Thomas Waters is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Deerfield, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been in the industry since 2025. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked independently for ten years. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and a broad range of third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, combining advisory and brokerage channels to tailor services based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Paul Skowronski is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, he specializes in areas such as college education planning, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. Paul holds several professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Paul earned both his Bachelor's degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from DePaul University. He is involved with professional organizations such as the Bull Valley Golf Club and the Union League Club. Additionally, he contributes to the community as a mentor in the Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) program at DePaul University. Outside of his professional work, Paul enjoys playing baseball, gardening, golfing, listening to music, reading, and spending time with his family.

John Bochniak is a financial advisor with Merrill in Lake Forest, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America and AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he participates as a test subject in a Phase III clinical trial for an experimental drug. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Morgan Presterl is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Spectrum Center Inc. for five years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service providing written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Susan Yore is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Stifel with 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2022 and previously spent 11 years at Bank of America, N.A. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on proprietary forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Micah Nathan is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors in Highland Park, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors and related entities since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, he has 100% ownership of a residential property in Chicago with his spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services tailored to clients meeting a net-worth threshold. The firm offers a broad range of planning services and integrates advisory solutions with other financial products and referral channels.

Dimitry Neyzelman is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior work experience including roles at Chegg Inc and Discover Financial Services, as well as consulting work. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through third-party programs and a hybrid referral and implementation model.

Hamza Akram is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015, also working concurrently with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2014. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Michele Aspan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has worked with Wells Fargo Advisors and its affiliates since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she manages funds related to her son's music business and is a notary public in Highland Park, IL. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients with a broad range of investment and financial planning services, employing tailored recommendations supported by firm research and planning tools.

Janine Chun is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2022. She has over a decade of experience with Fidelity, having held various positions within the firm since 2012. Her previous roles include Planning Consultant, Relationship Manager, High Net Worth Service Representative, and Financial Representative at the Regional Center. Throughout her career at Fidelity, Janine has developed expertise in utilizing the firm's tools and resources to create customized financial plans that align with clients' individual needs. She emphasizes building relationships based on integrity to assist clients and their families in working toward their financial goals.

Adriana Edwards is a financial advisor at Merrill with 4 years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. She has been with Merrill since 2006. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm provides model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Charles Margolis is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked across various Wells Fargo divisions since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee and executor for multiple family trusts and estates. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser offering a broad range of investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm uses proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations across diverse planning needs, including niche areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

Charles Menges is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Korpack, Merkle Korff Industries (a Nidec Company), Golfcritique.com, D&W Fine Pack, and Menges Roller Company. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific eligibility criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to generate tailored retirement income recommendations.

James Ray is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2019. His prior roles include positions at IHT Wealth Management and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. He also provides general information on financial technology based on his experience at other firms. 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 range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, with access to model portfolios, research, and various investment strategies.

Drew Cullum is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and its affiliated entities since 2005 and is also the owner of Trew Benefits, Inc., where he has been involved since 1998. Additionally, he serves as a committee member of the Village of Libertyville. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent financial professionals, utilizing proprietary and third-party investment strategies across various platform arrangements.

Samuel Ruiz is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he collaborates with advisors to assist their clients in achieving financial clarity and confidence. He provides personalized guidance and planning services, helping individuals navigate key financial decisions, including retirement and investment strategies as well as long-term goal setting. His role focuses on simplifying complex financial topics and delivering actionable insights to empower clients throughout their financial journey. Samuel has held multiple positions at Fidelity Investments, beginning as a Financial Representative from 2023 to 2025, then serving as a Relationship Manager in 2025, before assuming his current role as Planning Consultant in 2025. Through these roles, he has developed experience in supporting clients and advisors with financial planning and relationship management. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Samuel enjoys skiing, tennis, and traveling.

Jennifer Curtiss is a Series 66-licensed advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Robert W. Baird since 2008. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of the Picnic Grove Homeowners' Association and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Fox River Grove. She is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies and both in-house and third-party managers.

Gregory Wells is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked within various Wells Fargo entities since 2009. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by offering investment and fee-based financial planning services tailored to clients who meet a net-worth threshold. The firm provides a broad range of planning services including cash-flow, retirement, education, and specialized areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs planning.

Gregory Powell is a Series 63 licensed financial advisor with 42 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cetera and has held various roles within Cetera and its associated entities since 2012. He also serves as a compliance officer at Horizon Financial Group and Horizon Financial Network. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to multiple investment managers through a multi-manager platform.

Jonathan Mrowiec is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Spring Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Fifth Third Securities before joining LPL Financial in 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he teaches advanced tax and accounting courses as an adjunct instructor at Oakton Community College and as an assistant professor at Carthage College. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and third-party subadvisors.