Maxwell Badgley is a financial advisor at William Blair with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously spent 20 years at McKinley Capital Management / Denali Advisors. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm uses an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Heather Locus is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently with Corient, where she has worked since 2022, following a 22-year tenure at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and utilizes various risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Julia Larson is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. She has worked at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management since 2021 and has a background that includes multiple roles at Lake Forest College and involvement with Sandcastle and Minneapolis United Soccer Club. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management solutions supported by strategic allocation models and a wide range of platforms, leveraging the broader Goldman Sachs network and specialized advisory teams.

Benjamin Krotky is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and beginning his industry experience in 2026. Prior to joining Bankers Life, he worked in various roles including positions at United Parcel Service and educational institutions. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed as an insurance agent, brokering Medicare-related health insurance plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, tax efficiency, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Nicholas Bova is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He currently works at &Partners and previously spent 13 years at Wells Fargo. &Partners serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers both investment advisory and brokerage services, utilizing a combination of proprietary models and third-party manager solutions across various investment strategies.

Michael Pezzuto is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at William Blair since 2013. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary 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 access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Ryan Harrison is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors in Evanston, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining NewEdge Advisors, he held roles in sports management and marketing, including positions with the Chicago Bears and International Sports Management. NewEdge Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program that integrates asset management with financial planning and consulting. The firm manages portfolios using a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities with regular rebalancing and reviews.

Vivian Villers is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at SPC since 1998. She also has a long tenure with Sigma Financial Corporation dating back to 1991. Outside of her advisory work, Villers is a paid public speaker on special needs planning for families and is involved with SAGE Planning, which offers various insurance products. SPC serves individual clients, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through a network of over 460 advisers and approximately $5.66 billion in assets under management. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering strategies based on client suitability with options for discretionary and nondiscretionary management.

Daniel Grant is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 39 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1995. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary 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 access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private fund investment opportunities.

Donna Gordon is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners, bringing 14 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Signature Financial Services, Ltd and Signature Advisors Group before joining Independent Financial Partners in 2019. Independent Financial Partners is a nationwide enterprise providing investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a network of approximately 261 independent advisors. The firm offers a decentralized advisory model with options for discretionary and non-discretionary account management, and it is notable for its formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

James Argentine is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at SPC since 2014. He also operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, accident, and health insurance, and runs a sole proprietorship under the name Prospective Financial. SPC serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement services through a network of over 460 advisers managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets.

Robert Cullen is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with PNC Wealth Management and has previously worked at Ameriprise, Edward Jones, Citibank, BMO Wealth Management, and Fifth Third Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of The Bet Exchange LLC, a software development company holding two patents. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that utilizes algorithmically selected risk profiles and invests in mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

James Bondar is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Zacks Investment Management, SheltonCapital Management, and has experience outside finance including roles at Attic Bar and Bistro and JP's Pizza and Grill. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, and non-profits by providing investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through a combination of ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

William Farkas is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Indiana University and Mill Ridge Wealth Management, LLP. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized programs, utilizing strategic allocation models and proprietary analytics within the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Anthony Ceffalio is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial and several other companies outside the financial sector. NewEdge Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program that integrates asset management with financial planning and consulting.

Chrysanthe Karayannis is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Evanston, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected with TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services including point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, applying a fiduciary standard to its RIA services within a vertically integrated structure.

Richard Friedman is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Hwr Trading Partnership and under his own practice before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in Beta Iota, LLC, a limited partnership involved in rental property investments. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a range of supplemental portfolio management and retirement plan services.

Arvinder Kochar is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Glenview, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. for nine years before joining Kestra Advisory and related affiliated firms in 2019. Kochar also serves as a Registered Field Assistant for IPPFA Benefits, providing administrative and customer service support. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, providing services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm serves large institutional investors and offers access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

Arinola Afolabi is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, she held positions at Piper Sandler and worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized programs such as Private Family Office and Executive Wealth services. The firm utilizes strategic allocation models, manager selections, and operational tools including tax-aware techniques and proprietary analytics to tailor portfolios to client objectives.

Kurt Wittmeyer is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Corient. His prior roles include positions at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Northern Trust. He also mentors young adults through 3rd Decade, providing guidance on personal financial planning. Corient offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse clientele, 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.