Brian Early is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2011. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Edward Gray III is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and has prior experience at The Colony Group, LLC, Buckingham Asset Management, LLC, and Financial Solutions Advisory Group, Inc. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach within an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies across various investment vehicles.

Brandi Ruffalo is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is the owner of The Business Development Company, which provides administrative and bookkeeping services. Ruffalo is also involved in business valuation and forensic consulting through Valuation & Forensic Partners, LLC. 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.

Jennifer Rosenblum is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Mesirow Financial since 1997. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division serves private individuals, pension plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning, employing a process that includes setting asset allocation targets, conducting due diligence across various investment types, and offering access to both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

John Pestikas is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC investments since 2009. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account accessible to employees with existing PNC Bank online credentials. Their approach uses approved strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs, relying on algorithmic risk assessments and delegating portfolio management and proxy voting to third parties.

Jerome O’Reilly is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He worked for Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. for 20 years before joining PlanMember and Vista Financial Group Ltd., both since 2016. He operates Vista Financial Group Ltd. and provides insurance sales and services as a licensed Insurance Producer. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as an ERISA 3(38) fiduciary for many plans and offering participant-level investment options. The firm uses a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and risk-based mutual fund portfolios, supported by education, seminars, and personalized retirement planning.

Thomas Zimmerman is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services since 2024, with prior roles at William Blair and Private Vista LLC. Outside of finance, he was employed at Hinsdale Golf Club from 2016 to 2022. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, and institutional clients. The firm uses strategic allocation models and manager selections to tailor portfolios and offers a range of services such as Private Family Office programs, Financial Wellness, and access to Alternative Investments.

Keletso Zondo is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with five years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC in 2021, Zondo worked at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management and Ayco, a Goldman Sachs company. Their background also includes roles at Lake Forest College and Waterford Kamhlabe UWCSA. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning and portfolio management tailored to client objectives, leveraging strategic allocation models, external manager selections, and a range of implementation options within the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Marjory Blackmer is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Global Retirement Partners, LPL Financial, Kestra Financial Services, and Strategic Retirement Partners. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed outside the United States. The firm’s advisory services include direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Richard Sugarman is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at The AYCO Company, L.P./Mercer Allied for 15 years before joining Goldman Sachs in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a part-time instructor at Northwestern University, teaching topics related to the Certified Financial Planner Certification. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a wide range of clients, including individual and high-net-worth households, corporate participants, and institutional clients. The firm leverages centralized investment resources and affiliated teams to deliver tailored wealth management solutions through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary managers.

Michael McKevitt is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015. He has also been associated with LPL Financial since 2008. McKevitt operates under the business name Purposeful Wealth, Inc. for providing investment advice through Private Advisor Group. Private Advisor Group, LLC manages over $41 billion across more than 135,000 client relationships, offering services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate and retirement plan clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party asset management programs, with an investment approach that incorporates asset allocation, fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis, and various strategy time horizons.

Lorence Merritt is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Highland Park, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 45 years of industry experience, with prior roles at LPL Financial and Sheridan Road Advisors, and has led The Merritt Advisory Group since 2018. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Co-Chair of Legacy Fundraising at Temple Beth Israel. Independent Financial Partners is a nationwide enterprise firm with over 260 advisors, providing investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services. The firm supports a decentralized advisory model while offering formal retirement-plan consulting and trustee services, managing over $12.5 billion in assets as of December 2024.

Edward Bothfeld is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth since 2013. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an alderman on the Lake Forest City Council. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions, while offering operational, technology, and compliance support to affiliated advisors.

Michael Tuber is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Strategic Wealth Partners, and Kovitz Investment Group Partners. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach within an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies, separate account managers, private funds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Stevany Williamson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and various mortgage-related roles. Before her financial services career, she managed a salon and spa for three years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, with services closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Ryan Keenan is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Citigroup Global Markets in 2025, he worked at JP Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank for eight years, as well as Northwestern Mutual Investment Services and Stevee Mengyan. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and broker‑dealer execution and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, combining large institutional scale with unique market roles and arrangements.

Patrick Vasicovschi is a financial advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Hightower Securities, GWFS Equities, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Capital Group, and UBS Financial Services. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is a dual-registered SEC investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management through wrap and UMA programs, third-party money manager access, and brokerage and insurance product distribution.

Daniel Madura is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, providing brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

Gregory Neer Jr. is a financial advisor at NorthCoast Asset Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Relative Value Partners Group, LLC and Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC. Gregory joined Focus Partners Wealth, LLC in 2026. NorthCoast Asset Management provides investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a quantitative and systematic investment approach with proprietary models and manages most client relationships on a discretionary basis.

Thomas Enright is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning, LLC since 2023 and previously spent 12 years at Mesirow Financial, Inc. in Northbrook, IL. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various specialized portfolio management techniques.