Marcia Gregory is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards since 2018 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a trustee managing investments for family members. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations through fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment consulting. The firm offers a range of managed strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee and operates an internal equity and fixed-income trading desk.

Darryl Newman is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Corient since 2022 and previously was with Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC from 2018 to 2023. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, 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 integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers, supported by continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.

Allison Swanson is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with one year of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Creative Planning, she worked at Sageview Advisory Group and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of financial advising, she provides private softball pitching lessons through her business, Coach A Softball Stars. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led approach that integrates low-cost indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market exposure.

Ross Heinz is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Glen Ellyn, IL, with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering a range of managed account programs on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and supports various investment strategies including mutual funds, SMAs, and direct indexing.

Jacob Stoiber is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Evercore Wealth Management for six years and The Connable Office for three years. 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 active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Dylan Lustig is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. He previously worked at Whitnell & Co. and Granular, and has military experience with the Illinois Army National Guard. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services. The firm uses a combination of in-house research and third-party managers to create customized portfolios and provides integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Kelly Kovasic is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials. Kelly has experience at firms including Leelyn Smith, LLC and LPL Financial, both from 2021 to 2026. Outside of advisory roles, Kelly provides administrative support to Leelyn Smith, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a range of institutional and individual clients. The firm provides fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and utilizes multiple management platforms, serving clients including large institutions and sovereign wealth funds.

Michael Jansey Jr. is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at GDS Wealth Management and Equitable Advisors LLC. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds. The firm offers a range of services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services, with customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and supported by in-house research combined with third-party managers.

Ronald Harczak is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. He has 40 years of industry experience, including over 30 years with Securities America Advisors and LPL Financial. Outside of advising, he is a notary and operates a business entity for tax and investment purposes. 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 with access to various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to support client needs.

David Polhill is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. He also operates as an insurance agent through his sole proprietorship. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a variety of fee-based wrap programs and investment strategies managed by both internal and third-party managers, supported by several hundred advisors and tens of billions in assets under management.

Jessica Park is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at JWFS Equities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and PNC Bank. She has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions.

Sarah Lall is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options, including direct indexing and tax-overlay services, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Michael Benstein is a financial advisor at William Blair with 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab, Enova International, and Capgemini Consulting. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Jennifer Chung is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 19 years of industry experience. She is currently an advisor at Corient and has previously worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Morgan Stanley. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse clientele, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and uses risk management tools and stress testing to align portfolios with client objectives.

Satya Rangaraju is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ample Wealth Strategies LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance brokering through International Insurance Agency Inc. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Stephen Muto is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2019, following previous roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Whitnell & Co. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm manages customized portfolios through an internal team and third-party managers, and is notable for its integration of tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Pawel Gacek is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently with Mariner. He previously worked at Urban Financial Advisory Corp from 2015 to 2021 before joining Mariner in 2021. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Scott Svoboda is a financial advisor at Farther with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Royal Fund Management, LLC DBA Tru Financial Strategies. Svoboda is also president of Svoboda Financial Group, Inc., where he operates an independent insurance agency focused on fixed annuities, Medicare supplements, life insurance, and long-term care. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios or bespoke allocations, algorithmic rebalancing, and a selection of exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Marzena Hanek is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Mercer since 2017, with a brief hiatus from 2016 to 2017. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals and families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach that emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.

Jeremy Frazer is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience and has been with William Blair & Company since 2014. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and is based in Geneva, Illinois. 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 multiple asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private fund opportunities.