Joel Ridle is a Senior Financial Advisor and Senior Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill for over 15 years, focusing on retiree wealth management, portfolio management, financial guidance, and working with small to mid-size businesses. Joel is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and a qualified Portfolio Manager who provides traditional advice and guidance, as well as manages personalized or defined strategies on a discretionary basis. These strategies may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, model portfolios, and third-party investment approaches. Joel holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Western Illinois University. He is involved with the Sigma Chi Fraternity and participates in community organizations such as the Golden Eagles Wrestling Club. In his personal time, Joel enjoys baseball, golfing, and traveling. He has been married to his wife, Sandy, since 1994, and together they have four children.

Matthew Alexander is a CFP® certificant affiliated with LPL Financial, with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at various firms including SagePoint Financial, Third Street Advisors, and OSAIC. Alexander is also involved with Alpha Dog Advisors LLC, a business entity he established for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset managers, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by research and technology tools.

Kelly Kepka is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she focuses on helping clients develop personalized financial plans that align with their goals. She emphasizes clear communication and education to support clients in making informed decisions. Her professional experience includes roles as a Relationship Manager at Fidelity Investments, Licensed Investment Professional at JP Morgan Chase, Financial Professional at Equitable Advisors, Financial Representative at Fidelity Investments, and Associate Banker at JP Morgan Chase. This diverse background has provided her with comprehensive knowledge of financial planning and client relationship management. Outside of her professional work, Kelly has interests in cooking and baking, fitness, kayaking, music, pets, and traveling.

Yifan Bian is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise and holds the Series 63 and 65 designations. He has nine years of industry experience, including prior roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. His outside business activities include work as a financial planner focused on non-variable insurance products. LPL Enterprise, LLC serves a broad client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities, offering financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and model-driven investment implementation.

Nicholas Beis is a financial advisor at Fidelity with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wilson & Wilson Estate Planning & Elder Law LLC and Bellock & Coogan Ltd. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a process that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages a variety of investment structures, including model portfolios and fund-of-funds, and is noted for its use of systematic methodologies and formal governance procedures.

Todd Sulzer is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Downers Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2002. Outside of advising, he assists with the operation of an existing tax practice. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for clients with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

George Delgiudice is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Wayne Hummer Investments, J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Banc One Securities Corporation. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

James Jasper is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Lisle, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mass Mutual and its affiliates since 2013, following a one-year tenure at Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Jasper is also licensed as a life and health insurance agent. MML Investors Services, LLC, a subsidiary of MassMutual, provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, using firm-approved analytical tools to support collaborative, annual planning engagements.

Bharati Thakkar is a financial professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Cetera Investment Advisors LLC since 2020 and Cetera Financial Specialists since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as an assistant in accounting, tax, and financial services at Vijay Thakkar and Associates Ltd. Cetera Investment Advisors LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, financial planning services, and access to third-party money managers.

Rupali Agarwal is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with five years of industry experience and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 2021 and is also the owner of TJ Outlet LLC, an online e-commerce business selling bullion, household items, and electronics. Prior to her current roles, she was self-employed in 2020 and has longstanding ties with Primerica Financial Services since 2005. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual investors, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies developed by unaffiliated asset managers and offers discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing for trade execution and custody.

Thomas Mc Cartney is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 30 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he was associated with M Holdings Securities, Inc. and operated his private wealth management practice through My Advisor & Planner LLC. Outside of advisory work, he manages MAP Professional Building LLC, a family-owned business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm uses risk profiling and analytical modeling to tailor non-discretionary planning and encourages implementation through its advisory programs or other providers.

Mathew Matusiak is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Elk Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director for the District 12 & 13 Youth Camp PNA. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable accounts. The firm offers model-based investment strategies supported by third-party asset managers and custodial services, with approximately 3,948 advisors and $15.5 billion in assets under management.

Gregory Kojak is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2026 and previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network from 2004 to 2026, while also operating Kojak Capital since 2004. He is involved in an insurance-related business, Lincoln Park Financial Group, LLC, selling fixed insurance as an agent. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supporting a network of over 22,900 advisors and managing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Stephen Williams is a CFP® professional at Thrivent Investment Management with 28 years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Harris Investor Services, Inc and Huntington Bank prior to joining Thrivent. He is based in Naperville, IL. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm focuses on holistic, goal-based planning across various financial topics, offering these services either on a one-time or ongoing basis.

Thomas Mc Hugh is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, where he has worked since 2025 and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, he worked at U.S. Bancorp and its investment division from 2023 to 2025, and Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2009 to 2023. Outside of his financial career, Mc Hugh coaches girls varsity basketball at Crown Point Community Schools and has over a decade of experience coaching youth basketball. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm’s advisory program emphasizes written asset allocation advice, investment manager selection, and customized performance reporting, supported by centralized due diligence and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

Timothy Wagenknecht is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 17 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at E*TRADE Capital Management LLC, Wealth Watch Advisors, LLC, and Fortified Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in Patriot Property Partners, LLC, a company formed to hold and maintain property. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction, delivering model portfolios constructed from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Brandon Macias is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Wheaton, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2019 and previously was involved in hospitality management and a bread and wine business. Macias serves as a board member of DayOne Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on compliance with its mission and ethical standards. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across a wide range of asset segments. The firm offers various advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Jason Yang is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Co, and BMO Harris. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and offers services such as financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and participation in the Model Wealth Portfolios wrap program.

Jeffrey Todd is a financial advisor at Osaic with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at SagePoint Financial, Inc. and Todd & Associates, Inc. alongside his current role. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in insurance sales. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, providing a range of brokerage and advisory services. The firm’s investment process uses model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various tools and strategies implemented through a multi-advisor platform.

Susan Huizinga is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and ten years of industry experience. She has worked at various firms including Avantax Investment Services and Rozovics Wealth Management, where she is also a partner. Outside of advisory work, she serves as treasurer of the BTB Foundation, a nonprofit organization raising funds to support individuals fighting cancer. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individual and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services, utilizing multiple investment program structures and affiliated third-party managers.