Ezra Samuels is a Client Experience Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with clients to understand their current financial situations and introduces them to the solutions available through Merrill and Bank of America. He aims to empower clients with knowledge and tools to manage their financial lives effectively. Ezra holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Syracuse University.

Donald Gaylord Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Elgin, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 22 years of industry experience, all at Edward Jones since 2004. He is involved in real estate investment through ownership of multiple properties in Illinois. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, affiliated mutual funds, and tax-efficient services, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Anthony Manfrin is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. in Elgin, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Guardian Life, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, and Unum. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, which serves individual, corporate, pension, and charitable clients with a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services. The firm employs a combination of manager-traded and model-traded strategies, tax management, and unified fee arrangements, supported by internal research and technology including artificial intelligence.

Kyle Butson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Roselle, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior work history includes four years at Edward Jones and roles at Itasca Bank & Trust Co and Integrated Facilities Solutions. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, encompassing financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Michael Masciopinto is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 37 years of industry experience. He has held his current role since 2020 and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 33 years. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver written, non-discretionary recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team.

Nicole Mackowiak is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked previously at Avantax Investment Services and 1st Global Advisors, and she currently manages operations at Porte Brown Wealth Management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to various third-party managers and program structures.

Kevin Kelly is a financial advisor with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avantax and LPL Financial, and he is the owner of Resurgens Investments, LLC as well as Legacy Tax & Accounting, LLC, where he manages tax and accounting services. Kelly also offers identity theft protection services through Harvard Risk Management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and financial planning services across multiple program structures, offering access to both affiliated and third-party money managers.

Mark Geraci Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2010 and previously worked at Money Concepts Capital Corp from 2007 to 2010. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and third-party asset management, supported by advanced operational tools and a broad array of affiliated financial services.

Anum Melwani is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill in 2019, Melwani worked at First Security Trust and Savings and JP Morgan Chase. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Joseph Mazzocchi is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2024, he worked at Community Trust Credit Union and Gold Coast Bank. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering various advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Timothy Sattley is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is a science fiction author and the sole proprietor of High Dive Games, a recreation and art-related business in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is also employed by Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

James Mcnamara is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 41 years of industry experience. His prior work includes a three-year tenure at A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, managing approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors.

Danny Conti Mica is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His prior work includes 26 years at MetLife Securities Inc. and a decade at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance brokerage activities through Comprehensive Financial Concepts, LLC. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, focusing on collaborative, goal-based planning using firm-approved analytical tools.

Kristen Graham is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Aon. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority, combining planning with managed accounts under a consolidated billing option called WealthPlan.

Steven Garrels is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Avantax Investment Services, Avantax Advisory Services, Avantax Insurance Services, 1st Global Advisors, and Borhart Spellmeyer & Company. Outside of advising, he serves as Board Chairman of Harvard Savings Bank, a publicly traded financial institution currently in liquidation. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that offers a multi-manager platform serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and planning services through a network of over 10,000 advisors and manages more than $256 billion in assets.

Ashleen Davey is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2018, following two years at BMO Harris Bank. She serves as a successor trustee for a family trust outside of her advisory role. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Sean Grady is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Arlington Heights, IL, with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Sean is the owner and CEO of KSG Hospitality Consulting, providing expertise in culinary and restaurant management. He also serves as a judge for a high school investment competition hosted by District 214 High Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs and maintains a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

John Stevens is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, N.A., Merrill, and City National Bank. RBC Wealth Management serves a broad client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering advisory programs with tailored strategies implemented through a mix of in-house and third-party investment managers. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services.

John Strotman is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with UBS since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he sells sports trading cards and memorabilia from his personal collection. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Kelly Bays is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, Bays co-leads two Girl Scout troops and helps plan a volunteer-run Girl Scout day camp in the McHenry area. She is also co-author of the financial book *Intentional Legacy*. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to produce written recommendation reports. The firm provides a wide range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its large institutional platform.