Charles Williams is a CFP® professional with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with Independent Financial Partners since 2010 and previously served at LPL Financial and IFP Securities, LLC. Williams is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies, where he teaches a retirement planning and employee benefits course. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

David Kohlmeyer is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. He is currently with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He serves as treasurer for the Wheaton Academy Foundation in a volunteer capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including proprietary and third-party investment strategies with discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions.

Jeffrey Perkins is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and also serves on the board of Marengo Area Outreach Enterprises. Outside of finance, he manages Perkins Farm, which sells hay and beef. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using third-party managers and proprietary solutions delivered through multiple platforms.

Kahina Kherbouche is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Fifth Third Bank since 2019, with prior experience at MB Financial Bank, Liberty Tax, and Joson's Deli. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Nader Maalouf is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities, Uber, Swissport, and AXA Advisors. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains a combination of large institutional scale and specialized market roles.

Giacomo Palazzolo is an investment advisor representative with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at The Leaders Group, Inc. since 2013 and Resource Insurance and Financial Group since 2003. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance and group benefits businesses and serves as a notary public. TLG Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory services, portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary services, with an investment approach centered on manager selection and ongoing monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory.

Trenton Grens is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at AssetMark Brokerage, Northern Lights Distributors, and Astor Investment Management. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, a range of investment vehicles, and serves as both an investment advisor and sub-advisor through its turnkey asset management platform.

Drew Mullarkey is a financial advisor at Mariner with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Capital Group Companies - American Funds, DoorDash, Morgan Stanley, and Valeo Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a broad range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios that combine in-house research with third-party managers and provides specialized tax integration and financial wellness solutions.

Steven Cole is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential. He has not yet accumulated industry experience in financial advising but has worked in various roles across multiple companies including WilSave Financial, Sweetgreen, and Inland Securities Corporation. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through multiple channels, including serving as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

James Flanagan is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at FSC Securities Corporation, Waterstone Financial Group, Inc., and Re-Direct Securities Corp prior to joining Independent Financial Group in 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author of a retirement planning book, provides pro bono financial advice to cancer patients, and serves as an adjunct professor of gerontology at Concordia University. Independent Financial Group, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through various platforms, utilizing a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and ongoing due diligence with both active and passive investment exposures.

Calla Gorman is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. She currently works at Independent Financial Partners and has held roles at several firms including Sheridan Road Advisors, LPL Financial, and Merrill. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting.

Nathaniel Chan is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory roles, he worked at Lu's Sushi and Chinese and spent a decade at Wheaton College. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management alongside integrated tax and accounting services, retirement plan consulting, and a range of operational capabilities such as family office and financial wellness solutions.

Jacob Lee is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Guardian Life since 2023 and previously held roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Axa Advisors, LLC. His outside business activities include licensed insurance work unrelated to Guardian Life. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides tailored client solutions combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party advisory platforms.

Vincent Allegra is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2023, he worked for Mesirow Financial, Inc. for 19 years. Outside of his advisory role, Allegra serves on the boards of Choose DuPage and Hinsdale Swim Club, contributing to community development and local recreational activities. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Anthony Scott is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2008. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of advisory programs and execution services. The firm combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, including in-house research and derivative services, providing multi-asset, multi-manager strategies implemented through discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Patrick Oconnor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with TIAA-CREF and Tiaa since 2016, following eight years at Securian Financial Services, Inc. and CRI Securities, LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily for individuals with existing ties to TIAA through employer retirement plans, as well as for trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management using both model and customized strategies, and it serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Noah Swift is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brookstone, he worked at Wealth Financial Services and Tax Advisory and has experience in design and self-employment. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through both internal and external sub-advisors.

Paul Niemiec is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of finance, Niemiec works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a wedding and event planning company. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that develops strategic model portfolios and adaptive strategies.

Robert Duwa is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Co LLC since 2010. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary model portfolios along with access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Michael Greenen is a CFP® and PFS™ with 25 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Cerity Partners LLC and previously worked at Edge Financial Advisors, Lantern Wealth Guardians, and operated his own CPA practice, Michael J. Greenen CPA PC. He continues to own this CPA firm, dedicating part of his time to it during trading hours. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in assets as of the end of 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with a client-specific investment approach that integrates quantitative screening, manager selection, and direct security investment alongside access to alternative private market solutions.