Sergio Pedroza is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and small business strategies. As a Merrill Financial Solutions Advisor, Sergio works closely with clients to understand their priorities and develop strategies to pursue their short-, mid-, and long-term financial goals. He provides resources for investing, retirement planning, unexpected savings, and access to Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Sergio holds a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Illinois University and has earned professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is a bilingual fiduciary advisor fluent in English and Spanish, committed to offering ongoing advice and guidance as clients' needs evolve. Outside of his professional work, Sergio has personal interests in chess, soccer, and traveling. He emphasizes a client-centered approach, stating that he helps clients uncover what matters to them and their families to create financial strategies aligned with their goals.

Christopher Kolososki is a financial advisor at Stifel with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill and JP Morgan Securities LLC. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Tamara Fuhrman is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Rolling Meadows, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. She has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since the early 2000s. Outside of financial advising, she has served as a cantor for United Lutheran Church since 2016. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily for individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies developed by unaffiliated asset managers and offers a limited number of discretionary separately managed account options.

Frederick Lucas is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner and partner in a residential rental property. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm integrates large institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, delivering non-discretionary investment recommendations supported by an in-house manager solutions team and due diligence framework.

Paul Pavelski is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Landolt Securities, Inc. from 2005 to 2024 before joining Morgan Stanley’s Private Bank and Smith Barney divisions. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory and financial planning services supported by firm-approved tools and research, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Dru Martin is a financial advisor at Merrill in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Liggett Vector Brands for 13 years and has been with Bank of America and Merrill since 2025. Martin was also involved with Good Times USA LLC in 2025. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Brian Olson is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2023. He previously worked at Edward Jones for 15 years. Olson is also involved with Forte Financial Planning LLC, an entity related to his LPL business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a variety of investment programs, including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Susan Schwarm is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Libertyville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 41 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of advising, she manages an LLC that holds commercial property used exclusively for conducting Ameriprise business. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset thresholds, combining research and modeling with tax-efficient strategies. The firm serves a broad client base through advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional provider.

Kolleen Zbilski is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2014. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and modeling techniques in its financial planning process.

Kerry Schwarcz is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in 2026, Schwarcz spent a decade at UBS. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

Frederic Hoffman III is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 42 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and related entities since 2003 and has been involved with Associated Pension Services, Inc. since 1988. Outside of his financial advisory work, he serves as a head and assistant coach for youth sports teams in Arlington Heights, IL. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and other retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a range of portfolio management approaches and multiple custody and platform arrangements.

Steven Esposito is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Yellowstone Asset Management, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services using Wells Fargo research and planning tools. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including specialized areas like business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

Melissa Erath is a financial advisor with Merrill in Deer Park, Illinois, holding the Series 66 designation and possessing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 1990. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for Trinity Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois, where she assists in establishing financial guidelines and policies. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a mix of model-based and discretionary investment strategies tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Arnold Bender is a financial advisor with Cetera in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 35 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Alera Investment Advisors, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. Outside of advising, he owns an accounting and tax preparation business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services, operating a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management.

Marie Wurtel is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Cetera and its related entities since 2007 and was previously associated with Eric Wurtel & Associates, Inc. from 1993 to 2024. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of independent advisors and employs a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Robert Winters is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera since 1999 and is the managing member of Winters LLC, a CPA firm specializing in tax, audit, and accounting services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary account structures.

Lydia Ridgeway is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked in various roles including at Romona Elementary and Wintrust Financial, with a background that also includes work on the documentary "Vincible." Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

David Field is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Huntley, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Painewebber Incorporated since 1998, which is affiliated with his current firm. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor financial plans. The firm also operates with institutional trading capabilities alongside wealth management services.

Christopher Schuck is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Farmers Insurance from 2017 to 2020. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, operates under a fiduciary standard, and maintains a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Sumeet Gupta is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Long Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2002 and 2003, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in We Change Lives LLC, an investment-related business. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, focusing on retail clients rather than institutional or pension plan management.