Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides 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 offers proprietary models and private investment opportunities.

Carla Merlak is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Brookstone since 2016 and also operates Merlak Tax Advisory Group Inc, where she provides tax preparation, planning, and insurance services. Additionally, she is involved with natural wellness product sales and financial and retirement planning through Next Phase Financial LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers fee-based asset management and financial planning primarily through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee programs, utilizing a range of investment strategies including tax-aware and ESG models.

Angela Burdelik is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1992. Based in New Lenox, IL, she has spent her entire career at the firm. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Shaila Maloney is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Nuveen Asset Management, CUNA Mutual Group, and Bank of America. Her current role at TIAA-CREF involves serving clients in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, offering model and customized managed accounts with a fiduciary standard applied to its RIA services.

James Gazis is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2025. Prior to this, he spent 15 years at Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd and three years at Commonwealth Financial Network. He is the owner of Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd, an investment-related business focused on wealth management. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of clients and is notable for its specialized retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Charles Schuster is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Monroe Capital LLC and Madison Boats LLC, along with four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing over $295 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Nicholas Curcio is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA since 2017 and joined TIAA-CREF in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at HarrisDirect LLC and E*TRADE Capital Management LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with pre-existing TIAA employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers customized portfolio management and operates as adviser to a donor-advised fund, applying a fiduciary standard within its vertically integrated advisory model.

Jesse Zaragoza is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of securities, he is involved in brokering insurance and property and casualty products. Eagle Strategies serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with a significant focus on non-discretionary asset management and advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products.

Steve Shyman is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Brookstone since 2015. Additionally, he operates Wilsave Financial and is involved as a distributor of water ionizer machines. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily through discretionary model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and turnkey asset management platform services.

Sarah Krapec is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Her prior work includes roles at Global Retirement Partners, LLC, Strategic Retirement Partners, and Kestra Financial, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Trevor Johnson is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is active as an online seller on eBay and TCGPlayer.com and creates trading and playing card content on YouTube. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform.

Corey Speck is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mariner with three years of industry experience. He has been with Mariner since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, where he helps raise funds and coordinate events. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, along with integrated tax, accounting, and family office services.

Andrea Jevne is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Ameriprise. 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.

Patrick Rule is a financial advisor with William Blair in Clarendon Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair since 2016. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division serves individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients through discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, offering proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Veena Gandhi is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2015 and is also involved in estate planning education through roles with Inheritguard, LLC and LSPN Pro LLC. Additionally, she participates in activities related to insurance sales and client education with affiliated entities including World System Builders and EBRM Agency. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high net worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach across multiple platforms, including Transamerica ONE and TFA365, with approximately $1.7 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Stephen Berenson is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at RL Tax and Bookkeeping, LLC, which provides tax accounting services. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

Xiao Chen is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Integrity Alliance, LLC. Prior to joining Integrity Alliance, Chen held roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Lion Street Financial, and related entities. Outside of finance, Xiao Chen is involved in community organizations including serving as Vice President of the Hunan Association of the Midwest USA and as a board member of the Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago. Chen also owns a performing arts business focused on music and acting. Integrity Alliance is a large advisor network providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers various investment management approaches, including advisor-managed discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers, supported by a range of operational features such as dual SEC registration and affiliated insurance distribution.

Robert Magnesen is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014, having worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm provides multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Cristl Walker is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Securities America, Fidelity Brokerage Services, and Charles Schwab. Outside of financial advising, she provides pet sitting services through the Rover platform. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Todd Schossow is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Northern Trust Bank and Northern Trust Securities Inc for 12 years. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management since 2021. 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 registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking or thrift institutions.