Brian Sheppard is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2008 and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation earned through The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. Brian works alongside colleagues Dave and Svitlana to implement financial strategies focused on retirement planning and other client goals. Brian attended Barrington High School and pursued coursework at DePaul University, though no degree was conferred. He is also a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and contributes to The Sheppard Group, which was recognized on the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Based in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, Brian volunteers and fundraises to support local first responders, including running the Chicago Marathon for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. His personal interests include golf, martial arts, and reading literature on economics, philosophy, and science.

Evan Hoobchaak is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2003. Outside of advising, he is the owner and president of Sisu Capital Inc., and is involved in strategic planning and sales for Palm Rat Golf, LLC, an apparel business. He is also an author. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement, focusing on clients with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research-driven modeling and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Cora Groble is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones, based in Arlington Heights, IL. She has two years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2024. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including households of varying net worth, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Erik Olsen is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Woodstock, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, he served five years in the United States Navy. His background includes involvement related to veteran disability benefits. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

John Silmon is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones, where he has worked since 2019. He has six years of industry experience and previously spent 18 years at KPMG LLP. Outside of his advisory role, he owns residential rental properties in Oak Park, Illinois. 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 broad range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Kurt Kubon is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, and at Citigroup Global Markets since 1998. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for several personal trusts. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools supported by the Global Investment Committee’s return estimates and Monte Carlo simulations.

Jeffrey Lord is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for four years. In addition to his advisory role, he manages a social media podcast called Shared Connections. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and corporations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

David Hubbard is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with Cetera Advisor Networks and operates Total Clarity Wealth Management, an independent registered investment advisory firm. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved in several business ventures including financial services, tax preparation, and accounting firms under the Exemplar brand. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm provides diverse advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by extensive research and model portfolios.

Lloyd Montgomery III is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Raymond James Financial since 2009. He is also the owner of Montgomery Wing LLC, a support company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and nonprofit clients. The firm uses a non-discretionary, goal-based approach with analytical tools to tailor recommendations and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation.

Jeffrey Bruce is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 21 years of industry experience, including five years at Cetera Advisor Networks and eight years with LPL Financial. Additionally, he serves in the United States Army Reserve and is involved in tax preparation and accounting through Exemplar Accounting and Tax, Inc. LPL Financial is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, various advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services supported by research and model portfolios.

Roshni Khory is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Palatine, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in independent insurance brokering with Mass Mutual. Ameriprise is a large institutional firm serving clients primarily through its retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary retirement income recommendations.

Rex Ramirez is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Arlington Heights, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked in the mortgage and lending industry at Envoy Mortgage, Ltd, Ldwholesale (a division of LoanDepot.com LLC), and Homeward Residential Inc. 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 and investment solutions, supported by a nationwide network of approximately 23,701 financial advisors and more than $1 trillion in assets under management.

Robert Teik is a ChFC® professional with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at LPL Financial since 1997. He holds the Series 63 license and has a background that includes roles in insurance and tax preparation as well as consulting, where he is Vice President and Treasurer of Ossanna Consulting Group, Inc. based in Barrington, IL. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting supported by in-house and third-party research, along with various portfolio management options.

Patrick Skowron is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors, Mass Mutual, and Fidelity Investments. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC, where he works, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios and advisory solutions.

Jeffrey Froman is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 2006 and began his career in financial services in 1996. Jeffrey specializes in working with businesses to address their retirement, benefit, executive, and equity compensation program needs. Jeffrey holds several professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS). These credentials support his ability to tailor and manage retirement benefit plans suited to the unique needs of organizations. He provides a broad range of services to plan sponsors, including plan design guidance, provider selection, plan performance tracking, investment menu updates, and employee education to encourage participation. His approach includes reviewing plan features and investment options to identify opportunities for improvement in technology, reporting, fees, and fiduciary risk management. Jeffrey earned a Bachelor's Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master's Degree from DeVry University.

Frank Gioe is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Empower Financial Services. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based planning across various financial topics. The firm offers these services through a network of Financial Advisors and maintains separate planning and managed-account programs without discretionary trading authority.

Erik Mansfield is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Edward Jones since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, United Home Loans, and Midwest Equity Mortgage. He is based in Arlington Heights, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across the United States. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary advisory strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Chadwick Noyes is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Guardian, New York Life Insurance Company, and Eagle Strategies LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he volunteers as a youth sports coach and serves on the board of a nonprofit organization supporting individuals with Down syndrome. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a subsidiary of MassMutual, providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers various investment programs along with educational seminars and structures financial planning as ongoing, collaborative engagements.

Michael Crouch is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2011. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

James Mcghee is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Prior to that, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. He also acts as a trustee of his mother’s trust. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory solutions. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.