John Matenko is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Principal Financial Services in Saint Charles, IL. He has one year of industry experience and has held positions at Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance Company, and various other roles including at St. Charles Country Club and Goldfish Swim School. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm focuses on direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Philip Sandrok is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and concurrently associated with FIFTH THIRD BANK since 2011. 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 provides multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Eric Rasch is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair since 2020 and previously spent four years at Indiana University. 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 MB Investments Program.

Thomas Sandt is a financial advisor with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF, Academy Securities, First Trust Portfolios, and Citigroup Global Markets. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate accounts, and private funds.

Matthew Kocanda is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient, where he has worked in various capacities since 2022, including a role at Corient Services LLC beginning in 2023. His prior experience includes seven years at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies and third-party solutions, and offers specialized services through affiliated entities such as family office and corporate trustee services.

Mirko Reithofer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank, having previously worked at U.S. Bank, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., and PNC Bank and its affiliated entities. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types via the Passageway Managed Account Platform, including mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and direct indexing strategies.

Elise Murray is a financial advisor at William Blair with 25 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Company LLC since 2009. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients using an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies.

Anupama Gupta Ortiz is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Hoffman Estates, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in cosmetic sales as an administrative assistant and participates occasionally as a mystery diner for a Chicago-based restaurant. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. 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 programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

John Smith is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC for 22 years prior to his current roles at Corient and its affiliates since 2022. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools and alternative investments when appropriate.

Maria Fessler is a financial advisor at Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MetLife Securities Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Old Mutual Capital. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a variety of managed account programs and fee-based management of variable annuity and variable universal life subaccounts, supported by integrated custodial platforms and third-party tools.

Christopher Larrabee is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2016. He holds a Series 63 license and is based in Wheaton, Illinois. Outside of his advisory role, he acts as an agent for his step-mother in an investment-related capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and investment management, utilizing a variety of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee.

David Berendt is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been working at Lincoln Investment since 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he coaches small groups for the Boomerang Project, teaching educators how to facilitate mentoring programs for high school students. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a notable history of working with educators and 403(b) and 457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management through model portfolios and third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team.

William Parrilli is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 44 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the Northern Illinois Shooters Association, organizing matches and overseeing scoring. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and wrap programs supported by an internal trading desk and an investment committee.

Jacob See is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial, Napa Auto Parts, North Central College, and Hampshire High School. Outside of advising, he provides tax preparation and accounting support through Midwest Small Business Accounting and Tax. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party managers through multiple program structures supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Alexander Fernbach is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He has previously worked at Schumann Financial, CETERA Financial Specialists LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities. Prior to his financial advisory roles, he worked at Bowling Green State University and Monarch Landing. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of managed investment strategies through fee-based wrap programs and provides custody, execution, and trading services supported by an internal investment strategy committee.

Marta Krupa is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. She previously worked at PNC Investments LLC for 10 years before joining PNC Wealth Management in 2021. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only, discretionary model account available to select employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Sandra Gentry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. She has worked at Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2020 and has been with Bankers Life & Casualty since 2014. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a unit field trainer agent for Bankers Life and Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions.

Brian Vanderlugt is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2010. His credentials include the Series 66 license. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other institutions. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management services, utilizing a variety of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee.

Steven Jesanis is a financial advisor with William Blair in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience, having worked at William Blair & Company, L.L.C. since 2003. 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 utilizes an active, research-driven management approach across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Suzanne Fickle is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC in Wheaton, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Capital Management, Bank of America, and Merrill. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through programs focused on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning, utilizing proprietary software and portfolio oversight from Morningstar Investment Management.