Steven Mesirow is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Investment Services Inc. since 1992 and Mesirow Financial, Inc. since 1991. Outside of his advisory role, he is a Senior Managing Director at Knowbituary, a software subscription startup. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning for a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, government entities, and institutional clients. The firm employs both proprietary private investment products and third-party managers and conducts quantitative and qualitative due diligence to construct portfolios aligned with client investment policies.

Taylor Hernet is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs Ayco in 2022, he worked at Advantage xPO and has a background that includes five years at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth households, corporate participants, and institutional clients. The firm leverages centralized investment resources and affiliated teams to offer tailored wealth management solutions and operates within a large integrated financial group with a wide range of services and programs.

Joel Fliegel is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and has worked at firms including Goldman Sachs Wealth Services and CLA Financial Advisors, which was acquired by Wealth Enhancement. Outside of his advisory work, Fliegel serves as a Level 1 USA Hockey Official, officiating youth hockey games in the Chicago area, and provides pro bono counseling for families of cancer patients. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach that blends passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Stanko Pavlovic is a financial advisor at PlanMember Securities Corporation with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at firms including LPL Financial, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and WCG Wealth Advisors. He is also president of Prosperity Wealth Advisors, an investment-related business. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and manages unitized, risk-based mutual fund portfolios, offering education and support services including retirement planning and separation counseling.

Ernest Macvicar III is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His work history includes positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Relative Value Partners, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. He serves as a member of the Investment Committee at Kenilworth Union Church, where he reviews and recommends asset allocation for the endowment fund. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that blends active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Francis Mulligan is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held roles at South Jersey Industries, Rutgers Law Associates, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized services such as Private Family Office and Executive Wealth programs, employing strategic and tactical allocation models and integrating resources across the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Richard Kasher is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009 and is also the sole owner of Diversified Tax Services, Inc., where he serves as an officer and director providing accounting and tax consulting services. Kasher is involved in consulting engagements related to business valuation and forensic analysis. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model-driven investment approach combining passive and active strategies, with portfolio management and financial planning delivered through multiple platforms and third-party asset managers.

Preeti Gupta is an advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and currently located in Wheeling, IL. She has been with Fifth Third Bank since 2022 and joined Fifth Third Securities in 2026. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account platform, allowing clients to select strategies tailored to their risk profiles.

Daniel Bolan is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently advising at Allworth Financial, L.P. He has held prior roles at AW Securities, 83 Rd St. Wealth Management, FNBC Bank & Trust, Charles Schwab Wealth Management, and Mesirow Financial Investment Management. Allworth Financial serves a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial and wealth planning, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and education through newsletters, podcasts, and seminars, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis to deliver customized investment solutions.

Katelyn Depew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm follows an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.

Charles Villano is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. His career includes extended tenures at both Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he provides continuing professional education (CPE) courses for local CPAs and engages in life coaching for business owners. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, delivering tailored client solutions through proprietary programs, third-party platforms, and a digital advisory solution.

Molly Mohajir is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at FCS Private Wealth, the University of Kansas, and Lockton. 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 utilizes strategic and tactical allocation models and offers a range of services such as Private Family Office programs and access to Alternative Investments, supported by proprietary and third-party analytics.

Nicole Mayer is a financial advisor with Allworth Financial, L.P. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 20 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Arbor Point Advisors, Securities America Advisors, National Planning Corporation, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of advising, she is an author and speaker, and she also serves as an insurance consultant with Senior Services of Illinois. Allworth Financial serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative analysis to implement customized investment strategies.

Sarah Tobolski is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2017 and previously spent three years at DiMeo Schneider. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm applies active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Mingdong Tan is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Hightower Securities, LLC and Hightower Advisors since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of Asphalt Plus LLC, a construction company. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base that includes individual and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Howard Suss is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and over 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Park Avenue Securities since 2005 and has worked at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 2004. Outside of advisory work, he sells life and disability insurance through Suss Financial Group. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory solutions.

Timothy Reid is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Arlington Heights, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including roles at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLIFE Securities LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through multiple program types and focuses primarily on non-discretionary assets, working within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Linda Diebold is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with 27 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. She previously worked at Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. for 27 years and has been affiliated with Honkamp Krueger Financial Services and Diebold & Associates during her career. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning through a third-party provider, and integrates resources from the broader Cetera network.

Matthew Vasiliauskas is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has recently started his career in the financial industry and previously worked at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Portillo's Restaurant Group, Inc. He also has experience with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and the Wheaton Park District. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, institutional clients, and plan sponsors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs. The firm integrates strategic allocation models, manager selections, and a variety of implementation platforms, leveraging capabilities across the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Paul Blumberg is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Financial, Inc. since 1993 and with Mesirow Investment Services, Inc. since 1983. He serves as a director for the nonprofit organization I Have a Dream. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs an investment approach that includes creating Investment Policy Statements, setting asset allocation targets, and conducting due diligence across various asset classes, while offering access to both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.