Michael Seidler is a financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and eight years of industry experience. He has worked previously at Bankers Life and Bankers Life Securities, and currently also serves as an associate and investment advisor representative at Burling Wealth Advisors Inc. in addition to his role at Gradient Advisors. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm operates primarily through a network of investment advisor representatives and third-party money managers, employing a largely non-discretionary model that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in portfolio construction.

David Deschamps is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Corient. His prior experience includes roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC, Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., and KRM Financial Services. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, using a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and customized asset allocation. The firm offers specialized services including family office, tax, and corporate trustee services, and manages affiliated private fund platforms.

Alan Flota is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Elgin, Illinois. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies and affiliated entities in 2025, he worked for over three decades in the School District U-46. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, managing a significant portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

David Hanson is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 46 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, Hanson is a minority partner in a partnership involved in land ownership, farming, and wetland creation, and he owns a farm property management business in Wheaton, IL. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, institutions, and retirement plans through various fee-based wrap programs and investment management services. The firm utilizes a range of model strategies and portfolios, combined with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by an internal trading desk and a centralized Investment Strategy Committee.

Brandi Ruffalo is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns Valuation & Forensic Partners, LLC, which provides business valuation, litigation, and divorce consulting services. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate and pension plans. The firm employs a combination of firm- and third-party investment models and utilizes both passive and active management across multiple risk profiles.

Kristina Denton is a financial advisor at Corient with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Corient and its affiliated entities since 2022, following eight years at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Justin Wilson is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2006. He also has concurrent experience with Fifth Third Bank over the same period. 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 combines its municipal-advisor registration with a corporate affiliation to a large bank, offering multiple discretionary managed-account options, including direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Janet Redding is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013, following prior roles at Legend Advisory, Oberweis Securities, and Ameritas Investment Company. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a longstanding focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and access to model portfolios and third-party managers, supported by an in-house investment research team and a layered service model involving independent advisors and external managers.

Scott Farwell is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2022. Prior to that, he was with TD Ameritrade for five years and Edge Financial Advisors for one year. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, and is notable for its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Stacy O'Brien is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley for 11 years before joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in wholesale and distribution sales through Zyia Active. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies managed by advisors and third parties, supported by comprehensive custody, trading, and operational services.

Michael McKevitt is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and previously worked at LPL Financial starting in 2008. McKevitt operates under the trade name Purposeful Wealth, Inc. for his investment advisory services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based model that incorporates a range of investment strategies and technology platforms, often utilizing third-party managers and proprietary solutions like WealthSuite.

Joseph Foltz is a CFP® with six years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Corient. His prior experience includes roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and several other financial and educational organizations. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Thomas Love is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Invesco and has held various positions including roles at YoungLife, Samaritan's Purse, and Wheaton College. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, institutions, and retirement plans through a variety of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management services. The firm offers multiple investment strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee and combines custody, execution, and advisory services under one platform.

Justin Ancona is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and LPL Financial. Outside of advisory services, he owns a business called Pickleball Journey. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies and integrates technology platforms to support estate planning and asset aggregation.

Richard Kuzniar is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2017. Prior to that, he worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors for over a decade. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing a range of discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Amanda Czosek is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. She has worked with AE Wealth Management since 2016 and is also the owner and president of Jager Financial Services. Additionally, she serves as a board member for the National Alliance on Student Loan Debt. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-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 approach featuring model portfolios, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and specialized plan services.

Brian Sutherland is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Oxbow Financial, TSFG, LPL Financial, and Perdoceo Education Corporation. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-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 approach with model portfolios, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and plan services, supported by an internal Investment Consulting Group and various licensing and sub-advisory programs.

John Sias is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 24 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Edward Jones from 2002 to 2018 and LPL Financial since 2018. He provides investment advisory services through NewEdge Advisors, an independent registered investment advisor firm. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

Eric Freckman is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and previously spent over two decades at LPL Financial, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, Mr. Freckman serves as a notary public. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and managed account solutions. The firm employs a fiduciary-based model, utilizing a variety of strategies and technology platforms while often implementing advice through third-party managers and tactical asset management programs.

Grace Bossert is a CFP® professional at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with two years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Mercer Global Advisors since 2021, as well as positions at MOKA and T. Anton Investment House. Outside of finance, she was involved with Rags Consignments for five years. 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’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts, complemented by financial planning, retirement consulting, tax support, and estate-planning coordination.