Ester Viti is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 23 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Equity Services, Inc. from 2007 to 2016. Viti serves on the College of Lake County Foundation Board. 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 advisor-led discretionary and model-based management, financial planning, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory solutions.

Johnathan Ellison is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He currently works at Citigroup Global Markets and has previously held roles at several firms including Morgan Stanley, E*Trade Capital Management, and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Citigroup Global Markets serves a diverse client base ranging from workplace and high-net-worth individuals to ultra-high-net-worth segments. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs and execution services, implementing multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Daniel Ogrodny is a financial advisor at Mariner with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2021, following prior roles at Arlington Wealth Management and The Planning Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering customized investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations and provides integrated tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory enterprises.

Jordan Beadle is a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Mariner since 2018, including the firm's current Oakbrook Terrace, IL office. Prior to joining Mariner, he worked at VS Technology, Inc. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and institutional accounts, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm combines customized discretionary portfolios with in-house research and third-party managers, and it integrates tax and accounting services along with administrative family office and financial wellness capabilities.

Elizabeth Bell is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at W Greig & Company LLC and Datum 9 Analytics LLC. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a diverse client base including individual investors, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management using strategic allocation models, manager selections, and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations, leveraging a broad range of platforms and proprietary analytics within the broader Goldman Sachs network.

Joshua Walters is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. He has held roles at several firms including LPL Financial LLC, Calamos Wealth Management, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Walters holds Series 63 registration and operates out of Arlington Heights, IL. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services using a combination of in-house and outside strategists, model portfolios, and technology-enabled tools, with a significant focus on non-discretionary client relationships.

Jonathan Baker is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient, where he has worked since 2022, following prior roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz and CIPW Service Company. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and specialized offerings such as family office and trustee services.

Amir Ahmed is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2021. Prior to that, he was employed at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied and KPMG. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes centralized investment resources and offers tailored solutions such as Executive Wealth and Private Family Office support, operating within a large integrated financial group with access to a broad range of affiliated products and services.

Paul Wehner is a financial advisor at William Blair with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has worked at multiple firms including Kingswood Capital Partners and Schechter Investment Advisors. Outside of his primary roles, he is involved with private equity investing through Schechter Private Capital and is an insurance agent with Robert Schechter & Associates. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across asset classes and provides proprietary models, sub-advisory options, and access to private funds and co-investments.

Tyler Hujik is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Ayco/Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019, following eight years at The AYCO Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate and employer-sponsored participants, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management along with specialized services such as Private Family Office, Executive Wealth programs, and access to Alternative Investments, utilizing a range of strategic allocation models and proprietary research tools.

Allison Kollar is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She is currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and previously worked at Bordeaux Wealth Advisors and Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using a blend of active and passive strategies, quantitative and fundamental analysis, and integrates legacy strategies across its portfolio management.

James Vanderbilt is a Certified Financial Planner® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. His prior work includes over 25 years with Securities America Advisors, Inc. and two years at LPL Financial. Vanderbilt also holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and leverages technology platforms to provide portfolio management, estate planning, and third-party referrals.

Heather Locus is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently with Corient, where she has worked since 2022, following a 22-year tenure at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and utilizes various risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Julia Larson is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked primarily at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management since 2021. Larson has prior experience in roles connected to Lake Forest College and Sandcastle. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a broad client base including individual investors, corporate and employer-sponsored participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm delivers tailored financial planning and portfolio management using strategic models, manager selections, and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations, leveraging resources across the Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Benjamin Krotky is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and beginning his industry experience in 2026. Prior to joining Bankers Life, he worked in various roles including positions at United Parcel Service and educational institutions. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed as an insurance agent, brokering Medicare-related health insurance plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, tax efficiency, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Nicholas Bova is a CFP®-credentialed advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at &PARTNERS since 2026 and previously spent 13 years at Wells Fargo. Outside of advising, he holds a 50% ownership interest in a rental property business. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and private businesses, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and municipal advisory services through both advisory and brokerage platforms.

Geoffrey Brown is a CFP® with eight years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors and previously worked at Kovitz Securities, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, JMG Financial Group, and Northern Trust Company. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal management team and external managers, and provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office services uncommon in large advisory enterprises.

Michael Pezzuto is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at William Blair since 2013. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Gregory Kojak is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been operating Kojak Capital since 2004 alongside his role at Commonwealth. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and manages over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Donna Gordon is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with Independent Financial Partners since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Signature Advisors Group and Signature Financial Services, Ltd. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers a decentralized advisory model with options for centralized asset management, third-party managers, and wrap programs, serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients.