Paul Garrett is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Oakbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has operated Garrett Consulting Corp. since 2003 alongside his role at Commonwealth, where he has worked since 2001. Outside of his advisory work, Garrett is a compensated member of a band. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients, providing advisory programs and support services including wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party asset managers. The firm offers a range of investment program structures and supports affiliated advisors with operations, technology, compliance, and practice management.

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.

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.

Ruben Zapata Jr. is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Melrose Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, offering multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Ellen Cassin is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 credential and four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Heinz & Associates and Dashboard Wealth Advisors before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

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.

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.

Hoi Ying Yau is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2016 and has been affiliated with World Financial Group since 2015. Her other business activities include the sale of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses a model portfolio and third-party manager approach, supported by multiple program platforms such as Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

Charles Schuster is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Monroe Capital LLC and Madison Boats LLC, along with four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing over $295 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Jesse Zaragoza is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of securities, he is involved in brokering insurance and property and casualty products. Eagle Strategies serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with a significant focus on non-discretionary asset management and advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products.

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.

Trevor Johnson is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is active as an online seller on eBay and TCGPlayer.com and creates trading and playing card content on YouTube. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform.

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.

Veena Gandhi is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2015 and is also involved in estate planning education through roles with Inheritguard, LLC and LSPN Pro LLC. Additionally, she participates in activities related to insurance sales and client education with affiliated entities including World System Builders and EBRM Agency. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high net worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach across multiple platforms, including Transamerica ONE and TFA365, with approximately $1.7 billion in regulatory assets under management.

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.

Mark Keith is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Ameriprise and PNC Investments. He is based in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The Huntington Investment Company serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities with advisory and brokerage services through multiple wrap-fee programs on the Envestnet MAS platform. The firm employs an open-architecture model combining third-party sub-managers and proprietary Private Bank models, with advisory arrangements mainly based on percentage-of-assets wrap fees.

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.