Maria Burger is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with First Command and related entities since 2017 and is the business owner of MVB Financial Services, LLC. Burger also serves as president and board member of the West Point Society of Chicago, a nonprofit supporting the United States Military Academy, admissions, and alumni. Additionally, she provides consulting services to chemical and manufacturing companies through the Gerson Lehrman Group. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed centrally by an Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers, using a disciplined manager selection process and established platforms for portfolio administration and custody.

Alexander Kapusta is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Mariner, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Horizon Wealth Management and Kam's, as well as work with Butterfield Country Club and the United States Soccer Federation. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager access and offers integrated tax, family office, and financial wellness services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Xavier Kon Lopez is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Olympia Fields, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and use of National Financial Services and Fidelity platforms.

James Hamman is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1997. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Jennifer Heid is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with First Command in various capacities since 2010. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, delivering investment management through a centralized team that selects and manages model portfolios and third-party managers.

Benjamin Teichman is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and with 22 years of industry experience. His work history includes multiple roles at both firms since 2016. He also sells fixed insurance and annuities outside of Guardian on a limited basis. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser that serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage, financial planning, retirement consulting, and various advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management using both proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Ann Marie Cudzilo is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Transamerica Capital, Inc., Diversified Investors Securities Corp., and First Command Financial Planning. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs that utilize model portfolios and third-party managers selected by an internal Investment Management Team.

Bradley Buening is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and previously served 22 years in the United States Air Force before joining First Command in various capacities starting in 2023. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing a centralized Investment Management Team to select and manage model portfolios and third-party managers.

Curtis Wilcox is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and totaling 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2026, he was with VALIC Financial Advisors for 16 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in MCW Development, LLC, a real estate company he co-owns that develops small real estate projects. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management using proprietary models and third-party managers, and advisory services often led by advisors using Lincoln’s platform and Investment Management & Research team.

Brian Ellerman is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Co since 2015. Ellerman serves on the board of the Kenilworth Community Fund, a nonprofit that raises donations for local community organizations. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs under both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Benjamin Welch is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has prior work history at LPL Financial, J. McGovern and Associates, Lincoln Investment Planning, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a Boys U5 Division Coordinator and board member for a youth soccer organization. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house investment research team and access to third-party managers.

Jeffery Berenson is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at NewEdge Advisors since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Orland Park, where he manages financial records and supports community activities. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diversified portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various sponsored advisory programs, combining in-house manager selection with third-party models and advisor discretion.

Jorge Seda Rivera is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a CFP® designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2020, following prior roles at The Huntington Investment Company and PNC Investments. Outside of financial advising, he manages behavioral health practice management businesses, providing administrative and consulting support. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation generally carried out on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Daniyal Ahmed is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with eight years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners, Avantax Insurance Services, and Honkamp Krueger Financial Services Inc. Outside of advisory work, he has been involved in client consulting and account servicing at Honkamp Krueger Financial. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-related advice. The firm’s investment approach focuses on diversified mutual fund and ETF allocations tailored to clients’ objectives, supported by a formal planning process and ancillary services such as tax planning and estate strategies.

Nikola Plavsic is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is based in Downers Grove, IL. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Eric Walania is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair And Company, L.L.C. since 2004. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Western Springs, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Nader Maalouf is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Uber, J.P. Morgan Securities, and AXA Advisors. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs alongside broker-dealer execution and custody services.

Michael Krucek is a financial advisor at SPC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with SPC since 2011. Krucek also has a long tenure at Sigma Financial Corporation beginning in 2004. In addition to advisory work, he sells insurance products including life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering both discretionary and nondiscretionary solutions tailored to client needs.

Patricia Reilly is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1989. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary model portfolios and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Drew Mullarkey is a financial advisor at Mariner with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Capital Group Companies - American Funds, DoorDash, Morgan Stanley, and Valeo Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a broad range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios that combine in-house research with third-party managers and provides specialized tax integration and financial wellness solutions.