Candace Vondra is a CFA® charterholder with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at William Blair since 2006. She holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Des Plaines, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides 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 offers proprietary models, third-party sub-advisers, and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Bart Newman is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at IAMS Wealth Management and Secure Investment Management. Outside of his advisory role, Newman has been an independent insurance agent since 2004 and serves as a football official and assignor for the Dukane conference. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients such as sovereign wealth funds and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily on a discretionary basis through model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and turnkey asset management platform services.

Shane Ellis is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previous experience at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base that includes individual investors, corporate and employer-sponsored participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through tailored strategies, leveraging its integration with Goldman Sachs affiliates to provide a broad range of investment and specialized wealth services.

Alec Mc Eachern is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2022, he held various roles including positions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Busey Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with the Tom Jones Challenger League since 2018. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients, delivering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs. The firm integrates resources across the Goldman Sachs network to provide tailored investment strategies and operational tools, including tax-aware techniques and proprietary analytics.

Karen Mothkovich is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She previously worked at The Ayco Company, L.P. for fourteen years before joining Goldman Sachs in 2021. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, corporate participants, 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 cross-affiliate capabilities.

Grace Bossert is a CFP® professional at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with two years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Mercer Global Advisors since 2021, as well as positions at MOKA and T. Anton Investment House. Outside of finance, she was involved with Rags Consignments for five years. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts, complemented by financial planning, retirement consulting, tax support, and estate-planning coordination.

Christian Wathen is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its affiliate Tiaa since 2014 and previously worked at Steele Capital Management, Inc. from 2012 to 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory services distinguish between one-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, using model portfolios or customized strategies managed under client-approved policies.

Samuel Pollack is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has three years of industry experience and has worked at Park Avenue Securities and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory role, he provides tax preparation services through SP Tax Services, LLC. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides tailored client solutions through advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and access to proprietary and third-party platforms.

Joseph Dowling is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Independent Insurance Producer and teaches community education courses at Joliet Junior College. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs a range of investment strategies including strategic and dynamic asset allocation models, Unified Managed Accounts, and options-enhanced strategies, and it acts as both a primary advisor and sub-advisor through its turnkey asset management platform.

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.

Jason Williams is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations. He has three years of industry experience, including roles at Northwestern Mutual and Park Avenue Securities. His career also includes sixteen years at Travelers Insurance. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm provides advisor-led discretionary management alongside model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party advisory platforms, supporting a variety of tailored client relationships.

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 65 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2022, she worked at W Greig & Company LLC and Datum 9 Analytics LLC. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm uses strategic and tactical allocation models, offers a range of fee arrangements, and integrates services across multiple Goldman Sachs affiliates.

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.

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.