Talonda Howard is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has previously worked at GWFS Equities, Bankers Life Securities, and Valic Financial Advisors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer‑sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders, using an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Robert Westberg is a CFP® and ChFC® with 34 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2000 and with NYLife Securities Inc. since 1993. Outside of his advisory work, Westberg is a CPA and owns a separate business. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, defined contribution and benefit plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Paul Oblon is a financial advisor at &Partners with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Purdue University Phi Kappa Psi alumni network. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private businesses. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by Envestnet and NFS platforms.

Anthony Torreon is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Naperville, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines multiple managed-account programs with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and a distinctive municipal-advisor registration.

James Zika is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup since 2014. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and leverages its institutional scale and unique market roles to provide customized solutions.

Dylan Fisher is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Evernest Financial Advisors and Mitchell, Vaught and Taylor, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a small online reselling business focused on antiques and thrift items. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a range of wealth management and advisory services, employing a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Philip Monnier is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Western Springs, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC in 2018, he worked at Capital One Advisors, LLC and Capital One Investing, LLC from 2015 to 2018. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party-managed investment strategies.

Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 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 private investment opportunities.

Versie Walker II is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Naperville, IL, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, Merrill, and Bank of America. He also has experience in a business unrelated to finance, having worked at Hot-N-Poppin Inc. for six years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only discretionary digital account pilot for employees, which uses algorithm-driven portfolio selection and implements investments via approved strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Benjamin Rogina is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment, he has worked in warehouse logistics at Amazon and assists with operations at Rogina Engineers & Surveyors LLC. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise 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, consulting, and portfolio management through a combination of advisor-managed and firm-managed model portfolios, supported by an in-house investment management team and third-party managers.

Cynthia Walters is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2019, and previously held roles at LPL Financial and First Midwest Bank. Outside of her advisory work, she is an owner of a residential rental business. 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 combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank to provide a range of discretionary managed-account programs and access to unique features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Michael Kruchten is a CFP® with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and is co-owner of Pursuit Wealth Group, LLC, as well as Compass Tax Advisors, LLC, which provides tax preparation services. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and First Midwest Bank. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with a range of advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management support, allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction alongside model portfolios managed by Commonwealth’s Investment Management and Research team.

Angela Burdelik is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1992. Based in New Lenox, IL, she has spent her entire career at the firm. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

James Gazis is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2025. He has also been affiliated with Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd for over 16 years, where he is the owner of a wealth management business. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of clients with a decentralized advisory model and notable retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Katherine Morris is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Planmember Securities Corporation. She has held positions at Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013 and was a member of the Oswego Police Pension Board from 2010 to 2018. In addition to her financial advisory work, she is involved in a non-investment administrative business. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios while offering participant education and support services.

Sarah Krapec is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Her prior work includes roles at Global Retirement Partners, LLC, Strategic Retirement Partners, and Kestra Financial, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Craig Horvath is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Joliet, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 29 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with LPL Financial and Level Four Advisory Services. Horvath is involved in insurance agency activities and serves as a non-variable insurance agent. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing customized portfolios with a long-term approach and employing internal management alongside third-party managers.

Patrick Rule is a financial advisor with William Blair in Clarendon Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair since 2016. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division serves individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients through discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, offering proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Stephen Berenson is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at RL Tax and Bookkeeping, LLC, which provides tax accounting services. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

Michelle Dunigan is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 18 years of industry experience, including roles at BMO Harris Financial Advisors and LPL Financial. Dunigan is currently based in New Lenox, IL. The Huntington Investment Company serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities with advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple wrap-fee programs on the Envestnet MAS platform, utilizing an open-architecture model that combines third-party and affiliate investment strategies.