Melanie Chakos is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2022 and Fifth Third Bank since 2018. Outside of her advisory role, Melanie is involved with Untangled Hope, an online e-learning venture. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway Managed Account platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and manages approximately $10.9 billion in assets with a broad client base.

Paul Franco is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Voya Financial Advisors since 2016 and serves as an adjunct instructor at Calumet College of St. Joseph, teaching in the Business and Psychology departments. Additionally, he operates as an independent insurance agent and is president of TAT Associates, LLC, a financial services firm. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines in-house and external strategists with technology-enabled tools to deliver both discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions through a large network of advisors.

Ryan Guertin is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Ameriprise Financial Services, PNC Bank, and Edward Jones. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, corporate and institutional clients, providing wealth management and advisory services with a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies through an enhanced open architecture framework.

Adam Paulson is a CFP® designee with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Mariner and has previously worked at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, Fidelity Investments, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of advising, he is involved in software development through his ownership of Zero To One, LLC, and he consults for BuildWise Solutions, LLC, a building materials manufacturer. 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, and provides integrated tax and accounting services along with specialized administrative Family Office capabilities.

Andrew Schneider is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. His prior roles include positions at The Colony Group, LLC, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC, and RJM Wealth Management Inc. He also has a background in financial services and corporate roles spanning several other firms. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering a comprehensive range of investment management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs an investment approach that combines active and passive strategies under an enhanced open architecture framework, incorporating both fundamental and quantitative analyses.

Nathaniel Barnette is a CFP® professional at Private Advisor Group, LLC with four years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2022 and previously held positions at AT&T and Raymond James Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, Barnette provides administrative support to Private Advisor Group. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers a range of managed account solutions and employs fiduciary-based advisory models, utilizing technology platforms and third-party managers to implement investment strategies.

Brenda Long is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Principal Securities since 2003 and Principal Life Insurance Co. since 2000. She is also designated as a bank officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company, supporting retirement plan account relationships across multiple Principal entities. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Julie Bukowski is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2016 and also works with Fifth Third Bank. Outside of her financial advisory role, she serves as secretary and treasurer for TopShelf Renovating LLC, a general contracting business. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and combines third-party portfolio managers with proprietary strategies, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Mark Smith is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license. His prior work includes eight years at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC and eighteen years at Solutions for Wealth Management, LLC. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering a range of wealth management, advisory, and business management services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that integrates active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Michelle Griffith is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 34 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations, Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Advocate United Church of Christ, focusing on fundraising and growth development. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across a range of wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs. The firm combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research and execution capabilities.

James Mehok is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Private Advisor Group since 2018 and previously was affiliated with Independent Financial Partners. Mehok is also a commissioned notary public. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various managed account solutions. The firm’s advisory model is fiduciary-based, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services using a range of investment strategies and technology platforms.

Sean Mccormack is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Valic Financial Advisors and Agia, where he provides non-securities insurance products. His prior work includes roles at Healy Construction Services and IronFlex Warzone. Valic Financial Advisors serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Justin Stuursma is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for six years and Retirement Advisors Inc for two years. Outside of his advisory role, he coaches sports and fitness at Lincoln Way East High School. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management solutions, including access to third-party managers and institutional platforms.

Christopher Giehon is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked with Bank of America, Merrill, Equitable Advisors, AXA Advisors, and MassMutual, among others. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Red Asset Capital LLC, a limited liability company that manages a modest real estate portfolio. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Edgar Wright is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at StoneX Advisors, StoneX Securities, Morgan Stanley, and Edward Jones. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms.

Brett Schaibley is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Frankfort, IL, with 10 years of industry experience, all of which has been at Edward Jones since 2016. 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, operating under a fiduciary standard, and is notable for its extensive nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Steven Swanson is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2016, following roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Chase Investment Services Corp. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Exceptional Properties Unlimited, a real estate rental business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Mary Haluska is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 39 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise in various capacities since 1987. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in a small business ownership unrelated to investments. 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 retirement planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Logan Bailey is a financial advisor with Edward Jones based in Peotone, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Merrill and LB Financial Group/Osaic/Securities America. Bailey serves as a board member for the Gibson County Community Foundation, where he advises on local charitable needs. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Kenneth Schuyler is a financial advisor at Osaic with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. Prior to joining Osaic in 2024, he held roles at Securities America Advisors, Choice Advisors, and B. Riley Wealth Advisors, among others. Schuyler also engages in community education, having spoken on financial responsibility topics at local colleges and maintains a financial education website, FinancialFitness101.org. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting discretionary and advisor-managed strategies alongside a wide range of investment programs.