Marty Pereira is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience and currently serves as an Investment Advisor Representative at Kestra Advisory. He has held roles at Kestra since 2015, including positions with Kestra Investment Services, and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CSMG International Ltd. He is also the Investment Advisor and Director of Research & Analytics for Partners Wealth Management, where he focuses on research and investment recommendations. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves a diverse client base including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Mark Diorio is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2015 and previously worked at Parasol Investment Management, LLC and Pennant Management Inc. 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 utilizes a range of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and a variety of investment vehicles, operating a turnkey asset management platform and offering discretionary portfolio management through advisor representatives and sub-advisory roles.

Michael Moleski is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, Moleski manages a family farm business. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm emphasizes a financial planning-led investment approach with low-cost indexing and offers a range of supplemental strategies and integrated retirement plan services.

Susan Penno is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with three years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners. In addition to her advisory role, she owns Sassetti, LLC, a tax and accounting firm where she provides tax compliance and planning services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by offering investment management, financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement advice. The firm’s approach features diversified allocations aligned with client objectives, supported by ancillary services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate planning through third-party providers.

Matthew Anderson is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses. His prior experience includes eight years at U.S. Bancorp Investments and US Bank. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model that uses algorithmic risk assessment to guide portfolio strategy implementation.

Mary Gruenberg is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with 27 years of industry experience. She is currently with Principal Financial Services and has previous experience at Farmers Financial Solutions and Farmers Insurance Group. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. 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.

Michael Beach is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding a Series 66 credential. He has recently entered the financial services industry, with prior experience across various sectors including logistics and insurance. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Alicia Hyland is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Darien, IL, holding Series 66, Series 63, and Series 65 designations and nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at GWFS Equities Inc., Stonegate Advisors LLC, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of her advisory role, Alicia operates a bookkeeping and basic accounting services business and works part-time as a flight attendant. 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 certain retail brokerage account holders, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Liam Mulligan is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at L.M. Kohn & Company and Benjamin F. Edwards. Mulligan also spent several years in education before transitioning to financial services. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, employing a strategic investment approach that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Mazen Zanayed is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Clarendon Hills, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Wealth Management since 2014. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account that uses algorithmic questionnaires to guide portfolio strategy and implements investments via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Austin Wegforth is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Wealth Enhancement Brokerage Services and the Wealth Enhancement group. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets through a large advisor network and employs a diversified investment process that blends passive and active management, with portfolio oversight by an internal Investment Committee.

Chad Stein is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC 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 combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management using both model and customized portfolios, and also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Daniel Lippold is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Command Advisory Services since 2015. He has also been affiliated with First Command Insurance Services and First Command Financial Planning since 2011. Daniel is based in Darien, IL. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing model portfolios managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Andrew Blessman is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2019. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked at Sebold Capital Management from 2015 to 2019. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a financial planning–led investment process with low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a broad team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Mark Hughes is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 38 years of industry experience, including roles at Hughes Financial since 2000 and positions at Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Securities INC dating back to the late 1980s. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in selling and servicing fixed life, fixed annuities, and health insurance products through an outside insurance business. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, businesses, and active-duty military personnel overseas. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Christopher Crull is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial industry, currently serving as an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2004. He is based in Orland Park, IL, and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual high-net-worth clients and institutional investors such as corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts. The firm offers investment advisory and brokerage services through multiple programs and third-party portfolio managers, including the Passageway Managed Account Program.

Thomas Drennan is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also worked with World Financial Group since 2002. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in the sale of insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach to investment advisory services, supported by a large advisor network and multiple program platforms.

Brian Rapacki is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 19 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and various entities, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model with a mix of model and customized portfolios and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Todd Kemp is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also been involved with several other ventures, including ownership of The Kemp Group and serving as a registry instructor at the Heartland Institute of Financial Education. Additionally, he offers estate planning services through Net Law. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, providing both advisory and broker-dealer services. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program choices and supports plan clients through affiliated retirement and recordkeeping entities.

Barbara Natale is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 36 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at PNC Wealth Management since 2017, with prior roles at PNC Investments, PNC Bank, Natcity Investments, Inc., and Invest Financial Corporation. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees, which utilizes algorithm-driven portfolio recommendations and third-party management.