Nicole Mackowiak is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked previously at Avantax Investment Services and 1st Global Advisors, and she currently manages operations at Porte Brown Wealth Management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to various third-party managers and program structures.

Kevin Kelly is a financial advisor at Cetera with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including Avantax Investment Services and LPL Financial. Kelly also leads Legacy Tax & Accounting, LLC, where he manages tax preparation, accounting, and payroll services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and retirement services and operates a multi-manager platform combining affiliated and third-party investment strategies.

Mark Geraci Jr. is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with LPL Financial since 2010. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, utilizing model portfolios and research from various sources.

Michael Kozlow is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Gurnee, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at AIG Capital Services, Inc. and American General Life from 2013 to 2021 before joining Edward Jones in 2021. 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 investment strategies, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and $1.01 trillion in assets under management.

Anum Melwani is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill in 2019, Melwani worked at First Security Trust and Savings and JP Morgan Chase. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Joseph Mazzocchi is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2024, he worked at Community Trust Credit Union and Gold Coast Bank. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering various advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Timothy Sattley is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is a science fiction author and the sole proprietor of High Dive Games, a recreation and art-related business in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is also employed by Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

James Mcnamara is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 designation and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a range of investment options such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Kristen Graham is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Crystal Lake, IL. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, she worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Aon. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on goal-based financial planning across a wide range of topics. The firm offers these services as either one-time or ongoing engagements and allows clients to integrate planning with managed-account programs through a consolidated billing option.

Steven Garrels is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Avantax Investment Services, Avantax Advisory Services, Avantax Insurance Services, 1st Global Advisors, and Borhart Spellmeyer & Company. Outside of advising, he serves as Board Chairman of Harvard Savings Bank, a publicly traded financial institution currently in liquidation. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that offers a multi-manager platform serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and planning services through a network of over 10,000 advisors and manages more than $256 billion in assets.

Troy Ackman is a financial advisor at Fidelity with nine years of industry experience. He has worked with Fidelity Investments since 2021 and previously spent four years at Edward Jones. He holds a Series 66 designation. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad client base including retail and institutional investors. The firm employs a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, with additional roles in advisory services for registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Ashleen Davey is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2018, following prior experience with BMO Harris Bank. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a successor trustee for a private trust. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Sean Grady is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Arlington Heights, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2017, he worked at Mariano's from 2013 to 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner and CEO of KSG Hospitality Consulting, providing expertise in culinary and restaurant management, and serves as a judge for a high school investment competition. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients nationwide, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets with a large network of financial advisors and branches. The firm offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and tax-efficient services, operating under a fiduciary standard.

John Strotman is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with UBS since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he sells sports trading cards and memorabilia from his personal collection. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Kelly Bays is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, Bays co-leads two Girl Scout troops and helps plan a volunteer-run Girl Scout day camp in the McHenry area. She is also co-author of the financial book *Intentional Legacy*. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to produce written recommendation reports. The firm provides a wide range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its large institutional platform.

Nathan Elby is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in providing tailored strategies including retirement income planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and family wealth management planning. His expertise encompasses financial planning, retirement income planning, tax-efficient portfolios, cash flow analysis, and estate planning services. Nathan grew up during the Great Financial Crisis, which inspired him to help individuals and families prepare for financial uncertainties. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Michigan State University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designations. He focuses on offering financial plans characterized by honesty, transparency, and service. Beyond his professional work, Nathan is involved in community activities such as serving as a Track & Field Coach and participating in the Villas of Boulder Ridge Homeowner's Association. He also contributes to financial literacy through Junior Achievement.

Charles Boe is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Woodstock, IL. He has 46 years of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he holds a minority ownership interest in a private country club. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients with a broad range of investment and financial planning services. The firm offers tailored recommendations using proprietary research and planning tools, with a focus on discrete planning engagements across various financial needs.

Jack Algrim is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2025, he held various roles including positions at LogiClean, Athene, and multiple educational institutions. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and data-driven modeling.

Steve Richenberger is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2011. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework when recommending investment strategies.

Nilesh Patel is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked with Mass Mutual and its affiliates since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, Patel is involved in life and health insurance sales through RDR Financial Group, LLC. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational programs, emphasizing collaborative planning engagements supported by firm-approved analytical tools.