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.

Joseph Foltz is a CFP® with six years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Corient. His prior experience includes roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and several other financial and educational organizations. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

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.

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 has worked at several major firms, including Wells Fargo Clearing, Credit Suisse Securities, and Morgan Stanley. Janney Montgomery Scott 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 with brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs, combining in-house portfolio management with third-party managers and offering custody and trustee services through a subsidiary trust company.

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. He has worked at several notable firms, including LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a caregiver for his disabled son. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations through independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a wide range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support client and advisor 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.

David Harrison is a CFP® professional with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with NewEdge Advisors and has held roles at North Star Investment Services, Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation, Mid Atlantic Financial Management, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of advisory work, he serves as president of Wealth Capital Partners, a financial activity business, and also of a fixed annuities and life insurance company. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and nonprofit entities through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and consulting services and employs multiple program structures supported by centralized due diligence and advanced technology tools.

Andrew Mclean is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019, following prior roles at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied and CMT Asset Management. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services offers financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, corporate participants, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes centralized investment resources and model portfolios while providing tailored solutions such as Executive Wealth and Private Family Office support.

Jacqueline Moss is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Company since 2014. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds through its integrated platform.

Connor Simios is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. He has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at Vermillion Financial Advisors and Willow Creek Community Church. He joined Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in 2025. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting through a network of advisors, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Jeremy Knobel is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations. He has 25 years of industry experience, including long-term tenure with Guardian Life and business ownership through JSK Financial Services LLC. Knobel is also co-trustee of the Seth Knobel Revocable Trust. Park Avenue Securities LLC, where Knobel practices, is a subsidiary of Guardian Life providing brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plan sponsors, and organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment solutions combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party platforms.

Mikela Ryan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, based in Deerfield, IL, and has two years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Goldman Sachs since 2023, as well as experience with JT Fitness MKE LLC, The Lowlands Restaurant Group, and Marquette University’s Office of Risk Management and Law School. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individuals, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients, offering tailored investment strategies supported by the firm’s extensive research and operational capabilities across the Goldman Sachs network.