Jessica Park is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at JWFS Equities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and PNC Bank. She has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions.

Matthew Lovett is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and operates an independent compliance consulting business serving advisors, broker-dealers, and law firms. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing 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 RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, delivering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts.

Andrea Smith is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Wheaton, IL. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at JP Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank NA. Additionally, she is involved in insurance and annuity activities and sales. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, utilizes a variety of investment vehicles including ETFs and structured notes, and serves as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

Jonathan Lamar is a financial advisor at William Blair with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at William Blair since 2016. Prior to that, he was with Hightower Advisors from 2012 to 2016 and Morgan Stanley from 2010 to 2012. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities through its MB Investments Program.

Mary Schulte is a CFP® professional with 38 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2016, following prior roles at Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Global Markets, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Based in Naperville, IL, she is also an agent for Raymond Schulte in an investment-related capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, investment management, and M&A advisory, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies with in-house equity and fixed income trading capabilities.

Ross Browne is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Brookstone since 2016, following a year at Horter Investment Management and ongoing involvement with Irongate Advisory since 2006, where he serves as president and owner managing annuity and life insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser offering 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 RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, delivering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis through model portfolios and managed accounts.

Michael Benstein is a financial advisor at William Blair with 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab, Enova International, and Capgemini Consulting. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. 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 active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Mark Sommerville is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various firms including LPL Financial, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and HSBC Securities. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as a licensed representative in the fixed and indexed annuity and life insurance business. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, offering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis via model portfolios, managed accounts, and various specialized strategies.

Gary Shramuk is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been associated with Gcg Financial Inc since 1999. In addition to his advisory role, he is a 50% owner of SAFE HARBOR FINANCIAL GROUP, where he sells life and health insurance. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing 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 RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, offering a range of discretionary investment strategies and support services.

Jeffrey Geel is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Ocean Pacific Investments and J4 Investment Advisors. Outside of finance, Geel manages the family farm and serves as a high school football coach. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, utilizing strategic asset-allocation models, a range of investment products, and both internal and external sub-advisors to implement client portfolios.

Scott Svoboda is a financial advisor at Farther with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Royal Fund Management, LLC DBA Tru Financial Strategies. Svoboda is also president of Svoboda Financial Group, Inc., where he operates an independent insurance agency focused on fixed annuities, Medicare supplements, life insurance, and long-term care. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios or bespoke allocations, algorithmic rebalancing, and a selection of exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Marzena Hanek is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. and Invest Financial Corporation. Hanek has been with Mercer Global Advisors since 2017 in various roles. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of advisory and planning services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified portfolios with multi-factor tilts implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other investment vehicles.

Jeremy Frazer is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at William Blair since 2014. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and works out of Geneva, Illinois. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals—including high-net-worth clients—foundations, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models, third-party sub-advisers, and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Robert Wack is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., having joined in 2026, and previously worked at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Merrill (Bank of America), Scottrade, and TD Ameritrade. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, retirement accounts, and other business entities through both advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers multiple investment programs and portfolio management options on its Passageway platform and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor.

Ryan Alvarez is a financial advisor at Integrity Alliance, LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Lion Street Advisors, Lion Street Financial, Wayne Hummer Investments, PNC Wealth Management, Natcity Investments, Inc., and Invest Financial Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Refined Strategies, a business involved in the sale of fixed annuities and life insurance products. Integrity Alliance, LLC serves a broad client base including individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm operates as a large advisor network managing approximately $5.4 billion in assets and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to both discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions through various platforms.

Matthew Neill is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and totaling 30 years of industry experience. He worked at New York Life Investment Management LLC from 2005 to 2010. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in reselling NFL tickets from his season tickets and personal seat license. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives and plan sponsor criteria, offering multiple program types including financial plans, fee-based hourly advice, and retirement plan consulting.

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.

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Tessa Fornek is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Regions Bank, Cetera Investment Services, and First Command Financial Planning. Outside of finance, she was involved in managing a coffee shop business for two years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary online investment platform currently available as an employee-only pilot. The firm uses algorithm-driven model selection and relies on third-party strategists and delegates for portfolio implementation.

Thomas Herzing is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has been with Mercer since 2015. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts, supported by various implementation options and a range of affiliated service lines.