Svitlana Sheppard is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been working in the financial services industry since 2003 and began her career with Merrill in 2010. Svitlana focuses on high-quality wealth planning, simplifying the complexities of clients' financial lives. She is dedicated to clear communication, transparency, trust, and providing excellent service. Svitlana's expertise includes equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, and women and wealth. She holds multiple professional designations such as Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University. Originally from Ukraine, Svitlana is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. She lives in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband Brian and rescue dog Chloe. Her personal interests include plant-based cooking, reading, traveling, biking, yoga, and outdoor activities. Svitlana is also involved in community initiatives such as Better Money Habits, a Bank of America program in partnership with Khan Academy, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Council.

Casey Torrey is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Round Lake, IL, with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and singer of a band called Acousticats. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a network of more than 23,700 financial advisors across the United States.

Brian Schnell is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northern Trust Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides planning services alongside broader investment and brokerage capabilities.

Stanley Kottke is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs while keeping the services separate.

Dennis Gorman is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC for five years and has operated Gorman & Associates since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with a CPA Affiliate Program through Gorman & Associates. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Morgan Hensel is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Ameriprise with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, Hensel held various roles including positions at Bethel University and multiple leadership development centers. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm’s retirement income service uses a centralized team to deliver customized Recommendation Reports supported by proprietary research and third-party data.

Kelly Karecki is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2016. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and scenario modeling as part of its financial planning process.

Timothy Matta is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. He previously worked for SRI Systems Research Inc for 19 years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Kenneth Molnar is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Southwest Securities and Invex, LLC. He has also held a role at Communitech Outposts. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver systematic model portfolios and manages sub-advisers while maintaining oversight and conflict-of-interest controls.

Robert Dion is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and with 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and analytics.

Sean Borchers is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Cary, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior work history includes positions at JP Morgan Chase and its affiliates from 2010 to 2025. Outside of his advisory role, Borchers manages a music band called Wings of Severance, performing in the Chicagoland and Milwaukee areas. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large network of advisors and branches.

Aaron Roehl is a financial advisor at Merrill with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill and Bank of America since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for family trusts and is a board member and committee participant at Hope Lutheran Church in Long Grove, Illinois. Merrill provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, serving a broad range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations, with investment strategies developed by Merrill’s Chief Investment Office and third-party managers.

Michael Smith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Global Retirement Partners since 2017 and was previously with UBS Financial Services from 2014 to 2017. Smith also serves as a board member for The Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside model portfolios and research support.

Patrick Witte is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, and BMO. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing research and model portfolios from multiple sources.

Brian Sheppard is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2008 and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation earned through The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. Brian works alongside colleagues Dave and Svitlana to implement financial strategies focused on retirement planning and other client goals. Brian attended Barrington High School and pursued coursework at DePaul University, though no degree was conferred. He is also a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and contributes to The Sheppard Group, which was recognized on the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Based in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, Brian volunteers and fundraises to support local first responders, including running the Chicago Marathon for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. His personal interests include golf, martial arts, and reading literature on economics, philosophy, and science.

Evan Hoobchaak is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2003. Outside of advising, he is the owner and president of Sisu Capital Inc., and is involved in strategic planning and sales for Palm Rat Golf, LLC, an apparel business. He is also an author. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement, focusing on clients with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research-driven modeling and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Erik Olsen is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Woodstock, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, he served five years in the United States Navy. His background includes involvement related to veteran disability benefits. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

John Silmon is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones, where he has worked since 2019. He has six years of industry experience and previously spent 18 years at KPMG LLP. Outside of his advisory role, he owns residential rental properties in Oak Park, Illinois. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a broad range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Kurt Kubon is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, and at Citigroup Global Markets since 1998. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for several personal trusts. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools supported by the Global Investment Committee’s return estimates and Monte Carlo simulations.

Jeffrey Lord is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for four years. In addition to his advisory role, he manages a social media podcast called Shared Connections. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and corporations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.