Melanie Duguid is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has worked with Cetera and its affiliated firms since 2007, including First Allied Advisory Services and Cetera ADVISORS LLC. Duguid serves as treasurer for the Tri-Con Community Nursery Center, a nonprofit organization. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered advisor that supports a large nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services to individuals, employer-sponsored plans, corporations, charitable clients, and institutional accounts.

David Herman serves as a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since beginning his career with Merrill in 1977, he has assisted clients in wealth and estate planning services as well as investments. His expertise encompasses college education planning, retirement income, portfolio management, tax minimization, and both individual and corporate investment strategy. Additionally, David is a qualified Portfolio Manager who provides discretionary management of personalized strategies that include individual stocks and bonds, model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. David earned a Bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College in 1970. He holds several professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) certification since 1980, and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. He also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Committed to community involvement, David participates with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Outside of his professional role, his interests include camping, hunting, painting, photography, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Nicholas Kukawski is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade, CitiGroup, BMO Harris Bank, and Fifth Third Bank. 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 accounts. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers multi-asset model portfolios alongside centralized custody and order-routing services.

Jameson Brinks is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Early in his career, he was associated with New Holland Brewing Company. Fisher Investments serves a global clientele of institutional and private clients, providing discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm employs a centralized investment approach managed by a five-member Investment Policy Committee and offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services to a diverse client base.

Michael Morris is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has been with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2018. Based in Highland Park, IL, Morris holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. As part of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

William Floyd is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 20 years of experience in the investment industry. He specializes in personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income strategies. William centers his advisory approach on understanding clients’ full financial picture and prioritizing the goals that matter most to them, tailoring wealth management strategies that adapt to changing market conditions. William holds a Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Michigan University and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He is actively involved with the Buffalo Grove - Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and has served as President of the Rotary Club of Glencoe, IL from 2014 to 2016. Outside of his professional role, William enjoys baseball, cooking, gardening, golfing, soccer, and spending time with his family.

Jeffrey Gundrum is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999, including its predecessor Axa Advisors, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm utilizes a hybrid referral and implementation model, combining advisory and brokerage channels to tailor services based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Mark Kendall is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2009, working across both Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and LLC entities. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning with tax-aware withdrawal strategies and dependable income sources. The firm employs a centralized team to develop personalized retirement recommendations that collaborate with advisors for non-discretionary implementation.

William Duncan is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services for 12 years. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and provides access to proprietary research and capital markets solutions.

Richard Mundrane is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Libertyville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and Citigroup Global Markets. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary advice through a centralized consulting team.

Lawrence Zelen is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been providing financial and wealth management advice since 1992, following in the footsteps of his father, who joined the firm in 1961. Lawrence focuses on helping affluent families, individual clients, and closely held businesses achieve their long-term financial objectives. His areas of expertise include college education planning, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and retirement income. Trained as a CPA, he collaborates with clients' tax professionals to develop strategies aimed at minimizing income tax liability and selecting tax-advantaged investments. Lawrence holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses, life and insurance licenses, and the Personal Investment Advisor designation. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University and is proficient in English and French. Outside of his professional role, Lawrence enjoys biking, boating, playing pickleball, reading, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

Magdalena Sekscinski is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 18 years of industry experience. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has held roles within JPMorgan Chase entities since 2007. She also has experience outside the financial sector, having worked at Thermomix / Vorwerk LLC from 2021 to 2022. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis.

Sam Schneider is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2024. In this capacity, he partners with Financial Consultants to build relationships with clients based on mutual trust and understanding. He focuses on developing a comprehensive knowledge of clients' financial goals and needs to collaborate on creating financial plans tailored to each client's personal situation. Sam has extensive experience within Fidelity Investments, having held various positions since 2016. His roles have included Help Desk for Wealth Management Service, Wealth Management Service Associate, Relationship Manager, Financial Representative at the Investor Center, and High Net Worth Service Associate. This progression reflects his broad exposure to different facets of financial services and client engagement within the firm.

Brett Gardiner is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Woodbury Financial Services and OSAIC. He serves as a board member for Father's Arms Ministries, a faith-based organization. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm offering a wide range of investment and retirement services through a large network of independent advisors, serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients across multiple program structures and custodial relationships.

Joy Majewicz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms since 2007. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a broad range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes structured financial planning through a discovery process and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Maria Goebel is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill in 2007, initially serving as a Client Associate before becoming a Financial Advisor in 2012. As a member of the Karras Poplin Schroeder Group, Maria focuses on managing the wealth and finances of affluent families, retirees, women in transition, executives, and entrepreneurs. Her practice includes comprehensive wealth management with specialized experience in concentrated stock positions, executive compensation, and collaboration with clients' legal and accounting professionals to coordinate financial and legacy strategies. Maria holds a Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State University and professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She offers clients personalized advice and guidance, creating an environment where they feel understood and supported in achieving their financial goals. Her expertise encompasses portfolio design, long-term strategy, executive compensation analysis, college education planning, corporate benefits, retirement income, and socially responsible investing. Outside of her professional role, Maria is involved with the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and traveling, and values spending time with her family. Maria is committed to providing empathetic service and comprehensive financial approaches tailored to her clients' objectives.

James Ruddy is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill and The Ruddy Group in 2020 and serves as a Financial Advisor, assisting clients with diversified and balanced financial strategies to support long-term wealth management goals. He works closely with his team to address client objectives and needs across various financial planning areas. James and his team focus on managing investments to grow and preserve wealth while planning for significant financial goals. Their approach aims to control risk exposure, tax liabilities, and fees associated with investment processes. His expertise includes college education planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. James is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) professional and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He completed his education at Glenbrook South High School and the University of Arizona. Beyond his professional commitments, James is involved in the community through Glenview Buddy Ball. He enjoys various recreational activities including adventure sports, baseball, basketball, boating, bowling, football, golfing, music, traveling, and watching movies.

Jeffrey Fitzgerald is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing 20 years of experience to his role. He and his team focus on developing comprehensive financial strategies that align closely with clients' values, goals, and risk tolerance. His areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts and holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He emphasizes creating personalized financial strategies in collaboration with clients to pursue their long-term financial objectives. Outside of his professional role, Jeffrey lives in Wilmette with his wife and two teenage children. He enjoys spending time with his family through travel and other activities, as well as engaging in basketball, cooking, golfing, and music. He is also committed to community involvement, volunteering with local organizations in the areas Merrill Lynch serves.

Justin Lee is a financial advisor with Cetera in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera and its affiliated firms since 2017 and is the managing partner of Jmj Financial Group Inc., a role he has held since 2008. Lee also sells fixed insurance products, including life, health, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, combining discretionary and non-discretionary authorities across multiple program structures and custodial relationships.

Tariq Laliwala is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., where he has served since 2012. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, and tax minimization. Tariq is committed to building strong client relationships and developing personalized wealth management strategies tailored to individual financial goals. He began his career in the investments field in 1998 at Northern Trust and has also worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Tariq holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, as well as the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. He earned his bachelor's degree from DePaul University and is fluent in Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, and English. Outside of his professional work, Tariq is involved with the Muslim Community Center of Chicago and the Village of Morton Grove. His personal interests include golfing, tennis, and traveling.