Crystal Thomas is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2022 and previously spent 13 years at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal Chief Investment Office teams and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Craig Christell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Arlington Heights, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and having 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1982. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in real estate partnerships including hotel room rentals and other rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory services and operates under a fiduciary standard with a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

Karina Munji is a financial advisor at Cetera with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with various Cetera entities since 2015 and previously worked at Vijay Thakkar and Associates Ltd. Outside of finance, she works as a freelance audio transcriber for multiple companies. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Benjamin Miller is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates since 2024. Prior to joining Raymond James, he was with UBS Financial Services Inc for 15 years. He is an officer involved in neighborhood management for The Preserve at Long Grove. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional and pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering non-discretionary financial planning and investment consulting supported by proprietary research and a range of portfolio management styles.

Patrick O'Connor is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2011. Outside of his work at Wells Fargo, he co-owns Armada Financial Partners Ltd with his spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services that include retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning, with specialized services requiring specific advisor credentials.

Ellen Tippow is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Capital One and Synchrony Financial. Tippow is a co-owner of PaxCo LLC, a business related to managing her Ameriprise practice. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

Ernesto Aranda is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Crystal Lake, IL. His prior experience includes roles at The Huntington Investment Company and Bank of America. He has also been affiliated with DePaul University since 2016. Ameriprise Financial Services is a diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement income planning focused on tax-aware withdrawal strategies and dependable income sources.

Thomas Sublewski is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Woodstock, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank and JP Morgan Securities LLC, spanning six years, as well as four years at BMO Bank NA. Outside of finance, he was involved with The Foodie Dog from 2015 to 2020. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that offers advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of advisors and integrates both proprietary research and third-party strategies in its advisory platform.

Nirdesh Patel is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Signator Investors, Inc. and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. for 22 years before joining OSAIC in 2018. Patel is also an agent for Dynasty Retirement and Financial Services, where he is involved in the sales and marketing of fixed annuities and non-variable insurance products. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers and multiple platforms. The firm employs various asset-allocation tools and third-party solutions to construct portfolios that include a range of securities and alternative investments, with accounts managed on discretionary or non-discretionary bases.

Lesley Torres is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with two years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her work history includes roles at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Charles Schwab & Co Inc., Magnit, Paylocity, and Edgars Landscaping Inc. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary advisory relationships and access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by strategic asset allocation and a formal alternative investment process.

Richard Augustine Sr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC based in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at SagePoint Financial, Lincoln Financial Advisors, and Austin Bancorp. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as president of R.J. Augustine & Associates, Ltd., a corporation offering tax, accounting, and strategic business planning services, and he is the treasurer of the Founders Club Homeowners Association. OSAIC serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and risk-assessment methods to manage portfolios across various asset classes on discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Julia Pierre Louis is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2014. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, delivering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with broker-dealer and investment adviser registrations, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services.

Michael Barwacz is currently a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2024. He has been with Fidelity since 2019, serving previously as a Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2024 and as a Relationship Manager from 2019 to 2021. Prior to joining Fidelity, Michael worked as a Premium Investment Consultant for Merrill Edge between 2017 and 2019. Michael brings over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. His background includes a decade as Director of Retail Trading at TD Ameritrade from 2007 to 2017 and over two decades as a Market Maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange from 1984 to 2007. This extensive experience supports his focus on building comprehensive financial plans tailored to individual goals. Outside of his professional work, Michael enjoys activities such as cooking and baking, family engagements, fitness, football, music, and photography.

Aruna Sriram is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 22 years of industry experience. She has held roles at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2005. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, focusing on asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm’s approach combines quantitative modeling with centralized due diligence and incorporates an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Sofiya Semanyshyn is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Vermillion Financial Advisors and Le Colonial. She attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 2021 to 2025. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and employs more than 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Gary Phelps is a financial advisor at Stifel with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Merrill, Banc of America Investment Services, and LaSalle Financial Services. In addition to his advisory work, he is a notary public who notarizes documents for clients. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutions, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach uses a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses, which support client decision-making.

Jason Brim is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at National Life Group and Lakeshore Financial Group. Outside of advising, he owns farmland in Central Illinois that he rents out for agricultural use. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves mainly high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering a blend of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management along with integrated custody and brokerage services.

Kent Atkinson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having 41 years of industry experience. He has worked with various Morgan Stanley entities since 2007, including Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he manages a rental property in Crystal Lake, IL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a structured planning process and serves clients through both direct and corporate financial planning agreements.

Nathan Arroyave is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Huntley, Illinois. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked at BMO Bank NA and Rogers & Holland's. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supporting a broad range of investment strategies through a large network of advisors.

Jaime Davison is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, bringing eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent in 2017, Jaime worked for 13 years at Leo Burnett. Outside of financial advising, Jaime serves as Merchandise Coordinator for Bulldog Youth Sports Football, a nonprofit focused on youth character development, and holds leadership roles in several Wauconda community organizations, including serving as PTO President for Wauconda School District 118 and Secretary for the Wauconda High School Fine Arts Boosters. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits through a network of financial advisors, delivering comprehensive, goal-based planning without discretionary trading authority and allowing clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.