Mark Essenfeld is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently with Soltis Investment Advisors, LLC and previously worked at HUB International, TCG Advisors, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. He serves as Treasurer for the Board of Trustees at Life's Plan Inc., a not-for-profit organization involved in investment-related activities. Soltis Investment Advisors serves individual investors, institutions, corporations, charitable organizations, and pension/401(k) plans. The firm employs a manager selection and portfolio construction process that integrates Modern Portfolio Theory, quantitative screening, and qualitative due diligence, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan services.

Gregg Georgantas is a financial advisor with BFC Planning, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 39 years of industry experience. Prior to joining BFC Planning in 2018, he worked at First Heartland Capital Inc. from 2013 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of GTG Insurance & Financial Services and president of Business Health Insurance Services, Inc., which provides various insurance products including medical, life, long-term care, and disability insurance. BFC Planning, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, banks, and pension plans through a network of approximately 200 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, employing multiple platforms and strategies while maintaining distinctive operational practices such as prohibiting certain fee-paying share classes.

Darlene McGrath is a financial advisor at Latitude Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and concurrently operates a CPA practice providing bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation services for individuals and small businesses since 2005. Prior to joining Latitude Advisors, she was associated with GWN Securities Inc. Latitude Advisors serves individual and business clients, offering financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting. The firm employs a combination of model-based strategies and fundamental/quantitative analysis to manage client portfolios, primarily on a discretionary basis.

Robert Fitzjarrald is a financial advisor at Latitude Advisors, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Latitude Advisors since 2017. He is also a CPA and shareholder at Hocker, Fitzjarrald & Richardson, PC, a tax and accounting firm he has been involved with since 1984. Latitude Advisors serves individual and business clients by providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting. The firm uses a combination of model-based strategies and fundamental/quantitative analysis, managing most client relationships on a discretionary basis.

Brian Carlson is a financial advisor at Creative Financial Designs, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked with AssetMark Brokerage, LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Creative Financial Designs serves individual, corporate, institutional, and retirement plan clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and modular consulting. The firm uses asset-class model allocations with five risk levels, incorporates third-party research, and offers unique features such as Biblically Responsible Investing strategies and flexible billing arrangements.

John Bivens is a financial advisor with Latitude Advisors, LLC in Yorkville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Latitude Advisors and Gwn Securities Inc. since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Box2 Packaging, LLC, a packaging distribution business. Latitude Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients including pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management using valuation-driven and momentum-based models, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting, with an emphasis on continuous monitoring and tailored investment strategies.

Jeffrey Holmes is a financial advisor with Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wunderlich Securities, Inc./B. Riley Wealth Management and Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc. Packerland Brokerage Services serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors with financial planning, portfolio management, and advisory program access. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services, combining individualized planning with discretionary or non-discretionary account management through firm-managed portfolios and third-party programs.

James Ward Sr. is a financial advisor with Latitude Advisors, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 32 years of industry experience and has been with Latitude Advisors since 2010. In addition to his advisory role, he has been involved with JVJ Business Enterprises, Ltd. since 1983, providing consulting, tax preparation, and insurance sales services. Latitude Advisors serves individual and business clients, offering financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting. The firm uses a combination of model-based strategies and fundamental/quantitative analysis to manage client portfolios, primarily on a discretionary basis.

Manuel Macias is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank, having joined in 2024. Prior to that, he worked at Edward Jones for five years and held teaching positions at Robert Morris University and DeVry University. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 12 years. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering a range of managed account programs on the Passageway platform, including mutual fund/ETF models, SMA strategies, and tax-overlay and direct-indexing options. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and has a broad advisor and client base with various affiliated service offerings.

Jennifer Santucci is a financial advisor at William Blair with 33 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1988. 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 employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternatives, and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Krystal Wyss is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network in Joliet, IL. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Busey Bank, and First Midwest Bank. She has also worked at Mistwood Golf Course / JPM Golf Properties. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $210 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Eduardo Duran is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at GWFS Equities, J.P. Morgan Securities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Fifth Third Bank. 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 certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm offers an integrated service model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, delivering point-in-time financial plans alongside optional managed account solutions.

Juan Viamontes Jr. is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JP Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill, and Bank of America. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only, algorithm-driven discretionary model account for employees with PNC Bank online-banking credentials. The firm utilizes approved mutual fund and ETF strategies managed or delegated to third parties, with a focus on model-driven portfolio implementation and annual rebalancing.

Chloe Prior is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Guaranteed Rate and Aldi, Inc. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with comprehensive internal oversight and provides specialized solutions for high-net-worth clients.

Monica Kaminski is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2022 and previously spent ten years at BMO Harris Bank. Outside of her financial advisory role, she is a skincare consultant for Rodan and Fields. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its integrated investment platform.

Richard Schlesinger is a Certified Financial Planner™ with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Planmember Securities Corporation since 2005 and has operated as a self-employed insurance producer and tax preparer since 2000, focusing on fixed annuities and tax preparation services. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as a fiduciary for many plans and offering participant-level investment options. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios ranging from conservative to aggressive.

Scott Weinstein is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Ameritas Wealth Advisors, Lake Michigan Benefit Associates, Ohio National Financial Services, and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. He is also licensed as an independent insurance agent for fixed insurance products and is a partner in a private business venture. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies, including model portfolios and customized solutions, supported by multiple program platforms and third-party technology.

Brian Tarro is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC, where he has worked since 2021. Prior to this, Tarro held roles at Level Four Advisory Services and LPL Financial, among others. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors operating under various d/b/a names. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office services, and retirement plan advisory, employing a primarily long-term investment approach with customized portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income.

Derek Ghiotto is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Naperville, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC since 2014, including roles at PNC Bank and PNC Investments. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary digital offering for employees that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Joseph Fazekas is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Creative Planning since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Plainfield, Illinois. 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 portfolio techniques, supported by a broad range of affiliated non-investment businesses.