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.

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.

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.

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.

Connor Simios is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. He has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at Vermillion Financial Advisors and Willow Creek Community Church. He joined Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in 2025. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting through a network of advisors, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

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.

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.

Daniel Ogrodny is a financial advisor at Mariner with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2021, following prior roles at Arlington Wealth Management and The Planning Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering customized investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations and provides integrated tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory enterprises.

Jordan Beadle is a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Mariner since 2018, including the firm's current Oakbrook Terrace, IL office. Prior to joining Mariner, he worked at VS Technology, Inc. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and institutional accounts, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm combines customized discretionary portfolios with in-house research and third-party managers, and it integrates tax and accounting services along with administrative family office and financial wellness capabilities.

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.

Jonathan Baker is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient, where he has worked since 2022, following prior roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz and CIPW Service Company. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and specialized offerings such as family office and trustee services.

Allison Kollar is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She is currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and previously worked at Bordeaux Wealth Advisors and Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using a blend of active and passive strategies, quantitative and fundamental analysis, and integrates legacy strategies across its portfolio management.

James Vanderbilt is a Certified Financial Planner® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. His prior work includes over 25 years with Securities America Advisors, Inc. and two years at LPL Financial. Vanderbilt also holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and leverages technology platforms to provide portfolio management, estate planning, and third-party referrals.

Heather Locus is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently with Corient, where she has worked since 2022, following a 22-year tenure at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and utilizes various risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

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.

Geoffrey Brown is a CFP® with eight years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors and previously worked at Kovitz Securities, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, JMG Financial Group, and Northern Trust Company. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal management team and external managers, and provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office services uncommon in large advisory enterprises.

Gregory Kojak is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been operating Kojak Capital since 2004 alongside his role at Commonwealth. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and manages over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.