Xiao Chen is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Integrity Alliance, LLC. Prior to joining Integrity Alliance, Chen held roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Lion Street Financial, and related entities. Outside of finance, Xiao Chen is involved in community organizations including serving as Vice President of the Hunan Association of the Midwest USA and as a board member of the Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago. Chen also owns a performing arts business focused on music and acting. Integrity Alliance is a large advisor network providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers various investment management approaches, including advisor-managed discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers, supported by a range of operational features such as dual SEC registration and affiliated insurance distribution.

Robert Magnesen is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014, having worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2009. 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 a tax-overlay service, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Cristl Walker is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Securities America, Fidelity Brokerage Services, and Charles Schwab. Outside of financial advising, she provides pet sitting services through the Rover platform. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Sara Zappani is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding a Series 66 credential and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and also serves as office manager for Partners Wealth Management, where she manages day-to-day operations. Additionally, she is involved as a member of SORELLE Development, LLC, contributing to property research and development management. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, offering services that include fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and advisor-managed accounts.

Daniel De Masi is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets who holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Citi Personal Wealth Management since 2014. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm uses multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains unique market roles including in-house research and serving as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

James Mcgovern is a CFP® professional with 41 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Lincoln Investment since 2012. Prior to that, he spent 14 years at Cincinnati Analysts, Inc. He is also the owner of J. McGovern and Associates, a fixed insurance sales business. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a particular focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. 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.

Kimberly Mika is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 36 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network, LPL Financial, and INVEST Financial Corp. Mika is the managing member and owner of Riverstone Wealth Partners Mika, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and pooled plan solutions, serving clients such as large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Nicholas Pagliai is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, Fifth Third Bank, and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith. 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, portfolio management, and access to third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that constructs strategic model portfolios and adaptive investment strategies.

Douglas Lincoln is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and has also worked as a self-employed advisor since 1986. Additionally, he acts as an independent insurance agent specializing in the sale of fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers a range of financial services such as financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting through multiple program structures, primarily providing non-discretionary investment recommendations.

Diane Sewing is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with The Voyager Group, Ltd. since 2006. Outside of her advisory role, she co-chairs worship and spiritual life at Trinity Lutheran Church and serves on the Village of Elwood Parks & Recreation Committee. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment approach through its in-house Investment Management & Research team, offering model portfolios and advisor-led consulting tailored to client objectives.

Melissa Wajda is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company for six years and Awana International for three years. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors and 151 offices.

Katherine Murphy is a financial advisor at William Blair with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair & Company since 2006. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Sal Tabuena is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Life Insurance Company since 1998 and Principal Securities Inc since 1994. Outside of his advisory role, he is a director and partner at Principal Consulting Group LLC. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. 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.

Patricia Prado Gutierrez is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Aurora, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and has a longer tenure with Fifth Third Bank dating back to 2006. 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, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm combines bank affiliation with broker-dealer and municipal advisor registrations, providing access to multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

John Burke is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities Inc, and various positions at Associated Bank and Okta. Outside of advising, he works in food service as a cashier and cook for a BBQ food truck and assists the Ohio team with selling disability insurance through a resident program at The Ohio State University. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Rajesh Patel is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Equitable Advisors and AXA Advisors, LLC. He serves as an investment advisor to the Indian American Medical Association Charitable Foundation, which operates a free health clinic for individuals unable to afford medical care. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

William Hammond is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, and has 33 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at T2 Asset Management, LLC, Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., and LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. In addition to investment advisory services, Mr. Hammond provides tax advice and tax preparation through Hammond Capital Management Ltd, separate from his work with Private Advisor Group. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and managed account solutions. The firm uses a fiduciary-based advisory model and integrates both proprietary and third-party investment platforms.

Frank Palmasani is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at Sourcebooks and Great American Advisors, Inc., as well as over three decades at Hinsdale South High School. He has worked with Lincoln Investment for 16 years. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a broad client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that constructs strategic model portfolios and employs third-party managers.

Mark Wheeler is a CFA® charterholder with 24 years of industry experience and has been with William Blair since 2009. He is based in Orland Park, IL, and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private fund opportunities.

Garrett Hall is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Naperville, IL, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held prior roles at LPL Financial, CCO Staffing, CCO Capital, Cole Capital Corporation, and Equity Fund Advisors. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services, using customized portfolios primarily comprised of mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income with a long-term approach complemented by shorter-term trading for rebalancing and cash needs.