John Ressler Jr. is a CFP® certificant with 27 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His prior roles include positions at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Kaplan Financial, and LPL Financial LLC. Ressler also spends a small portion of his time on fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and serving hundreds of thousands of clients with about $213 billion in assets under management. The firm provides a broad platform that includes managed-account programs, access to third-party managers, and custody and clearing services.

Eric Anders is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Gurnee, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors, Inc. for 11 years before joining Fifth Third Securities in 2017. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers a variety of investment programs via its Passageway Managed Account Platform, utilizing multiple third-party portfolio managers and strategies such as mutual funds, SMAs, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Brian Luedke is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 30 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Commonwealth in 2023, he spent 21 years at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a Planning Commissioner for the Village of Richmond, Illinois. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing around $213 billion in client assets. The firm offers discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and comprehensive adviser support services.

Alfonso Ruiz is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Bank since 2010. Ruiz joined Fifth Third Securities in 2025 and is based in McHenry, Illinois. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides 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 combines municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank and offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs featuring direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Gregory Hilgenberg is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC since 2010 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account for employees that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and primarily invests in mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Mark Lockyer is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with PNC Wealth Management and has previous experience at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary online model account available by invitation to employees. The firm’s investment strategies are implemented via approved models using mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties.

John Reakes is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at &PARTNERS and has held previous roles at Old National Bank, LPL Financial, First Midwest Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Uvest Financial Services Group. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private businesses. The firm offers investment management, financial and tax planning, and ERISA consulting, using a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Mark De Merritt is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Hornor Townsend And Kent, Inc. since 2005. Outside of advisory services, he is also involved in life insurance brokerage. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines advisory and broker-dealer services, managing over $8 billion in discretionary assets and offering both discretionary and non-discretionary account options.

Arthur Siegel is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Kenosha, WI, with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Centaurus Financial since 2008, alongside running Art Siegel Associates since 1988. Outside of advisory services, he is a licensed insurance agent focusing on fixed life insurance, annuities, health insurance, and long-term care. Centaurus Financial, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a broad range of clients, including individuals, families, small businesses, corporations, trusts, and foundations. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements, employing various analytical approaches and utilizing specialized platforms such as CLASSIC Plus and FlexUMA.

Alexander Summers is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with four years of industry experience, currently with Fidelity Investments. Before joining Fidelity, he worked at Ben Moore Legacy Group, Merrill, Bank of America, and Bankers Life and Casualty. Outside of finance, he is a partner in Tim's Removal & Restoration LLC, organizing contractor labor for home improvement projects related to his family business. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs, with a focus on systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation.

August Negele is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Grayslake, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked in real estate as a data analyst and agent with Keller Williams and other brokerages. He continues to provide real estate data analysis on a contract basis alongside his financial advisory role. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management. The firm provides written recommendations across various financial topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.

Kyle Kibar is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Kenosha, WI, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2019, he worked for four years at Lennox International. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs and affiliated financial services.

Garrett Koncan is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Grayslake, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in community organizations including the Rotary Club of Gurnee and the Gurnee Chamber of Commerce. Ameriprise is an institutional firm offering retirement-income planning services aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm provides a range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions, utilizing research-driven and algorithm-supported planning tools to deliver customized retirement income recommendations.

David Lammers is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Sean Fowler is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2016, he worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by advisor-facing technology tools.

Abraham Chidalek is a CFP® with 19 years of experience in financial services. He is currently with Cetera and has held prior roles at Avantax Advisory Services and 1st Global Advisors. In addition to his advisory work, he serves on the finance committee of St. James Parish in Arlington Heights, providing financial consultation to the pastor. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a large network of independent advisors serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Michele Klemm is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2012. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing advice focused on retirement income planning, utilizing research, third-party data, and algorithmic tools.

Timothy Gutierrez is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at various J.P. Morgan entities since 2009, including J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients. Their approach emphasizes non‑discretionary, written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting, supported by centralized due diligence that combines quantitative screening and qualitative research.

Gary Skinner is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2009. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent distributor for Reliv International, a home-based network marketing business. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension plans and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and affiliated products supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Julie Plutchak is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Johnson Bank, LPL Financial LLC, Gateway Mortgage Corporation, and Southport Bank. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.