2011 and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Sheridan Road Financial, LLC. Karam also serves as a Supervisor of Cuba Township in Barrington, Illinois, overseeing the township’s operations and finances. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform focused on individualized investment strategies and is noted for its retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Kyle Odeshoo is a financial advisor with CWM, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his industry career in 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Carson Wealth and March McLennan Agency. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser operating an enterprise platform with more than 650 advisors and overseeing approximately $50.6 billion. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, variable sub-account management, sub-advisory relationships, and retirement plan services, supported by an Investment Committee that constructs and monitors model portfolios using fundamental and technical inputs.

Sharon Zumstein is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. She is currently with Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services, having previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Merrill, and TD Ameritrade. Zumstein also holds an Illinois real estate license and works as an independent contractor with Century 21. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services through Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm’s approach includes point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Annette Hammortree is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities since 2005, with a brief tenure at MSI Financial Services. Beyond her advisory role, she serves on the boards of PACT, Inc. and Lifes Plan Inc., organizations that provide trustee services and support to people with disabilities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides tailored client solutions including financial planning, consulting, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory programs.

Katharine Lois is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for six years. 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 a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that combine proprietary strategies and third-party model providers.

Allison Swanson is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with one year of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Creative Planning, she worked at Sageview Advisory Group and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of financial advising, she provides private softball pitching lessons through her business, Coach A Softball Stars. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led approach that integrates low-cost indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market exposure.

Jessica Park is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at JWFS Equities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and PNC Bank. She has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions.

Sarah Lall is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options, including direct indexing and tax-overlay services, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Satya Rangaraju is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ample Wealth Strategies LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance brokering through International Insurance Agency Inc. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Scott Svoboda is a financial advisor at Farther with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Royal Fund Management, LLC DBA Tru Financial Strategies. Svoboda is also president of Svoboda Financial Group, Inc., where he operates an independent insurance agency focused on fixed annuities, Medicare supplements, life insurance, and long-term care. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios or bespoke allocations, algorithmic rebalancing, and a selection of exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Marzena Hanek is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. and Invest Financial Corporation. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies.

Jason Giambarberee is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. He has been with the firm since 2026 and has previous experience in real estate sales. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Thomas Herzing is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has been with Mercer since 2015. 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 nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts, supported by various implementation options and a range of affiliated service lines.