Christopher Pontarelli is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones and Competitive Property Solutions, LLC. He is based in Summit, Illinois. 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 options and combines third-party portfolio managers with advisor-managed sleeves, featuring services such as direct indexing and tax-overlay strategies within a structure affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Margaret Myers is an advisor at Kestra Advisory with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Kestra Advisory, Kestra Investment Services, Bridge Financial Technology, and Goldman Sachs & Co. She also works as an advisor at BlueLake Wealth Advisors, providing financial planning, investment management, and insurance services. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm provides a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education, supporting clients with a combination of proprietary and third-party managed solutions.

Jeremiah Lorenz is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fortis Investors for 19 years before joining Kestra Advisory and Partners Wealth Management in 2019. He is also involved in insurance product recommendations through BlueLake Wealth Advisors. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors as well as institutional and individual clients, offering services such as plan design, fiduciary consulting, and employee education. The firm supports a range of investment solutions including discretionary trading and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Marty Pereira is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding CFP®, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and over 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory since 2016 and previously held roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CSMG International Ltd. Pereira is also the Investment Advisor and Director of Research & Analytics for Partners Wealth Management, where he focuses on asset allocation and investment research. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as plan design, fiduciary consulting, and employee education. The firm serves a broad client base including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, and supports a range of investment platforms and third-party managed solutions.

Matthew Anderson is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Naperville, IL, holding Series 66, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses and 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at U.S. Bancorp Investments and US Bank from 2016 to 2024. Anderson has been with PNC since 2026. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and discretionary model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Jennifer Cavalier is a financial advisor with Planmember Securities Corporation, holding a Series 66 license and 19 years of industry experience. She has worked with Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013 and provides income tax preparation services as a proprietor. Planmember Securities Corporation offers retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans and providing participant-level investment options through risk-based mutual fund portfolios. The firm emphasizes a top-down strategic asset allocation approach combined with education and support services for plan sponsors and participants.

Michael Beach is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding a Series 66 credential. He has recently entered the financial services industry, with prior experience across various sectors including logistics and insurance. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Jeff Pierson is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has served at Lincoln Investment since 2005 and has been a member of the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Department since 1989. Outside of his advisory work, Pierson serves on the boards of the Rialto Square Theater and the Will County 100 Club and is a member of the Joliet Rotary Club. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, advisor-led consulting, and portfolio management utilizing in-house strategic model portfolios, third-party managers, and a combination of wrap and non-wrap platforms.

Alicia Hyland is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at GWFS Equities Inc. and Stonegate Advisors LLC. Outside of finance, she operates a part-time bookkeeping and accounting business and works as a part-time flight attendant. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Liam Mulligan is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at L.M. Kohn & Company and Benjamin F. Edwards. Mulligan also spent several years in education before transitioning to financial services. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, employing a strategic investment approach that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Pu Walpole is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. The firm serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and execution services. Citigroup Global Markets leverages a multi-asset, multi-manager approach with extensive internal research and risk oversight, operating at large institutional scale with capabilities including futures and swap dealing.

Mazen Zanayed is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Clarendon Hills, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Wealth Management since 2014. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account that uses algorithmic questionnaires to guide portfolio strategy and implements investments via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Austin Wegforth is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having one year of industry experience. His background includes positions at Wealth Enhancement Brokerage Services and the Wealth Enhancement Group, as well as prior work in real estate and education. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services manages over $122 billion in assets and offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified, risk-class based investment approach that combines passive and active management and uses quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Daniel Lippold is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Command Advisory Services since 2015. He has also been affiliated with First Command Insurance Services and First Command Financial Planning since 2011. Daniel is based in Darien, IL. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing model portfolios managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Mark Hughes is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 38 years of industry experience, including roles at Hughes Financial since 2000 and positions at Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Securities INC dating back to the late 1980s. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in selling and servicing fixed life, fixed annuities, and health insurance products through an outside insurance business. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, businesses, and active-duty military personnel overseas. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Joy Kaminski is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2015 and is also the Marketing Manager at The Voyager Group, where she oversees website design, marketing materials, and client support. From 2005 to 2022, she operated Finding Joy Photography. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management through model portfolios, and access to third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and a layered delivery model involving independent advisors and co-advisers.

Barbara Natale is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 35 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with PNC Investments since 2014. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategy pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Jorge Palacios Murphy is a financial advisor at &Partners with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, JP Morgan Securities, and JPMorgan Chase Bank. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private businesses, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and investment strategies, managing accounts through both in-house advisors and third-party managers.

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 Investments since 2014, including a period at PNC Bank from 2014 to 2017. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account for employees that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and allocates investments via mutual funds and ETFs.

Glenn Stears Jr. is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and bringing 46 years of industry experience. His prior work includes 37 years at Waddell & Reed, Inc., and he also serves as vice president and secretary of Sagrado & Stears, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in an insurance agency he has operated since 1980. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm delivers advisory and brokerage services through independent representatives and emphasizes non-discretionary account management.