Brandi Ruffalo is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is the owner of The Business Development Company, which provides administrative and bookkeeping services. Ruffalo is also involved in business valuation and forensic consulting through Valuation & Forensic Partners, LLC. 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 brokerage, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services through a national network of Investment Adviser Representatives and utilizes multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers.

John Pestikas is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC investments since 2009. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account accessible to employees with existing PNC Bank online credentials. Their approach uses approved strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs, relying on algorithmic risk assessments and delegating portfolio management and proxy voting to third parties.

Jerome O’Reilly is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He worked for Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. for 20 years before joining PlanMember and Vista Financial Group Ltd., both since 2016. He operates Vista Financial Group Ltd. and provides insurance sales and services as a licensed Insurance Producer. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as an ERISA 3(38) fiduciary for many plans and offering participant-level investment options. The firm uses a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and risk-based mutual fund portfolios, supported by education, seminars, and personalized retirement planning.

Marjory Blackmer is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Global Retirement Partners, LPL Financial, Kestra Financial Services, and Strategic Retirement Partners. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed outside the United States. The firm’s advisory services include direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Michael McKevitt is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015. He has also been associated with LPL Financial since 2008. McKevitt operates under the business name Purposeful Wealth, Inc. for providing investment advice through Private Advisor Group. Private Advisor Group, LLC manages over $41 billion across more than 135,000 client relationships, offering services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate and retirement plan clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party asset management programs, with an investment approach that incorporates asset allocation, fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis, and various strategy time horizons.

Steven Whiting II is a Series 66-licensed advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors and has been in the industry since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Wfgia, American Airlines Group Inc., National Airlines, FedEx, and United Airlines. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios, with a range of discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Stevany Williamson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and various mortgage-related roles. Before her financial services career, she managed a salon and spa for three years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, with services closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Terrence Crowley is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 42 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a caregiver for his disabled son. NewEdge Advisors is a large registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a diverse range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing centralized due diligence and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

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.

Gerald Gilbertson is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2010. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Mount Prospect, IL. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Donald Cafero Sr. is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 42 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with TLG Advisors, Inc. He has worked at several firms including The Leaders Group Inc and Highland Capital Brokerage. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance brokerage through The Cafero Group and works as a point of sale and wholesale specialist with FSG. 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 services such as portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Their investment approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, with a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios that tailors portfolios based on client risk profiles.

Eric Freckman is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015, following a 22-year tenure at LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Freckman is also a notary public. Private Advisor Group, LLC is an SEC-registered firm managing over $41 billion across more than 135,000 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate and retirement plan clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party asset management programs.

David Ferrante is a financial advisor at William Blair with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Goldman Sachs in 2023. Outside of finance, he has been involved with Huntley Community School District 158 and Northwestern University since 2014. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

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.

Joshua Walters is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. and has previously worked at firms including LPL Financial LLC, Calamos Wealth Management, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional clients, offering services such as financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting. The firm provides advice through multiple program structures, mainly delivering non-discretionary recommendations where clients approve transactions.

Dennis Anderson is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2013. He is also the owner of a grain and livestock farm in Viola, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of investment management and financial planning services through fee-based wrap programs that incorporate both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Rod Russell is a financial advisor at Farther with 13 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at BNY Mellon and J.P. Morgan. Outside of his advisory role, he coordinates property development at Lake Roots Holdings, LLC. Farther provides discretionary investment management and related advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates, using a platform that combines proprietary model portfolios with algorithmic rebalancing and AI tools. The firm’s approach emphasizes Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Nicholas Bova is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently advising at &Partners since 2026. Prior to joining &Partners, he spent 13 years with Wells Fargo. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers investment management, financial and tax planning, and consulting services through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing a range of proprietary and third-party strategies.

Donna Gordon is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners with 14 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Independent Financial Partners and affiliated firms since 2019, following seven years at Signature Financial Services, Ltd and Signature Advisors Group. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.