Brian Woodruff is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Goldman Sachs since 2021, following a 13-year tenure at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including individual, high-net-worth, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes centralized investment resources and a range of discretionary and non-discretionary managers, offering tailored solutions such as Executive Wealth and Private Family Office support within a large integrated financial group.

Patrick Bouslog is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2021, following a 15-year tenure at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to individual, high-net-worth, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm integrates centralized investment resources and offers tailored solutions such as Executive Wealth and Private Family Office support within a large, integrated financial group.

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.

Brandon Kerndt is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 30 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes ten years at Charles Schwab before joining Mesirow Financial in 2010. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm constructs portfolios using Investment Policy Statements, asset allocation targets, and due diligence across various asset classes, and offers access to both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

Clayton Foster is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2024. He previously worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors and has held positions at Mooney Lyons, Triad Advisors, and the University of Missouri. 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, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Mary Claire Meehan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and five years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities LLC since 2021 and has prior experience at Gary A Erickson dating back to 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Notary Public in Illinois. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and advisory services primarily focused on fee-based and non-discretionary solutions tailored to client objectives.

Victoria Shadaia is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. She has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Midwest Financial Advisors Group and Michigan State University. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using proprietary due diligence, asset-allocation modeling, and third-party platforms to implement client strategies.

Maria Elena Danakou is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. She has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2021 and has prior experience with Meraki East, Puma Group, Manulife John Hancock, and London & Capital Group. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm integrates customized investment strategies with a wide range of services and leverages capabilities across the broader Goldman Sachs organization.

Phillip Porpora is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill from 2006 to 2021 before joining Sanctuary Wealth in 2021. Outside of advisory services, he is a member owner of Porpora Consulting LLC, where he recruits and onboards advisors to the Sanctuary Wealth platform. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm supports over 400 independent investment adviser representatives who utilize various portfolio management approaches and strategies under firm supervision.

Christopher Stickrod is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 21 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. He previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and Nuveen Securities, LLC for over a decade before joining TIAA-CREF in 2023. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often those connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary management through model and customized portfolios and also serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

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.

Joseph Simoncelli is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA, Nuveen Asset Management, and Nuveen Securities since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, Simoncelli serves as an assistant coach for the Renegades High School hockey club. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through various managed account options.

Charles Lawless is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Mesirow Financial for 27 years before joining Creative Planning in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in developing a patent for personal finance record keeping, serves on the advisory board of Empower Retirement, and is an author of self-help and family history books. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and other active portfolio management techniques, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Allen Berg is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. He currently works at Clearstead Advisory Solutions and has held prior roles at Waveland Family Office, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Weiss & Company LLP, and North Star Investment Management Corp. He serves as Treasurer and Adviser to the Juliana Greenfield Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on charitable medical research. Clearstead serves affluent private clients and institutional clients, providing investment management, financial planning, tax planning, family office administration, and institutional consulting services. The firm manages approximately $33.9 billion in assets and applies institutional disciplines through a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, and a proprietary Direct Indexing strategy.

Jonathan Chung is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, Merrill, and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Assistant Pastor at Highland Presbyterian Church. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers a variety of investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account Platform and supports clients with multiple portfolio management options, including mutual fund and ETF models, SMA strategies, and direct indexing.

Joel Hochman is a CFP® with 42 years of industry experience and is currently with MAI Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2021. He previously held roles at Hochman Cole Investment Advisors, Inc. and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he also engages in independent consulting through the Gerson Lehrman Group and receives referral commissions related to a prior health insurance business. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio strategies and integrates financial planning, tax, and bill-pay services, managing $72.3 billion in assets as of May 2026.

James Davis is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Skokie, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC for 13 years before joining Commonwealth in 2025. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an assistant basketball coach at Christian Heritage Academy. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser that supports a national network of advisors and their clients by providing a range of advisory programs and operational services. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios and customizable investment solutions while serving as a platform provider with extensive clearing and custody relationships.

Evan Ferry is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience and a Series 65 designation. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Relative Value Partners, and various country clubs, as well as employment at the University of Michigan. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a wide range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds.

David Brown is a financial advisor with William Blair in Highland Park, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair and Company, L.L.C. since 2003. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary 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 models alongside access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Lihua Zhu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Prime Planners Inc and HR-Block, along with her position as an IRS Enrolled Agent providing tax preparation services. She has also been involved with the Xilin Northwest Chinese School and co-owns a small business with Frank Liu. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm serves individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a large network and multiple advisory platforms.