Robert Bieniek is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Port Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2005 and has also been involved with Individual Financial Practitioners, Inc. since 1983, where he is engaged in the sale of individual life and long-term care insurance. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers.

Ralph Backe Jr. is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 33 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he co-owns a vacation home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and third-party platforms.

Donald Cafero Sr. is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 42 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with TLG Advisors, Inc. He has worked at several firms including The Leaders Group Inc and Highland Capital Brokerage. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance brokerage through The Cafero Group and works as a point of sale and wholesale specialist with FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering services such as portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Their investment approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, with a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios that tailors portfolios based on client risk profiles.

Dennis Anderson is a CFP® professional with 34 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2013, following prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. In addition to his financial advisory work, he owns and operates a grain and livestock farm in Viola, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a wide range of clients, offering services including financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan consulting through a team of more than 500 advisors.

Rod Russell is a financial advisor at Farther with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at BNY Mellon and J.P. Morgan. Outside of his advisory role, he coordinates property development activities for Lake Roots Holdings, LLC. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform supplemented by in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, and individual equities.

Pranav Singh is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and Jpmorgan Chase Bank NA for over a decade before joining Fifth Third in 2022. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types and third-party portfolio management via its Passageway Managed Account Platform and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor.

Donald Baran is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. holding a Series 66 license and five years of industry experience. His professional background includes roles at The Leaders Group Inc., FSG, Pizza Hut, Edward Jones, Weiman Products, and EMCO Chemical Distributors. He also works as an insurance wholesaler for fixed insurance products directly with financial advisors through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent representatives, sub-advisors, and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Eric Eimen is a financial advisor at William Blair with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining William Blair in 2022, he worked at BMO Private Bank from 2011 to 2022. 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 multiple asset classes and provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Todd Bessey is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC. He previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 17 years before joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2021. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, 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, focusing on customized portfolios that combine internal management and third-party asset manager oversight.

David Reilly is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with 22 years of experience, currently with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2013. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities. The firm offers a range of services such as wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, and investment management consulting, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Jennifer Merida is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including 818 Capital Group, Money Concepts Capital Corp., ADP, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 2% owner and performs back-office work for Kaidence Chiropractic & Wellness, a business owned by her husband. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and participant savings rates.

Joanna Geier is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently working at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. She previously spent nine years at Jackson Financial Management. Outside of her advisory role, she consults on physical therapy data entry for Tomson Rehab. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, foundations, and non-profits, offering a range of advisory services including investment management, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm uses a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and implements portfolios through a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

James Wormley is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards since 2013, following prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that utilize proprietary strategies and third-party models.

Megan Anderson is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Golden Technology and Randstad Technologies. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management, brokerage services, and M&A advisory, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Sandra Nies is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Huntington National Bank, Park Avenue Investment Advisory, River Street Advisors, Old Second National Bank, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs on the Passageway platform, utilizing multiple third-party portfolio managers and strategies such as SMA, tax-overlay, and direct indexing.

John Rousos is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Highland Capital Brokerage and Investacorp Advisory Services. He is also involved in wholesaling and insurance-related activities through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Annette Hammortree is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities since 2005, with a brief tenure at MSI Financial Services. Beyond her advisory role, she serves on the boards of PACT, Inc. and Lifes Plan Inc., organizations that provide trustee services and support to people with disabilities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides tailored client solutions including financial planning, consulting, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory programs.

Katharine Lois is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for six years. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that combine proprietary strategies and third-party model providers.

Jason Giambarberee is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials. He has experience spanning roles at Empower Financial Services, Cetera Investment Services, American Fidelity, and a background in real estate with @properties and Baird and Warner Real Estate. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates through point-in-time planning and managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Thomas Bartley is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 41 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Meritage, The Leaders Group Inc, Securities America, Highland Capital Brokerage, Investacorp, and Capital PSF. Bartley has also worked as an independent insurance agent for over 50 years. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory and portfolio management, financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.