Christopher Stoecklin is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a wide range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank to provide various managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Nicole Cordonnier is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities for 10 years before joining Citigroup in 2023. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, providing a broad range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by in-house research and oversight committees.

Melissa Beaumont is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial and Cimino & Associates before joining Wealth Enhancement in 2018. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach combines strategic asset allocation, active and passive management, and incorporates both quantitative and fundamental research, supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Eduardo Valdes is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley, Merrill, and PNC Investments. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an Earned Value Analyst at Quest Global. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through a network of independent advisors and sub-advisors as well as a direct-to-consumer digital program.

Patrick Mcknight is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2021 and previously held roles at Heritage Way Advisors LLC and Alpine Bank and Trust Company. Creative Planning is an enterprise firm managing approximately $217 billion in client assets, serving a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and offers a range of supplemental strategies alongside comprehensive retirement plan services and affiliated legal, trust, and recordkeeping businesses.

Riley Wells is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning, Wells held various roles including positions at Illinois State University and the University of Arkansas. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, employing a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies supplemented by tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, and selective private market exposure. The firm manages approximately $295.6 billion in client assets across more than 1,100 advisors and 151 offices.

Kristie Curtiss is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and previously held positions at PNC Wealth Management and Natcity Investments, Inc. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage channels, offering a range of managed account programs and portfolio management options. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides services including tax-overlay and direct-indexing strategies.

Michael Ollmann is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2021 and previously worked at Heritage Way Advisors from 2016 to 2021. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.

Chad Demarre is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 13 years of industry experience and has worked with firms including NYLife Securities and Intandem Financial Strategies and Insurance Solutions, LLC, which he owns. Outside of advisory work, he hosts the Nimble Journey Podcast, an inspirational talk show focused on life experiences. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a network of affiliated advisors. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a significant portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, often working with institutional sponsors within the New York Life affiliate structure.

Pietro Cimino is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has prior experience at LPL Financial and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Cimino & Associates Inc., a home-based business entity for tax and investment purposes. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in regulatory assets under management and employs a diversified investment approach that combines passive and active management overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Zulfiqar Naqvi is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining PNC, he worked at Edward Jones, Bank of America, Merrill, and several other financial firms. Outside of his advisory role, he was an owner and operator of a taxi business for 10 years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account that uses algorithm-driven portfolio selection and implements investments via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Jonathan Hoskins is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Seyller Financial Group, LLC and KP Counseling. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent involved in insurance sales and services. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and plan services, utilizing a platform-centered approach that incorporates models managed internally, by third parties, and by advisors.

Michael Mulford is a financial advisor with Merrill in Rockford, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 41 years of industry experience. He has worked with Merrill since 1985 and has been associated with Bank of America, N.A. since 2009. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Aaron Urbelis is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab in Rockford, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab since 2017 and previously held positions at The Studio and LensCrafters. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment guidance, utilizing multi-asset model portfolios, written advice policies, and alternative investment options.

Jonathon Bowker is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. in Rockford, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert Baird & Co. since 2008. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services tailored to client goals, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party managers across traditional and non-traditional investment strategies.

Michael Fasano is a financial advisor at Cetera with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Cetera and its related entities since 2022, previously spending six years at Associated Investment Services, Inc. He is also a partner at Mutually Focused Financial Advisors, LLC, a financial services firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser that supports a nationwide network of over 10,000 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management options, including access to affiliated and third-party managers, various program structures, and ongoing client supervision.

Kelly Eickstead is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Beloit, WI, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations and bringing nine years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, Kelly maintains an active Mary Kay distributorship and serves on the finance committee of the YWCA Rock County in Janesville, WI. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and services supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branches.

Daniel Fetty is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at True Value Company. He serves as a board member and finance committee member for the United Way of Greater McHenry County. Raymond James & Associates is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by proprietary research and a range of portfolio management styles.

Daisy Fernandez is a ChFC® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones since 2020. Her prior experience includes roles at BMO Harris Bank and JPMorgan Chase, encompassing both banking and securities positions. 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 range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, tax-efficient services, and affiliated investment products.

Jack Wheeler Jr. is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Clearing in Rockford, IL. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill for a combined 10 years. Outside of advising, he serves as an arbitrator for FINRA and is a finance committee member for the United Way of Rock River Valley. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.