Christopher Smith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Mokena, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by various investment strategies and operational tools.

Luke Brady is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2024. Prior to his financial services career, he held positions at Ecolab and Viskase. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by offering a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and investment models.

Mark Pingul is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BMO Harris Financial Advisors and Edward Jones. From 2016 to 2018, he worked at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives, offering a range of financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Jeffrey Lamb is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 21 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Thrivent Investment Management. He serves on the boards of the City of Valparaiso Utility Board and the Valparaiso 21st Century School Building Corporation. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a Premier Retirement Income service focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies for clients nearing or in retirement.

Elizabeth Pedretti is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 credentials. She joined Edward Jones in 2025 and has a prior ten-year career at Robert Half. 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 range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Melissa Vald is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2019. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with experience working with high net worth clients since 2005, providing comprehensive financial planning that includes retirement and income planning, tax-efficient investing, and estate plan considerations. Her career in financial services includes roles as a Financial Planning Associate at Wells Fargo from 2015 to 2019, and at Morgan Stanley from 2007 to 2015, as well as serving as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley from 2005 to 2007. Melissa holds a California Insurance License. Outside of her professional work, Melissa enjoys family activities, theater, traveling, and volunteering.

John Demarco is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with Avantax entities for a decade and currently owns Strategize Home Solutions LLC, a referral marketing business for mortgages. John also serves as treasurer for The Cruisin' Tigers GTO Club, a membership organization for Pontiac automobile enthusiasts that hosts an annual car show. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a large network of independent advisors serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Ashley Finney is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, JP Morgan Securities LLC, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Outside of advising, she is the owner and maker of The Red House Designs, creating and selling handmade designs at farmers markets and online. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a range of multi-asset model portfolios supported by centralized supervision and custodial services.

Ryan Carey is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2022. In his role, he focuses on assessing clients' financial situations, collaborating with them to develop tailored financial plans, and implementing those plans while monitoring progress to ensure alignment with their goals. He has 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, having held various financial consultant and planning consultant positions. Prior to his current role, he worked at Fidelity Investments as a Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2022, at Merrill Edge as a Premier Life Services Relationship Consultant from 2018 to 2021, at LPL Financial as a Financial Consultant from 2016 to 2018, at World Equity Group as a Financial Consultant from 2014 to 2016, and at J.W. Cole Financial as a Financial Consultant from 2006 to 2014.

Danielle Burton is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at LPL Financial and Opus Wealth Partners, and she has operated her own business, Homes & Heritage LLC, for over a decade. She is also a partner in a cryptocurrency mining venture where she monitors software and maintains hardware. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform, featuring both discretionary and non-discretionary programs with access to affiliated and third-party money managers.

Thomas Solis is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Orland Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside the financial industry, he was involved with Allegrettis Ristorante for four years. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process integrates centralized due diligence combining quantitative and qualitative research with an ESG eligibility framework.

Alec Gerlach is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been working since 2025. He has developed his career within the same company, holding various roles including Investment Consultant from 2024 to 2025, Planning Consultant from 2023 to 2024, Relationship Manager from 2022 to 2023, and Financial Representative from 2020 to 2022. In his current role, Alec partners with clients to build financial plans aimed at helping them achieve their life goals. He focuses on ensuring that clients not only understand and feel confident in their financial plans, but also feel secure about their future.

Daniel Novosel is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill Lynch and UBS Financial Services before joining Edward Jones in 2026. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Alec Leasure is a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Ameriprise and NorthRock Partners. Outside of his advisory role, he has experience in real estate ownership unrelated to investing. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services with an investment approach centered on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and a variety of managed account programs supported by technology and a complex affiliate network.

Heather Ziron is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Palos Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2016 and previously spent five years with Wells Fargo Clearing. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs tailored to clients’ risk profiles and uses a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers to implement portfolio strategies.

Jack Kristof is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley, Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and he has operated his own firm, JA Kristof Enterprises, LLC, since 2006. Outside of his primary advisory work, he serves as an independent contractor maintaining the books for a support company called ELEVATE. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm delivers tailored non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Katie Millar is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise since 2021. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors for nine years. Millar serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, the Children's Advocacy Center Foundation, and GRIT. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services tailored to individuals approaching or in retirement, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide written recommendations. The firm serves clients with significant investable assets through a range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions.

Jocelyn Herrera is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and approximately one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she worked at Kristian Navarro Insurance and Financial Services Inc and completed an externship at Amplified Planning. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage model portfolios across various investment vehicles.

Clare Nawrocki is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cambridge in 2025, she worked at Equitable Advisors and Axa Advisors. She serves as treasurer for a political campaign in Illinois. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs through thousands of financial professionals and multiple platforms.

Katarzyna Kot is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Bridgeview, Illinois. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, State Farm Investment Management Corp, and Erik Nelson's Insurance Agency. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive research and technology tools.