Thomas Wendt is a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC with nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones and Bromley Company. His credentials include the Series 66 designation. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Rick Melone is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to his current role, he was employed at The High Tech Solution and Capgemini. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory and investment services supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Katherine Strain is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services and Raymond James & Associates. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services supported by proprietary research and tools, allowing clients to customize implementation through brokerage or advisory programs.

Daniel Volk is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Wayne Hummer Investments for 16 years before joining LPL Financial in 2025. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios and research from internal and third-party sources.

Cheryl Kranz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Crystal Lake, IL, with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Connor Terry is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Advisors. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis.

Anastasia Thermos is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Cuna Brokerage Services, Inc., and Abbott Laboratories Ecu. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including discretionary portfolio management and model portfolio delivery. The firm integrates proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and systematic methodologies in its investment process and serves as an adviser to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Fradi Dababneh is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He is dedicated to working closely with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies tailored to their individual needs. Fradi emphasizes ongoing advice and portfolio adjustment to align with clients' changing circumstances. His areas of expertise include college and education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds professional designations such as Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Fradi completed an Accredited Certificate Program at the College of Lake County. Outside of his professional role, Fradi enjoys basketball, boxing, fishing, pickleball, running, and spending time with his family. He is involved in his community through church security work.

Gary Heymann is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2006. 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 managed solutions, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Brandon Chapel is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Mundelein, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a freelance DJ under the name dB Stereo, performing at corporate events, weddings, and nightclubs. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors.

Robert Allen IV is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Primerica Advisors since 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he has been involved with Chicago Tag & Label since 2001 and Primerica Financial Services since 1999. Outside of advisory services, he is engaged in selling loan products and home-related services referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and supports trade execution and custody through BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.

Kevin Mathews is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 16 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at City National Bank, Aviva Investors, and as a fixed income consultant. He serves on the boards of two homeowners associations in Lake Forest, IL, including a role as president. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base that includes individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple wrap fee advisory programs with customizable portfolio management and integrates both in-house and third-party investment managers to tailor strategies to client risk profiles.

Gregory Pinsky is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the finance subcommittee of the board of directors for BBYO International, a religious organization. He is part of the DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group provides customized consulting and portfolio services, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, using a range of traditional and non-traditional investment strategies.

Svitlana Botsyura is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been working in the financial services industry since 2003 and joined Merrill in 2010. Svitlana focuses on providing high-quality wealth planning experiences that simplify the complexities of financial life, with an emphasis on clear communication, transparency, trust, and excellent service. She works closely with high-net-worth clients and supports The Sheppard Group, recognized in the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list in 2024. Additionally, she has been named to the Forbes "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" in both 2023 and 2024, as well as the "Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors Best in State" list in 2023. Her expertise encompasses a broad range of client focus areas including equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy and philanthropic planning, portfolio management, personal retirement planning, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Svitlana integrates a holistic approach to wealth management, incorporating home, health, leisure, and philanthropy aspects tailored to each client's goals. She holds multiple professional designations, including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Svitlana earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University, graduating summa cum laude. She is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. She is involved in community initiatives such as Better Money Habits, a Bank of America partnership with Khan Academy, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Council. Svitlana resides in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband Brian and their rescue dog Chloe. Outside of work, she enjoys plant-based cooking, reading, traveling, biking, yoga, hiking, running, and skiing.

Steve Brunke is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 14 years of industry experience, including roles at PNC Investments and PNC Bank before joining J.P. Morgan in 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing a vacation rental property. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations, delivering services on a non-discretionary basis.

Erik Andersen is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and nine years of industry experience. Before joining J.P. Morgan in 2018, he worked at Goris Financial Group and Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Andersen previously operated a business under Technical Youth LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, which combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Joseph Gleba is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and over 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avantax Investment Services, Avantax Advisory Services, and Porte Brown Wealth Management. He serves as a director on the board of Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Company and is involved with the Illinois Road Builders Association as a committee member. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform that provides access to affiliated and third-party managers across various program structures.

Mao Xia is a financial advisor with Fidelity, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mao worked at Bank of America, Merrill, BMO Harris Bank, and World Financial Group. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm employs a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across a broad investable universe, and it maintains a formal advisory role to multiple registered investment companies.

John Busey II is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services Inc., operated as a self-employed advisor, and spent 15 years at Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to offer a wide range of investment options and portfolio management solutions.

Michael Purdy is a financial advisor with Stifel in Lake Forest, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president and limited partner of Galvani Family Ltd. Partnership, a family partnership managing a commercial property in Northbrook, IL. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary investment strategy that incorporates forward-looking market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to support asset allocation and financial planning.