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 at PlanMember Securities Corporation with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Vista Financial Group Ltd. and OSAIC. O'Reilly is also involved in insurance sales and services through his sole proprietorship, Vista Financial Group Ltd. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios, offering education, support, and personalized retirement planning to its clients.

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.

Janet Redding is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013 and previously worked at Legend Advisory, LLC, Oberweis Securities, Inc., and Ameritas Investment Company, LLC. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charities, and corporate and ERISA retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting with a robust in-house investment management team that constructs model portfolios and employs third-party managers.

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®-designated financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and previously spent eight years with LPL Financial. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary advisory model and offers a range of managed account solutions, including its proprietary WealthSuite platform and third-party strategies.

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 46 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Sheridan Road Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Co-Chair of Legacy Fundraising at Temple Beth Israel. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting.

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 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Focus Partners Wealth, he worked at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Strategic Wealth Partners, and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, utilizing fundamental and quantitative analysis alongside tools like trend-following and options overlay strategies.

Stevany Williamson is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Arlington Heights, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and various mortgage-related firms. Before entering financial services, she operated Stevany Thomas 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 certain IRA and brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated model supports services through Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

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 with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC and Relative Value Partners Group, LLC. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering wealth management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, utilizing fundamental and quantitative analysis alongside specialized tools such as trend-following and options overlay strategies.

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.

Terrence Crowley is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 42 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a caregiver for his disabled son. NewEdge Advisors is a large registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a diverse range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing centralized due diligence and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

Barry Finkelstein is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Deerfield, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies, New York Life Insurance Company, and Nylife Securities LLC since 2010. Finkelstein serves on a professional advisory committee for the Jewish United Fund, a Chicago-based organization of attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and plan sponsors. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Lauren Holwell is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she volunteers with the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations through a network of over 400 independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management options and develops investment strategies under firm supervision, acting as a fiduciary when agreements are in place.

Gerald Gilbertson is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2010. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Mount Prospect, IL. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Ruth Goran is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has 25 years of industry experience, including 25 years at Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she is president of Entertain2Educate, an organization involved in developing original scripts for continuing education programs, and serves as president of the not-for-profit Parks Earhart, which researches women breaking the glass ceiling in business. She also holds several voluntary board and treasurer roles with nonprofit organizations. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning through a third-party provider, integrating a diversified investment approach with a formal planning process.