Donald Baran is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. holding a Series 66 license and five years of industry experience. His professional background includes roles at The Leaders Group Inc., FSG, Pizza Hut, Edward Jones, Weiman Products, and EMCO Chemical Distributors. He also works as an insurance wholesaler for fixed insurance products directly with financial advisors through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent representatives, sub-advisors, and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Eric Eimen is a financial advisor at William Blair with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining William Blair in 2022, he worked at BMO Private Bank from 2011 to 2022. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers 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 provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Todd Bessey is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC. He previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 17 years before joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2021. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office and retirement plan advisory services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs, focusing on customized portfolios that combine internal management and third-party asset manager oversight.

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.

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.

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.

Sandra Nies is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Huntington National Bank, Park Avenue Investment Advisory, River Street Advisors, Old Second National Bank, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs on the Passageway platform, utilizing multiple third-party portfolio managers and strategies such as SMA, tax-overlay, and direct indexing.

John Rousos is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Highland Capital Brokerage and Investacorp Advisory Services. He is also involved in wholesaling and insurance-related activities through FSG. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Annette Hammortree is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities since 2005, with a brief tenure at MSI Financial Services. Beyond her advisory role, she serves on the boards of PACT, Inc. and Lifes Plan Inc., organizations that provide trustee services and support to people with disabilities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides tailored client solutions including financial planning, consulting, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory programs.

Ronald Harczak is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. He has 40 years of industry experience, including over 30 years with Securities America Advisors and LPL Financial. Outside of advising, he is a notary and operates a business entity for tax and investment purposes. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a network model with access to various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to support client needs.

Jessica Park is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at JWFS Equities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and PNC Bank. She has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025. Empower Advisory Group primarily serves employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated platform connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative systems. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions.

Jason Giambarberee is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials. He has experience spanning roles at Empower Financial Services, Cetera Investment Services, American Fidelity, and a background in real estate with @properties and Baird and Warner Real Estate. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates through point-in-time planning and managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Thomas Bartley is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 41 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Meritage, The Leaders Group Inc, Securities America, Highland Capital Brokerage, Investacorp, and Capital PSF. Bartley has also worked as an independent insurance agent for over 50 years. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory and portfolio management, financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Sharon Santopadre is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 10 years before joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2021. Outside of her advisory role, she dedicates a portion of her time to activities involving fixed annuities, fixed life insurance, and long-term care insurance. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office and retirement plan advisory services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs that emphasize customized portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income.

Zachary Bohlin is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked for Robert Bosch LLC for 11 years. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various managed account platforms, employing multiple analytical approaches and acting as a fiduciary when advisory agreements are in place.

Alfonso Cobb is a financial advisor with Money Concepts Capital Corp, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with firms including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Fidelity Investments. Cobb also serves as an adjunct professor at The American College of Financial Services and California Lutheran University, teaching courses in leadership and behavioral finance. He is managing director of Cobb Consulting Group, LLC, which provides professional training and coaching for students pursuing advanced degrees in organizational leadership. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs model-driven, asset-allocation strategies and utilizes third-party managers and platforms such as Envestnet, operating as an enterprise-scale adviser with several hundred advisors managing approximately $4.07 billion in client assets.

Timothy Urban is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and having 12 years of industry experience. He serves on the boards of Independence Health & Therapy and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, blending advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and proprietary technology platforms.

Connor Morse is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in 2021, he worked at SVA Plumb Wealth Management, LLC from 2015 to 2020. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

James Farmer is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. His career includes roles at The Leaders Group, Inc. since 2016 and Windy City Financial Planners and FSG since 2009. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm’s investment approach focuses on manager selection and monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to build diversified portfolios, with services delivered through a network of independent representatives and sub-advisors.