Vivek Tripathi is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at TRC Advisory and a period at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, charities, and institutions, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, working extensively with program sponsors and third-party managers to provide advisory and brokerage solutions.

John Rossini is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones in Bartlett, IL, with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of approximately 23,701 financial advisors.

Kent Bellgrau is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Cetera and its related entities since 2017 and is also a part owner of Winters & Co, LLC, an accounting and CPA firm where he is involved in tax and accounting services. In addition to his advisory role, he owns and operates Winters & Co, LLC, providing accounting services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and advisory services through a multi-manager platform that provides access to affiliated and third-party managers, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Jason Erpelding is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2016 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools.

James Leyden is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 46 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Joint Impact LLC and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Leyden has experience in both insurance and investment businesses. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diverse advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services supported by research and various portfolio management strategies.

Kelsey Vasquez is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Schaumburg, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to her current role, she worked at T-Mobile, Uber, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and several other firms across various sectors. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary services, and maintains a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Colin Marquardt is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Elgin, IL, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations with seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked for nine years at Libertyville Bank & Trust Co. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing member of Blackhawk Property Investments LLC, which manages and leases rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Victor Giordano is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2018, with prior experience at TD Ameritrade and Scottrade. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment options supported by multi-asset model portfolios and a comprehensive alternative investments program.

Michael Bruce is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. He is based in Barrington, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning that utilizes structured discovery conversations and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Anthony Cascio Mariana is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2013. He holds the Series 66 and has been based in St Charles, IL. Outside his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a rental property in Naperville, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and provides a range of investment strategies and affiliated services under a fiduciary standard.

Earl Silver is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 56 years of industry experience. His prior work includes eight years at UBS Financial Services, Inc. Silver is also CEO of EIS Enterprises, Inc. and a partner in Lighthouse Racing, LLC, a business in which he holds a passive interest. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a broad client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, advisory programs, and institutional consulting with a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

David Strutzel is a CFP® with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cetera since 2023. He is the owner of Strutzel Family Wealth Management and has prior experience at Raymond James & Associates. Outside of finance, he serves as a substitute church organist and choir director at St Peter Damian Church. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a large nationwide network of independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services and operates a multi-manager platform that includes affiliated and third-party strategies with both discretionary and non-discretionary account options.

Valerie Erfort is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 25 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS since 1999 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of her advisory role, she manages rental property as a sole proprietorship. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, combining institutional trading capabilities and wealth management through a network of financial advisors who utilize proprietary research and model-based asset allocations.

Zachary Dalzell is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked within the Wells Fargo organization since 2015, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of investment and financial planning services tailored to clients meeting specific net-worth thresholds, utilizing proprietary research and planning tools.

Matthew Wilson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at several firms, including Foreside Fund Services, Aegon Asset Management, and Atrium Capital Advisors. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that offers a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools such as Secular Return Estimates and Monte Carlo simulations to model financial outcomes.

Lissette Gomez is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with Merrill since 1993 and serves as the senior partner of the GR Wealth Management Group. In her role, Lissette focuses on building long-lasting client relationships by thoroughly understanding clients' financial situations, priorities, risk tolerance, and goals. She and her team offer a comprehensive approach to wealth management, providing customized solutions and access to investment insights from Merrill and banking services through Bank of America. Her client base includes multi-generation families, corporate executives, business owners, and physicians. Lissette holds several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Economics from Barat College of Lake Forest, which was later acquired by DePaul University. As a Senior Portfolio Advisor in Merrill’s Investment Advisory Program, she manages custom investment strategies and selects appropriate portfolios to help clients pursue their financial objectives. Lissette resides in the Northern Suburbs with her husband and two sons. She supports various humanitarian and research organizations such as the American Cancer Society, United Way, and Special Olympics. In her personal time, she enjoys hiking, interior decorating, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Tauras Martinka is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Brent Jablonski Allstate Agency, and various positions during his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Illinois at Chicago. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Jeffrey Gromos is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2001. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of investment strategies and advisory services supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Marlo Chambers is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 33 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, and TIAA-CREF. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement planning through written Recommendation Reports and ongoing advice. The firm’s approach includes tax-aware withdrawal strategies and asset allocation, supported by internal research and third-party data.

Johnny Johnson Jr. is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been working since 2024. He previously served as a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2024. His professional background includes roles as a Financial Advisor at Thrivent Financial Services from 2020 to 2021, an Insurance Producer at THG Financial Strategies, LLC from 2018 to 2020, and a Personal Banker at JP Morgan Chase from 2003 to 2014. Johnny partners with individuals and families to develop personalized financial strategies aligned with their values and long-term objectives. He emphasizes listening, clear communication, and long-term relationship building, aiming to assist clients with retirement planning, wealth building, and navigating financial changes. Outside of his professional work, Johnny enjoys board games, family activities, fishing, football, golf, and reading.