Frank Schoen is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Hoffman Estates, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 27 years of industry experience. He is the owner of The Force Agency, Inc. and S2C Tax & Accounting Services LLC, where he provides tax preparation and accounting services. Schoen has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment models in discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Craig Morgan Jr. is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards since 2017 and previously held positions at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions that combine proprietary and third-party strategies.

William Howson is a CFP® with ten years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2025. His prior roles include four years at HighTower Securities LLC and Bank of America, as well as experience at Merrill and The Vanguard Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal investment team and third-party managers, and provides enhanced tax and accounting integration as well as family office and employer financial wellness solutions.

James Alexander is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and has previously worked at Edge Portfolio Management, TD Ameritrade Investment Management, and Scottrade. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services and uses a client-specific investment framework that combines proprietary quantitative screening and manager selection with access to alternative and private market solutions.

Robert Strobel III is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 36 years of industry experience. He currently works at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has been since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He serves as a board member for the Towne Place West Homeowners Association in Schaumburg, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management consulting using proprietary and third-party strategies.

Michael Moleski is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, Moleski manages a family farm business. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm emphasizes a financial planning-led investment approach with low-cost indexing and offers a range of supplemental strategies and integrated retirement plan services.

Susan Penno is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with three years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners. In addition to her advisory role, she owns Sassetti, LLC, a tax and accounting firm where she provides tax compliance and planning services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by offering investment management, financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement advice. The firm’s approach features diversified allocations aligned with client objectives, supported by ancillary services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate planning through third-party providers.

Joshua Schultz is a financial advisor at RBC Rochdale, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at CNR Securities, LLC, Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner and general manager of a floor coating installation franchise, Egebrecht & Schultz Enterprises, LLC, which he co-owns with his wife. RBC Rochdale serves a diverse client base including high net worth individuals, corporations, and government entities. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process combining quantitative and fundamental analysis, and manages portfolios across various asset classes using proprietary tools and third-party sub-advisors.

Hilary Gellings is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Citigroup and its Global Markets division since 2014. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains institutional-scale operations, including in-house research and derivatives services.

Benito Ibarra Jr. is a financial advisor at Mariner with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has worked previously at Christopher Financial Group, Centaur Financial, Eagle Strategies, NYLIFE Securities, New York Life Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual. He serves as a board member of the Medical Organization of Latino Advancement, a nonprofit focused on Hispanic/Latino health professionals. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, with additional capabilities in tax integration and financial wellness solutions.

Mary Gruenberg is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with 27 years of industry experience. She is currently with Principal Financial Services and has previous experience at Farmers Financial Solutions and Farmers Insurance Group. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. 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.

Susan Winklebleck is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Palatine, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides separate broker-dealer services, acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, and employs a fiduciary standard within its RIA services.

James Juengling is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Dundee, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 50 years of industry experience and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2010. Since 1972, he has also owned and operated Juengling & Associates, providing various types of insurance. Juengling has been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors since 1973 and is involved with the Illinois Legislative Council. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes firm- and third-party models for portfolio management, combining strategic asset allocation with ongoing due diligence across a mix of passive and active exposures.

Craig Morgan is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 50 years of experience in the industry. His prior roles include positions at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, Xelan Financial Planning, Inc., and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, investment management, brokerage, insurance products, and certain M&A advisory services.

Brady Peat is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Hightower Advisors, PrairieView Partners, and Googins Advisors. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs customized portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income with a primarily long-term investment approach.

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 12 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of The Sanders Law Firm, where he provides legal services including real estate closing advice and estate planning. His prior work includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm uses discretionary model portfolios and a variety of analytical methods to implement investment decisions, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

Richard Kasher is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is also the sole owner of Diversified Tax Services, Inc., where he serves as an officer and director providing accounting and tax consulting services. Kasher is involved in consulting engagements related to business valuation and forensic analysis. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model-driven investment approach combining passive and active strategies, with portfolio management and financial planning delivered through multiple platforms and third-party asset managers.

Robert Richardson is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Integrity Alliance, LLC and has held roles at firms including IZALE Financial Group and Lion Street Financial. Outside of advisory work, he owns and operates an online retail store through Cultivated Community LLC. Integrity Alliance, LLC is a large advisor network serving a diverse client base that includes individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of advisory programs, employing various allocation strategies through discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers.

Preeti Gupta is an advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and currently located in Wheeling, IL. She has been with Fifth Third Bank since 2022 and joined Fifth Third Securities in 2026. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account platform, allowing clients to select strategies tailored to their risk profiles.

Katelyn Depew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm follows an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.