Dragos Stoicescu is a financial advisor affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings over twenty-five years of experience in the financial industry, with a background encompassing banking, insurance, lending, and advisory services. This extensive experience equips him to adopt a holistic approach to clients' finances, assisting them in connecting to relevant resources and services across the Bank of America enterprise. Born in Eastern Europe, Dragos completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois System. He holds several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His expertise includes retirement income planning, college planning, wealth transfer, tax efficiency, executive compensation, insurance, disability, and long-term care. Outside of his professional duties, Dragos dedicates time to raising his daughter and caring for his aussie doodle. He enjoys boating, cooking, hiking, music, reading, swimming, and traveling, often exploring local foodie experiences. Dragos is active in community volunteering, supporting organizations such as the Anti Cruelty Society, Chicago Botanic Garden, Feed My Starving Children, Greater Food Depository, Journeys the Road Home, Paws, and REACH Food Pantry.

Jennifer Byrne is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and at Citigroup Global Markets since 2000. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools and models to support its financial planning process.

David Smith is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various Morgan Stanley entities since 2018, including Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Prior to his financial services career, he held positions at companies such as Amazon and We Co., and spent several years affiliated with the University of Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by providing a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and market modeling techniques.

Ranjeet Rai is a financial advisor at Stifel with 15 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2019 and has prior experience at Bank of America, Merrill, and involvement with local school districts and the YMCA. Stifel serves a broad range of clients including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group, providing capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling for asset allocation and financial planning.

Robert Lipton is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS Financial Services since 2008. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Cynthia Early is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including TD Ameritrade and Scottrade prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Canary Chia is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. She specializes in comprehensive wealth management, providing guidance to successful professionals to help grow, preserve, and manage wealth through a disciplined process. Her expertise includes areas such as divorce transition planning, education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, and personal retirement planning. Canary is proficient in utilizing alternative investments and sophisticated third pillar products to hedge risk in challenging market conditions. Canary earned both her Bachelor's degree and MBA in finance and economics from the University of Chicago. She holds several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She is fluent in English and Korean and is a member of the Soul of Money Institute. A long-time resident of Barrington, Illinois, Canary and her husband Tim have three children. She is involved in the community as a co-coach for First Lego Robotics. In her personal time, Canary enjoys skiing, practicing yoga, and playing pickleball.

Jeremiah Hare is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2016. Prior to joining the firm, he had a brief tenure at Walmart in 2016. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm delivers advisory services alongside affiliated brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Christal Vargas is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Wells Fargo Advisors and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services, Dew Wealth Management, and Private Advisor Group, among other firms. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individual, trust, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of investment and financial planning services including retirement, education, and risk planning. Advisors utilize Wells Fargo research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations, with implementation options available through brokerage or advisory programs.

Jeffrey Auerbach is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2008 and previously at Axa Advisors, LLC from 2008 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of his homeowners association board. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through a variety of third-party programs. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, offering both advisory and brokerage channels to meet client needs.

Andrew Henderson is an advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and various sports-related organizations such as the Chicago Cubs and Cornell University Athletics. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework in their investment approach.

Eric Gnippe is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he was involved in entrepreneurial ventures including Evanston Masonry, LLC and KH OXI Fresh Carpet Cleaning. He also served with the Hinsdale Little League for four years. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a process that combines fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is noted for its advisory roles with registered investment companies, use of AI and algorithmic methods, and formal governance procedures.

Norbert Filian is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Rolling Meadows, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 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 and participants, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model, combining advisory and brokerage channels to tailor services based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Bryan O'Connor is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank since 2014. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

John Garrity is a financial advisor at Merrill with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America, PepsiCo, Rust-Oleum Corporation, and the University of Iowa. His current role at Merrill involves providing investment services in Northbrook, IL. Merrill offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, featuring model-based and discretionary investment strategies. The firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

Chase Gauthier is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera. He has held roles at multiple Cetera entities and previously worked at Oppenheimer Funds and Morningstar Inc. Since 2023, he has operated a financial services DBA, Gauthier Wealth Partners. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC operates as a multi-manager platform serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and consulting services through a nationwide network of independent advisors.

Leonard Dedo is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently with UBS Financial Services since 2005. He serves as secretary for the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Club Foundation, a local charitable organization focused on community service. Additionally, he is a co-manager of Carlisle Partners LLC, involving real estate investment activities. UBS Financial Services Inc. provides brokerage and advisory services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to capital markets. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, leveraging proprietary research and multiple service platforms.

Mario Caprio is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation. He has experience working at Edward Jones since 2025, following prior roles at Sliccily Pizza Pub, Millennium Trust Company/Inspira Financial, and Forest Park Bank. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Christine Mallul is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 42 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, she worked for Sigma Planning Corporation and Sigma Financial Corporation for 12 years. She is also the owner of CCM Services Inc., a business entity established for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and research from LPL Research.

Evan Flatto is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab, holding CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2015 and 2016, respectively. Schwab serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offering a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment advisory services through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program and affiliated managed accounts.