Brandon Blazer is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 17 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2009. He holds a Series 66 designation. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment advisory services tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and includes a broader range of financial products, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Travis Brown is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Grayslake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Anthony Bianchi Sr. is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Lake County Crime Stoppers, an anonymous crime tip line. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers comprehensive, goal-based planning on topics such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs but does not include implementation of recommendations as part of the service.

Lauren Burge is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wintrust Investments, LLC for six years and has a background that includes roles in home staging and interior design as well as furniture rental. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

John Josten is a financial advisor at Cetera with 38 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Lamb Little and VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he manages an agricultural business through John M. Hanson Enterprises LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services and operates a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party investment strategies.

Rumen Hristov is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been associated with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, Hristov co-owns Rumen Consulting Corp., a business that provides tax preparation services. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options within a wrap-fee structure. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee model, delegating trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors.

Jose Lopez Maldonado is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Wauconda, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors from 2016 to 2019 before joining LPL Financial in 2021. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Joseph Christopoulos is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, all with LPL Financial. He operates out of Arlington Heights, IL. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Dennis Marach is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linsco Private Ledger since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Marach Financial Management, which includes activities such as tax preparation and writing non-variable life insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by research and diverse investment strategies.

Peter Schallmoser is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He specializes in designing cost-effective corporate retirement plans—including 401(k), defined benefit, and non-qualified platforms—for businesses that prioritize employee economic empowerment. Since 1997, Peter and the Schallmoser Group have worked closely with corporate and high net worth individual clients to develop personalized financial strategies that align with their unique goals. His areas of expertise include corporate benefits, equity compensation services, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola University Chicago and a Master’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University. He holds multiple professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Beyond his professional work, Peter serves as a Village Trustee for the Village of Lake Barrington, Illinois, and volunteers with the Crushers Club in Englewood, Chicago. His personal interests include adventure sports, baseball, and traveling.

Erick De La Cruz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2025. Prior to this role, his work experience includes positions at Coro Enterprises LLC The Red Lion, Exmoor Country Club, and Target Corporation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Melanie Sheedy is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience, currently with J.P. Morgan Securities. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and also has a long tenure at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2001 to the present. Her prior experience includes managing The Sheedy Family Living Trust. 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 through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory services with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Svitlana Sheppard is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been working in the financial services industry since 2003 and began her career with Merrill in 2010. Svitlana focuses on high-quality wealth planning, simplifying the complexities of clients' financial lives. She is dedicated to clear communication, transparency, trust, and providing excellent service. Svitlana's expertise includes equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, and women and wealth. She holds multiple professional designations such as Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University. Originally from Ukraine, Svitlana is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. She lives in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband Brian and rescue dog Chloe. Her personal interests include plant-based cooking, reading, traveling, biking, yoga, and outdoor activities. Svitlana is also involved in community initiatives such as Better Money Habits, a Bank of America program in partnership with Khan Academy, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Council.

Andrew Beierwaltes is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999, following a tenure at Axa Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a deacon at St. John Brebeuf Parish and is involved in several church-related leadership roles, including director positions and fundraising activities. 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 third-party programs. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, utilizing a range of third-party asset managers and advisory programs tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Brian Magura is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Brandon Nguyen is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, M1 Finance, and Merrill Edge/Bank of America. 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.

Casey Torrey is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Round Lake, IL, with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and singer of a band called Acousticats. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a network of more than 23,700 financial advisors across the United States.

Brian Schnell is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northern Trust Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides planning services alongside broader investment and brokerage capabilities.

Stanley Kottke is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs while keeping the services separate.

Dennis Gorman is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC for five years and has operated Gorman & Associates since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with a CPA Affiliate Program through Gorman & Associates. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.