Alan Flota is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Elgin, IL. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Before entering the financial industry, he worked for over three decades at School District U-46. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis, working closely with both retail and institutional sponsors within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Brandi Ruffalo is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns Valuation & Forensic Partners, LLC, which provides business valuation, litigation, and divorce consulting services. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate and pension plans. The firm employs a combination of firm- and third-party investment models and utilizes both passive and active management across multiple risk profiles.

Adria Siewert is a ChFC® and Series 66 credentialed advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and its affiliated entities since 2013, and previously worked at LPL Financial. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm’s investment approach combines strategic asset allocation with both passive and active management, supported by quantitative and fundamental research and a structured rebalancing process.

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 at PlanMember Securities Corporation with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Vista Financial Group Ltd. and OSAIC in prior roles. Outside of his advisory work, he operates Vista Financial Group Ltd. and provides insurance sales and services as a sole proprietor. PlanMember Securities Corporation offers retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, serving as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation framework and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios while providing education and support services to plan sponsors and participants.

Kristina Denton is a financial advisor at Corient with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Corient and its affiliated entities since 2022, following eight years at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Janet Redding is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013, with prior experience at Legend Advisory, LLC, Oberweis Securities, Inc., and Ameritas Investment Company, LLC. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large advisory and broker-dealer firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a long history working with educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management using model portfolios and third-party managers, and both wrap and non-wrap platform options, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team.

Scott Farwell is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2022. Prior to that, he was with TD Ameritrade for five years and Edge Financial Advisors for one year. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, and is notable for its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

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® professional with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and previously worked at LPL Financial starting in 2008. McKevitt operates under the trade name Purposeful Wealth, Inc. for his investment advisory services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based model that incorporates a range of investment strategies and technology platforms, often utilizing third-party managers and proprietary solutions like WealthSuite.

Joseph Foltz is a CFP® with six years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Corient. His prior experience includes roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and several other financial and educational organizations. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

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.

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.

Barry Finkelstein is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Deerfield, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies, New York Life Insurance Company, and Nylife Securities LLC since 2010. Finkelstein serves on a professional advisory committee for the Jewish United Fund, a Chicago-based organization of attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and plan sponsors. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

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.

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.