Kathleen Wresch is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Lake in the Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Homeside Financial and Perl Mortgage. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Brandon Blazer is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Barrington, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience, including 10 years with Wells Fargo Clearing. 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 offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Anthony Bianchi Sr. is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Lake County Crime Stoppers, an anonymous crime tip line. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers comprehensive, goal-based planning on topics such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs but does not include implementation of recommendations as part of the service.

John Josten is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 39 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Lamb Little and VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he manages an agriculture-related business, John M. Hanson Enterprises LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform that includes affiliated and third-party managers, with over $256 billion in assets under management and more than 10,000 advisors.

Jose Lopez Maldonado is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors from 2016 to 2021 before joining LPL Financial in 2021. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a variety of financial planning and investment management solutions, including model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by advanced research and operational tools.

Dennis Marach is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Citigroup Global Markets for six years before joining Linsco Private Ledger, now part of LPL Financial, in 2006. He is involved in outside insurance activities and operates Marach Financial Management, which includes non-variable life insurance writing and tax preparation services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive operational and research tools.

Erick De La Cruz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2025. Prior to this role, his work experience includes positions at Coro Enterprises LLC The Red Lion, Exmoor Country Club, and Target Corporation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Melanie Sheedy is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012. She has worked with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for 25 years and was involved with The Sheedy Family Living Trust from 2010 to 2021. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on non-discretionary, written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screens and qualitative research to build model asset allocations and includes broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Brian Magura is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Brandon Nguyen is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Fidelity Investments, M1 Finance, and Merrill Edge/Bank of America. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary framework. Their advisory process includes centralized due diligence with a combination of quantitative and qualitative research supported by affiliated portfolio services.

Brian Schnell is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northern Trust Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides planning services alongside broader investment and brokerage capabilities.

Dennis Gorman is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at LPL Financial since 2018. Prior to that, he was with Cetera Advisor Networks for five years and has operated Gorman & Associates since 1990. He is involved with the CPA Affiliate Program through Gorman & Associates. 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 institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment programs, including model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by advanced operational tools and a broad platform of non-advisory financial services.

Joseph Miceli is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC since 2000. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in health and life insurance renewals as an insurance agent. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a network of over 10,000 independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with various program options, including automated allocations and direct indexing.

Roger Smith is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Edward Jones since 2000. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, investment options, and fiduciary services supported by a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Erik Rosencrans is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He joined The Rosencrans Group in 2022 and works alongside his father and business partner, Jeff Rosencrans, who has been a Merrill advisor for over 40 years. Erik brings his background in corporate financial strategy and experience in management consulting and private equity—where he advised corporations on financial strategy and operational efficiency across technology, healthcare, and finance sectors—to his role in wealth management. Erik's expertise includes investment management, retirement planning, tax minimization strategies, insurance, and estate planning services. He supports clients in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, legacy and liquidity management, managing new wealth, small business strategies, and retirement income. His approach is grounded in research, analytical rigor, and a commitment to client success, emphasizing thoughtful, personalized guidance and building lasting relationships. He holds bachelor's degrees in Entrepreneurship, Corporate Innovation, and Marketing from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Erik lives in Chicago with his wife Lauren and participates in community organizations including Groop of Friends and The Friendly Scholars Foundation.

Peter Van Houten is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at LPL Financial since 2017, with prior experience at Merrill and other firms. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives to individuals, retirement plans, banks, and institutions. The firm offers a range of investment solutions including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Patricia Ciebien is a financial advisor with Merrill in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 31 years of industry experience. She has worked with Merrill since 1986. Merrill, along 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. The firm offers both model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal teams and third-party managers.

Morgan Hensel is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Ameriprise with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, Hensel held various roles including positions at Bethel University and multiple leadership development centers. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm’s retirement income service uses a centralized team to deliver customized Recommendation Reports supported by proprietary research and third-party data.

Kelly Karecki is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2016. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and scenario modeling as part of its financial planning process.

Timothy Matta is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. He previously worked for SRI Systems Research Inc for 19 years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.