Susan Schwarm is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Libertyville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 41 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of advising, she manages an LLC that holds commercial property used exclusively for conducting Ameriprise business. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset thresholds, combining research and modeling with tax-efficient strategies. The firm serves a broad client base through advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional provider.

Kolleen Zbilski is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques in its financial planning process.

Kerry Schwarcz is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in 2026, Schwarcz spent a decade at UBS. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

Frederic Hoffman III is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 42 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and related entities since 2003 and has been involved with Associated Pension Services, Inc. since 1988. Outside of his financial advisory work, he serves as a head and assistant coach for youth sports teams in Arlington Heights, IL. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and other retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a range of portfolio management approaches and multiple custody and platform arrangements.

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.

Steven Esposito is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 42 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC for 13 years before joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in asset management through Yellowstone Asset Management, LLC, where he dedicates substantial time. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services and integrates advisory recommendations with other financial products and services.

Alicia Davis is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Merrill. Outside of finance, she has experience operating Ultimate Gymnastics LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Richard Scheflow is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2013. He is based in Palatine, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Melissa Erath is a financial advisor with Merrill in Deer Park, Illinois, holding the Series 66 designation and possessing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 1990. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for Trinity Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois, where she assists in establishing financial guidelines and policies. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a mix of model-based and discretionary investment strategies tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Arnold Bender is a financial advisor with Cetera in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 35 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Alera Investment Advisors, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. Outside of advising, he owns an accounting and tax preparation business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services, operating a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management.

Marie Wurtel is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Cetera and its related entities since 2007 and was previously associated with Eric Wurtel & Associates, Inc. from 1993 to 2024. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of independent advisors and employs a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Robert Winters is a financial advisor at Cetera with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Cetera since 2008. In addition to his advisory role, Winters is the managing member and CPA of Winters LLC, a CPA firm specializing in tax, audit, and accounting services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options and access to third-party money managers, managing over $256 billion in assets through a network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Lydia Ridgeway is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked in various roles including at Romona Elementary and Wintrust Financial, with a background that also includes work on the documentary "Vincible." Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Christopher Schuck is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Farmers Insurance from 2017 to 2020. 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 solutions, operates under a fiduciary standard, and maintains a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Sumeet Gupta is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Long Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2002 and 2003, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in We Change Lives LLC, an investment-related business. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, focusing on retail clients rather than institutional or pension plan management.

John Reakes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 19 years of industry experience, including roles at Old National Bank since 2022 and First Midwest Bank from 2016 to 2022. Reakes also operates as a financial advisor and wealth advisor at Old National Bank in addition to his work with LPL Financial. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing a range of model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Daniel Raupp is a financial advisor with Stifel who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2019 and previously spent four years with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group for investment analysis and asset allocation guidance, providing tools to assist clients in making informed decisions.

Matthew Frankowski is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and four years of industry experience. He has held roles at Fidelity Investments since 2021 and previously worked at E*Trade Securities, Parkway Bank, and Belmont Bank and Trust. Outside of his advisory work, he has operated as an independent contractor for Uber Technologies. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC division provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm utilizes proprietary research combined with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment services.

Suzanne Hollingsworth is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and possessing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2018 and has an additional tenure at Cambridge Investment Research dating back to 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is also employed by Dunlap Financial Services Inc. under a trade name. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a range of portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements tailored to client objectives.

Peter Balistreri Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameriprise who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at JP Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients with at least $1 million in net investable assets, delivering written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to support retirement planning, with a focus on assets held in Ameriprise Managed Accounts.