Thea Reynolds is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Aurora, Illinois, with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Ausdal since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is the sole proprietor and president of Budget in a Binder, a business focused on teaching and counseling individuals on budgeting and living within their means. Ausdal Financial Partners manages approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of 152 advisors, offering investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of investment strategies across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, combining advisory, brokerage, and insurance services.

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.

Alec Leasure is a financial advisor with NorthRock Partners, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at Ameriprise and Woodbury Financial Services. Outside of advising, he has experience in real estate ownership unrelated to his investment activities. NorthRock Partners provides comprehensive wealth management and advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tailored, holistic investment approach that incorporates broad asset allocation, diversification, private market investments, and technology-driven tools alongside human oversight.

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 with Creative Financial Designs, Inc. in Plainfield, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at AssetMark Brokerage, LLC and Northwestern Mutual, as well as operating as a sole proprietor before joining Creative Financial Designs. Creative Financial Designs serves a diverse client base including individual, corporate, and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management alongside financial planning and consulting services. The firm employs asset-class model allocations with multiple risk objectives and offers features such as Biblically Responsible Investing strategies and various implementation options.

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.

Frank Vandy is a financial advisor at Spire Wealth Management, LLC in Aurora, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for 10 years before joining Spire Investment Partners in 2021. Spire Wealth Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, utilizing a diverse range of strategies including passive, active, hybrid tax-aware allocations, and tactical solutions. The firm offers financial planning, manager-of-managers programs, and access to separately managed portfolios, supported by proprietary risk overlays through its affiliate Corbett Road Capital Management.

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 financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for twelve years. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm provides multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with integrated relationships among the bank, platform sponsor, and clearing firm.

Jason Lackner is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, BMO Harris Bank, and Busey Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages a rental property. The Huntington Investment Company, operating as Huntington Financial Advisors, serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities with advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs an open-architecture investment model combining third-party and proprietary portfolio management solutions.

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 four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has worked at firms including 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 certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated service model is tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

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 a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Guaranteed Rate, Aldi, Inc., and Elm Lawn Memorial Park. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across a broad range of wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment advisory programs alongside broker-dealer execution and custody services. The firm combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, implementing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies using internal standards and oversight committees.

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 CFP® with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Planmember Securities Corporation since 2005 and has operated as a self-employed financial professional since 2000. In addition to his advisory work, he provides tax preparation services and manages fixed annuity products from a home-based practice. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm offers participant-level investment options through risk-based mutual fund portfolios and supports clients with education, personalized planning, and separation counseling.