Stephen Sumeraj is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with PNC Investments since 2012. Outside his advisory role, he operates ESBE Auctions as a sole proprietor, a non-investment related business. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering for employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven model selection and delegates portfolio implementation to third parties, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Stephen Muto is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2019, following previous roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Whitnell & Co. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm manages customized portfolios through an internal team and third-party managers, and is notable for its integration of tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Pawel Gacek is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently with Mariner. He previously worked at Urban Financial Advisory Corp from 2015 to 2021 before joining Mariner in 2021. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Kyle Bakhshi is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair since 2021 and previously spent seven years at Nuveen. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm uses an active, research-driven investment approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, and provides proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Molly Powers is a CFP® professional at Creative Planning with five years of industry experience. She has worked previously at Sageview Advisory Group, Capital Strategies Investment Group, and Forum Financial Management. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market exposure.

Daniel Larson is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Securities LLC, LPL Financial, BMO Harris Bank, and RTS Financial. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, combining large institutional scale with unique market roles.

Robert Basile is a CFP® with 8 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2021. He previously worked at Fifth Third Private Bank for nine years and The AYCO Company, L.P./Mercer Allied for seventeen years. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds with investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to pooled vehicles and third-party managers. The firm combines customized portfolio management with integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness services.

Ramesh Poola is a CFA charterholder and financial advisor at Creative Planning with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at IRON Financial, LLC for eleven years before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental tactics such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Wesley Barnes is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner since 2025. He previously worked at Hightower Advisors and Hightower Securities, LLC from 2008 to 2022 and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Barnes is involved in managing a group of doughnut franchise locations and serves on the board of United Way Northwest Indiana. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through comprehensive investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm emphasizes discretionary, customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee, integrating in-house research with third-party managers, and offers distinctive tax, accounting, and administrative CFO services.

Maria Burger is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with First Command and related entities since 2017 and is the business owner of MVB Financial Services, LLC. Burger also serves as president and board member of the West Point Society of Chicago, a nonprofit supporting the United States Military Academy, admissions, and alumni. Additionally, she provides consulting services to chemical and manufacturing companies through the Gerson Lehrman Group. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed centrally by an Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers, using a disciplined manager selection process and established platforms for portfolio administration and custody.

Alexander Kapusta is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Mariner, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Horizon Wealth Management and Kam's, as well as work with Butterfield Country Club and the United States Soccer Federation. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager access and offers integrated tax, family office, and financial wellness services alongside traditional portfolio management.

James Hamman is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1997. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Jennifer Heid is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with First Command in various capacities since 2010. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, delivering investment management through a centralized team that selects and manages model portfolios and third-party managers.

Ann Marie Cudzilo is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Transamerica Capital, Inc., Diversified Investors Securities Corp., and First Command Financial Planning. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs that utilize model portfolios and third-party managers selected by an internal Investment Management Team.

Bradley Buening is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. He served in the United States Air Force from 2001 to 2023 before transitioning to roles within First Command, including insurance, advisory, and brokerage services. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing centralized portfolio management and prescreened third-party managers within an employee-owned structure.

Jeffery Berenson is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with NewEdge Advisors. His prior work includes six years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Orland Park, where he helps manage financial statements and supports local charitable activities. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a broad range of portfolio management and consulting services. The firm employs multiple program structures and integrates technology and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

Daniyal Ahmed is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Cetera Planning Partners and has previously worked at firms including Avantax Planning Partners, Avantax Insurance Services, and Honkamp Krueger Financial Services. His background includes roles in financial planning and client advisory services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm provides a diversified investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance, supported by a range of ancillary services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning solutions.

Eric Walania is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair And Company, L.L.C. since 2004. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Western Springs, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Nader Maalouf is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Citibank, Uber, J.P. Morgan Securities, and AXA Advisors. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs, broker-dealer execution, and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, leveraging both internal oversight and external partnerships to manage client portfolios.

Patricia Reilly is a financial advisor at William Blair with 30 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1989. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm uses active, research-driven management across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.