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.

Brent Griffin is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Edward Jones, Merrill Lynch, and JP Morgan Securities. Outside of advising, he is the owner of The Soap Boxx Company, which holds his household product invention, and serves as a board member for the Legacy Reentry Foundation. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes customized, primarily long-term investment portfolios and offers a range of wealth management and financial planning services supported by affiliations with sub-advisors and integrated platform solutions.

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 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.

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.

Preeti Gupta is an advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and currently located in Wheeling, IL. She has been with Fifth Third Bank since 2022 and joined Fifth Third Securities in 2026. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account platform, allowing clients to select strategies tailored to their risk profiles.

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.

Timothy Reid is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Arlington Heights, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including roles at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLIFE Securities LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through multiple program types and focuses primarily on non-discretionary assets, working within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

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.

Kyle Odeshoo is a financial advisor at Carson Wealth with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Carson Wealth and the March McLennan Agency. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $50.6 billion through a network of over 650 advisors. The firm serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and tailored investment solutions supported by a dedicated Investment Committee.

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.

George Yost is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill, BANK of AMERICA, N.A., Old National Bank, and LPL Financial. Yost served in the United States Marine Corps for two years. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a mix of fundamental, technical, and quantitative strategies, with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

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.