Brandon Kerndt is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 30 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes ten years at Charles Schwab before joining Mesirow Financial in 2010. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm constructs portfolios using Investment Policy Statements, asset allocation targets, and due diligence across various asset classes, and offers access to both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

Clayton Foster is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2024. He previously worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors and has held positions at Mooney Lyons, Triad Advisors, and the University of Missouri. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Mary Claire Meehan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and five years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities LLC since 2021 and has prior experience at Gary A Erickson dating back to 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Notary Public in Illinois. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and advisory services primarily focused on fee-based and non-discretionary solutions tailored to client objectives.

Victoria Shadaia is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. She has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Midwest Financial Advisors Group and Michigan State University. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using proprietary due diligence, asset-allocation modeling, and third-party platforms to implement client strategies.

Maria Elena Danakou is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. She has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2021 and has prior experience with Meraki East, Puma Group, Manulife John Hancock, and London & Capital Group. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm integrates customized investment strategies with a wide range of services and leverages capabilities across the broader Goldman Sachs organization.

Phillip Porpora is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill from 2006 to 2021 before joining Sanctuary Wealth in 2021. Outside of advisory services, he is a member owner of Porpora Consulting LLC, where he recruits and onboards advisors to the Sanctuary Wealth platform. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm supports over 400 independent investment adviser representatives who utilize various portfolio management approaches and strategies under firm supervision.

Christopher Stickrod is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 21 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. He previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and Nuveen Securities, LLC for over a decade before joining TIAA-CREF in 2023. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often those connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary management through model and customized portfolios and also serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Joseph Simoncelli is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA, Nuveen Asset Management, and Nuveen Securities since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, Simoncelli serves as an assistant coach for the Renegades High School hockey club. 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 connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through various managed account options.

Charles Lawless is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Mesirow Financial for 27 years before joining Creative Planning in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in developing a patent for personal finance record keeping, serves on the advisory board of Empower Retirement, and is an author of self-help and family history books. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and other active portfolio management techniques, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Allen Berg is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. He currently works at Clearstead Advisory Solutions and has held prior roles at Waveland Family Office, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Weiss & Company LLP, and North Star Investment Management Corp. He serves as Treasurer and Adviser to the Juliana Greenfield Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on charitable medical research. Clearstead serves affluent private clients and institutional clients, providing investment management, financial planning, tax planning, family office administration, and institutional consulting services. The firm manages approximately $33.9 billion in assets and applies institutional disciplines through a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, and a proprietary Direct Indexing strategy.

Joel Hochman is a CFP® with 42 years of industry experience and is currently with MAI Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2021. He previously held roles at Hochman Cole Investment Advisors, Inc. and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he also engages in independent consulting through the Gerson Lehrman Group and receives referral commissions related to a prior health insurance business. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio strategies and integrates financial planning, tax, and bill-pay services, managing $72.3 billion in assets as of May 2026.

Evan Ferry is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience and a Series 65 designation. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Relative Value Partners, and various country clubs, as well as employment at the University of Michigan. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a wide range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds.

David Brown is a financial advisor with William Blair in Highland Park, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair and Company, L.L.C. since 2003. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models alongside access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Gabriel Korach is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Financial since 2010. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services. The firm serves private individuals, institutional clients, and government entities, using both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

Peter Henkel is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he was affiliated with Indiana University and has held roles at Ivy Hills Country Club and Mercy Health Plex. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a wide range of clients, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs, utilizing strategic allocation models and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations within the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Deepen Modi is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Midwest Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities. He is also president and sole owner of DKRS of Northbrook, a corporation unrelated to investment activities. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, employing a mix of passive and active strategies combined with ongoing manager due diligence.

Jacob Lankford is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial and the Wealth Enhancement Group. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by quantitative and fundamental research and an internal Investment Committee.

Daniel Lanman is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019, following prior roles at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied, Capstone Financial Advisors, and Great Lakes Advisors. Outside of finance, he was involved with The Red Lion and has academic experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Universidad Pontifical Comillas. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and portfolio management. The firm utilizes strategic allocation models, proprietary analytics, and integrates capabilities across the Goldman Sachs network to deliver comprehensive wealth management solutions.

Graham Garcia is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in various capacities including positions at Waterway Carwash, Shakou, and Old Elm Club. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop tailored portfolios aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

John Welch is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and offering 47 years of industry experience. He worked at Rothschild Investment LLC for 25 years before joining William Blair in 2013. Outside of advising, he serves as a board member and private investor in Infotouch Corp, a point-of-sale software developer, and owns Yorkshire Motorsports LLC, selling personal car parts online. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and offers proprietary model portfolios and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.