Michael Kreger is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Lincoln Investment. His prior roles include positions at Agia and VALIC Financial Advisors. Outside of investment advisory, he is involved with Agia as an agent for non-securities insurance products. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm combines proprietary and third-party investment strategies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory programs.

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 bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2014. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with ties to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm provides separate broker-dealer services and manages a donor-advised fund, employing a fiduciary standard with various managed account options.

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.

Cristopher Valladares is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at Edward Jones and J.P. Morgan Securities. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that utilizes algorithmic risk assessment and implements investments via approved strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

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.

Jason Lackner is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, BMO Harris Bank, and Busey Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages a rental property. The Huntington Investment Company, operating as Huntington Financial Advisors, serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities with advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs an open-architecture investment model combining third-party and proprietary portfolio management solutions.

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 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has three years of industry experience, including roles at Northwestern Mutual and Park Avenue Securities. His career also includes a long tenure at Travelers Insurance prior to his financial advisory positions. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individual and institutional clients with brokerage, financial planning, retirement consulting, and advisory programs. The firm combines proprietary and third-party investment strategies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services.

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.

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.

Khai Le is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding a Series 66 credential and 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Capital Analysts, Agia, and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner and silent partner in two boba tea shops operated by his spouse. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and a range of investment programs managed through both strategic and dynamic approaches.

Kevin Mc Kay is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has three years of industry experience and previously worked at firms including LPL Enterprise, Prudential, Northwestern Mutual, and New York Life. Mc Kay has a background in law, having been affiliated with the Fair Housing Clinic at UIC Chicago School of Law and UIC School of Law for several years. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers through advisory and promoter arrangements.

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.

Mark Perkins is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. He has been a principal at Perkins & Zayed, a law firm specializing in estate planning, since 1999. 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, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily through discretionary model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, supporting a large advisor network with turnkey asset management and wrap-fee programs.

David Farra is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company since 2009 and with Eagle Strategies since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chairman of the Board of the Ray Graham Association, which supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Du Page County. Eagle Strategies offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, institutional clients, and plan sponsors. The firm’s approach includes multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

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.

Deborah Hinten is a CFP® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Lincoln Investment since 2011. She has held a concurrent role at Consolidated Financial Resources, Inc. since 1982 and has experience in administrative and managerial positions across several family-owned businesses in skin wellness, flooring, construction, and campground rental sectors. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and retirement plan services supported by both strategic and tactical investment approaches, managing approximately $22.9 billion in advisory assets as of late 2025.

Darryl Liu is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Liu is engaged in freelance photography, taking on occasional paid assignments. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Nicholas Shane is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2026, he worked for AGIA from 2022 to 2026 and VALIC Financial Advisors from 2015 to 2026. He is also licensed to sell non-securities insurance products. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, ERISA retirement plan advice, and a range of model portfolios, employing both strategic and tactical investment approaches supported by an Investment Management & Research team.