Ramesh Poola is a CFA charterholder and financial advisor at Creative Planning with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at IRON Financial, LLC for eleven years before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental tactics such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Aaron Kim is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. since 2015. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services Corp., Valic Financial Advisors, and Ameriprise. He also operates as an independent insurance agent for fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is a large advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm integrates in-house and third-party strategies with technology-enabled tools to deliver both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management.

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.

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.

Benjamin Teichman is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 22 years of industry experience and has worked extensively with both Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities. He also engages in selling insurance products outside of Guardian on a limited basis. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a blend of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, supported by proprietary programs and third-party platforms.

Aurelio Reyes is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Woodridge, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at J.P. Morgan Securities and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a local DoorDash driver. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with a municipal-advisor registration.

Marzena Lukasiewicz is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Financial Wealth Alliance, MasterCall, and World Discount Telecommunications. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Archie Bragg Jr. is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and totaling 27 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is a large enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines model portfolios, in-house and external strategists, and technology-driven tools to deliver financial planning and portfolio management services through a network of investment adviser representatives.

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.

Jeffery Berenson is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with NewEdge Advisors. His prior work includes six years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Orland Park, where he helps manage financial statements and supports local charitable activities. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a broad range of portfolio management and consulting services. The firm employs multiple program structures and integrates technology and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

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.

Julie Belvedere is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation and TransAmerica Retirement Solutions since 2015 and has been associated with the Law Offices of Joseph P Glimco III since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a business providing cleaning, administrative, and office services to businesses and works part-time at Kohl's. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners, offering managed advice programs and investment education focused on asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement planning. The firm utilizes Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary tools for portfolio construction and operates at scale with a large client base and a high client-to-advisor ratio.

Nikola Plavsic is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and LPL Enterprise LLC. 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.

Russell Game is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding a ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses, with 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brookstone since 2017 and previously spent time with Center Street Advisors and Center Street, as well as owning and operating Game & Associates Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and president of Game & Associates Financial Services, which sells insurance products including fixed annuities. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models alongside a diversified mix of investment vehicles and serves both as a primary advisor and sub-advisor through its turnkey platform.

Maureen Zygler is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Mutual of Omaha Investor Services. She also has experience in the hospitality sector, having worked at Kona Grill and Uncle Julio's Restaurant. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement advisory services through a large network of investment adviser representatives and a range of affiliated and unaffiliated investment products.

Bryan Brooks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held roles at firms including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Nuveen, and TIAA. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management services, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

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.

Joseph Florina is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Brookstone Capital Management LLC and Wealth Financial Services & Tax Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at Interactive Brokers, First American Bank, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a range of investment strategies including ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced approaches.

Kelly Manchac is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 23 years before joining Hightower in 2022. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors, with a focus on manager selection and multi-manager solutions. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and access to various investment vehicles through its network of Advisor Practices.

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.