Jeffery Berenson is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at NewEdge Advisors since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Orland Park, where he manages financial records and supports community activities. 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 diversified portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various sponsored advisory programs, combining in-house manager selection with third-party models and advisor discretion.

Jorge Seda Rivera is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a CFP® designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2020, following prior roles at The Huntington Investment Company and PNC Investments. Outside of financial advising, he manages behavioral health practice management businesses, providing administrative and consulting support. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation generally carried out on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Nikola Plavsic is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is based in Downers Grove, IL. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse 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 solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Eric Walania is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair And Company, L.L.C. since 2004. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Western Springs, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Michael Krucek is a financial advisor at SPC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with SPC since 2011. Krucek also has a long tenure at Sigma Financial Corporation beginning in 2004. In addition to advisory work, he sells insurance products including life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering both discretionary and nondiscretionary solutions tailored to client needs.

Patricia Reilly is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1989. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary model portfolios and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

James Flanagan is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at FSC Securities Corporation, Waterstone Financial Group, Inc., and Re-Direct Securities Corp prior to joining Independent Financial Group in 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author of a retirement planning book, provides pro bono financial advice to cancer patients, and serves as an adjunct professor of gerontology at Concordia University. Independent Financial Group, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through various platforms, utilizing a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and ongoing due diligence with both active and passive investment exposures.

Michael Wapner is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services since 2017 and previously was with Utopia Green Consulting from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and Board Secretary for Park Ridge Friends of the Parks. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers services ranging from fiduciary consulting and plan design to advisor-managed accounts and acts as an ERISA fiduciary where applicable.

Jacob Lee is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Axa Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance activities beyond Guardian. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial and retirement planning. The firm employs a mix of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports a range of account-level services, including lending solutions and tax-harvesting features.

Vincent Allegra is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2023, he worked for Mesirow Financial, Inc. for 19 years. Outside of his advisory role, Allegra serves on the boards of Choose DuPage and Hinsdale Swim Club, contributing to community development and local recreational activities. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Luis Markin is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, and JP Morgan. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types, including mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and direct indexing, delivering its investment solutions via the Passageway Managed Account Platform.

Edward Dunphy is a financial advisor at William Blair with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2013 and holds the 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. The firm employs an active, research-driven investment approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

William Jennrich is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Frankfort, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and West Suburban Bank. He serves as president of the Frankfort Lions Club, overseeing meetings and directing the club's fundraising and community support activities. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as to IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Themi Pieropoulos is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services since 2016 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Company since 2012. Pieropoulos also maintains a fixed insurance agent role focused on life and health products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. 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.

Christopher Sporer is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2025. His prior roles include positions at CIBC Private Wealth, Charles Schwab, and TD Ameritrade. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and a variety of implementation options.

Taylor Reynolds is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing seven years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms including Avail Financial Partners LLC, Christopher Financial Group, and Noble Capital Group. Outside of his advisory work, Reynolds coaches youth lacrosse for players aged 6 to 14 and serves on the boards of the Chicago Area University of Alabama Alumni Association and the Rotary Club of Downers Grove. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse clientele, including individual and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and offers a range of program types, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within its integrated New York Life structure.

Philip Brines is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Enterprise and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, he is a musician and drummer with Orchestra 33 Entertainment, a position he has held since 1998. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers through both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Jennifer Dougherty is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Downers Grove, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and affiliated with New York Life entities since 2010. Outside of her advisory work, she owns Simply Gourdgeous, a seasonal business creating fall-themed displays using pumpkins and gourds. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a broad network of affiliated advisers. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Christopher Pohlman Jr. is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 25 years of industry experience. He previously spent 19 years at Mesirow Financial, Inc. He serves on the advisory board of Empower Retirement, participates in the President’s Leadership Counsel at Benedictine University, and is a board representative for Choose DuPage, focusing on economic growth and development. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.

Violet Gesing Alicea is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Principal Life Insurance Company and Princor Financial Services Corporation since 2001. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel residing outside the United States. 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.