Charles Williams is a Certified Financial Planner® with 34 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Independent Financial Partners and has worked at IFP Securities, LLC and LPL Financial. Williams also serves as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies, where he teaches a course on retirement planning and employee benefits. Independent Financial Partners is a nationwide network of independent investment adviser representatives serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a decentralized advisory model with a focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services, supported by formal compliance processes and partnerships for trustee services.

David Kohlmeyer is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent nine years at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer of the Wheaton Academy Foundation. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies that combine firm-developed and third-party models.

Jeffrey Perkins is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and also serves on the board of Marengo Area Outreach Enterprises. Outside of finance, he manages Perkins Farm, which sells hay and beef. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using third-party managers and proprietary solutions delivered through multiple platforms.

Kahina Kherbouche is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Fifth Third Bank since 2019, with prior experience at MB Financial Bank, Liberty Tax, and Joson's Deli. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Trenton Grens is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at AssetMark Brokerage, AssetMark Financial Holdings, Northern Lights Distributors, and Astor Investment Management. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs a range of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through various investment strategies and sub-advisory relationships.

James Flanagan is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, Flanagan provides pro bono financial advice to cancer patients, serves as an adjunct professor of gerontology at Concordia University, and is the author of a book titled *Packing for Retirement*. He also holds various positions including treasurer for Terra Nova Films and Circle of Life, Inc., and is involved in teaching at Triton College. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers brokerage, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services through a national network of Investment Adviser Representatives and utilizes multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers.

Calla Gorman is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Merrill, LPL Financial, Sheridan Road Advisors, and multiple engagements with Independent Financial Partners and its affiliated entities. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform with over $12 billion in assets under management and offers both decentralized investment strategies and formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Anthony Scott is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2008. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of advisory programs and execution services. The firm combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, including in-house research and derivative services, providing multi-asset, multi-manager strategies implemented through discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Patrick Oconnor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2016. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group.

Noah Swift is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brookstone, he worked at Wealth Financial Services and Tax Advisory and has experience in design and self-employment. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through both internal and external sub-advisors.

Paul Niemiec is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of financial services, he works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a special events company. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and managed portfolio programs, utilizing a mix of in-house and third-party strategies overseen by an Investment Management & Research team.

Michael Greenen is a CFP® and PFS™ with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and previously worked at Edge Financial Advisors, Lantern Wealth Guardians, and operated his own CPA practice. He is the owner of Michael J. Greenen CPA PC, dedicating part of his time to this business during trading hours. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset-allocation and manager selection processes, incorporating proprietary quantitative screens and a range of investment options, including private-market offerings and affiliated pension, insurance, and venture services.

Sharif Husseini is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Morningstar Investment Management LLC and Nuveen Investments. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, utilizes a range of investment vehicles, and serves as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

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 Hendricks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. He has held roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Fidelity before joining TIAA-CREF in 2026. Hendricks holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Sharon Santopadre is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 10 years before joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2021. Outside of her advisory role, she dedicates a portion of her time to activities involving fixed annuities, fixed life insurance, and long-term care insurance. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves a range of clients including 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, family office and retirement plan advisory services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs that emphasize customized portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income.

Sarah Taylor is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with one year of industry experience. She previously worked at TD Ameritrade for two years and has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2021. Outside of her advisory work, she manages a rental property. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment management solutions that include both firm-developed and third-party model strategies.

Lihua Zhu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Prime Planners Inc and HR-Block, along with her position as an IRS Enrolled Agent providing tax preparation services. She has also been involved with the Xilin Northwest Chinese School and co-owns a small business with Frank Liu. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm serves individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a large network and multiple advisory platforms.

Zachary Bohlin is a Series 66 licensed advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with one year of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Sanctuary Advisors and its affiliated broker-dealer, Sanctuary Securities, he spent 11 years at Robert Bosch LLC. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm operates a large network of independent advisers and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary solutions through an integrated, multi-affiliate platform.

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.