Paul Skowronski is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, he specializes in areas such as college education planning, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. Paul holds several professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Paul earned both his Bachelor's degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from DePaul University. He is involved with professional organizations such as the Bull Valley Golf Club and the Union League Club. Additionally, he contributes to the community as a mentor in the Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) program at DePaul University. Outside of his professional work, Paul enjoys playing baseball, gardening, golfing, listening to music, reading, and spending time with his family.

Sumita Mishra is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2018 and previously spent four years with School District U-46. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Jianxiong Peng is a financial advisor at Cetera with a Series 66 license. He has been associated with Cetera and its affiliated entities since 2025, and was previously involved with LNP Consultants LLC since 2009. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with diverse portfolio management options and operates a large network of independent advisors.

Altynai Sulaimanova is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has experience with firms including PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services, and also has involvement in tax-related businesses. Sulaimanova's background includes roles in accounting and logistics. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm offers model-delivery investment strategies primarily managed by unaffiliated asset managers and operates with approximately 3,935 advisors and about $15.5 billion in assets under management.

Brittany Hafferkamp is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022, she worked at Paychex, Inc. for nine years. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services using proprietary research and tools, delivering tailored recommendations through meetings and client summary letters.

Dorothy Murdock is a financial advisor at Cetera with 8 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including MML Investors Services and New York Life Insurance Co. Outside of her advisory role, she is an owner of Selah Ridge Wealth and is active as an insurance agent selling fixed insurance and health insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform that includes portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers, managing over $256 billion in assets through a network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Janine Chun is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2022. She has over a decade of experience with Fidelity, having held various positions within the firm since 2012. Her previous roles include Planning Consultant, Relationship Manager, High Net Worth Service Representative, and Financial Representative at the Regional Center. Throughout her career at Fidelity, Janine has developed expertise in utilizing the firm's tools and resources to create customized financial plans that align with clients' individual needs. She emphasizes building relationships based on integrity to assist clients and their families in working toward their financial goals.

Charles Menges is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Korpack, Merkle Korff Industries (a Nidec Company), Golfcritique.com, D&W Fine Pack, and Menges Roller Company. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific eligibility criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to generate tailored retirement income recommendations.

Jeremy Piwnicki is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, and Citigroup Global Markets from 2004 to 2009. He is based in Crystal Lake, IL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individuals and institutional clients by offering a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and scenario modeling as part of its advisory process.

Samuel Ruiz is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he collaborates with advisors to assist their clients in achieving financial clarity and confidence. He provides personalized guidance and planning services, helping individuals navigate key financial decisions, including retirement and investment strategies as well as long-term goal setting. His role focuses on simplifying complex financial topics and delivering actionable insights to empower clients throughout their financial journey. Samuel has held multiple positions at Fidelity Investments, beginning as a Financial Representative from 2023 to 2025, then serving as a Relationship Manager in 2025, before assuming his current role as Planning Consultant in 2025. Through these roles, he has developed experience in supporting clients and advisors with financial planning and relationship management. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Samuel enjoys skiing, tennis, and traveling.

Robert Gajewski Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He has held roles at Edward Jones since 2018 and previously worked at Service Printing Corporation and Trend Graphics Inc. He holds the Series 66 designation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, investment strategies, and affiliated services supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.

Ashley Childress is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services, holding a Series 66 designation and with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining UBS, Ashley worked in various roles including coaching junior alpine ski racers at Wilmot Mountain, a seasonal position held since 2021. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory services, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans. The firm combines wealth management with institutional trading capabilities and provides a broad range of capital markets services.

Jennifer Curtiss is a Series 66-licensed advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Robert W. Baird since 2008. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of the Picnic Grove Homeowners' Association and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Fox River Grove. She is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies and both in-house and third-party managers.

Mark Lessert is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with NAPCO Inc., a manufacturing company in Naperville, Illinois, where he advises on manufacturing processes and coffee purchasing. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by approved tools and modeling techniques.

Blake Hafferkamp is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked in various capacities within Wells Fargo since 2017, as well as at Northwestern Mutual from 2015 to 2017. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that offers investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of planning services, including niche areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis, using proprietary research and planning tools.

Brianna Hook is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at First Investments & Planning, First National Bank of Omaha, and Raymond James Financial Services. Brianna is part of The DDK Group within Baird’s Private Wealth Management team, which serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing manager-traded and model-traded SMA strategies, tax-management, and other investment approaches.

Sharon Schwager is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. She has held prior roles at Creekview Wealth Management and previously worked at Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment strategies and advisory services. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Curtis Whitehouse is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following a 12-year tenure at Citigroup Global Markets. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Christine Messerschmidt is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its investment management division since 2010. Messerschmidt serves as a board member of the We Raise Foundation, which supports Christian nonprofit organizations addressing poverty, violence, and inequality. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning analyses that cover a wide range of financial topics, delivered as either one-time or ongoing engagements separate from portfolio management.

Paul Maurin is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. since 2015. In addition to his advisory role, Maurin is involved in accounting and tax services through his ownership of Accountants & Financial Planning Associates and holds leadership positions in several business entities related to general accounting and insurance. OSAIC serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing firm-provided tools and multiple investment platforms to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client needs.