Slavek Laskowski is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2005, including time under its former name Axa Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he operates an outside insurance brokerage under the DBA BLU-STAR STRATEGIC ADVISORS. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients—including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth—as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs delivered through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and leverages third-party asset managers and advisory programs in its investment approach.

Jillian Szafranski is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Orland Park, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliates since 2012. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver non-discretionary, written recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team.

Nikole Galanes is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. She has been associated with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2003. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in a legal entity formed for Primerica business purposes and participates in sale referrals for home security and automation products through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs model-based investment strategies managed by third-party asset managers and supports trading and custody through Pershing, focusing on a range of strategic and tactical models but does not provide portfolio management for institutional clients.

John Passananti is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2002, including its prior iteration as Axa Advisors. Passananti serves on the board of JDRF Illinois, supporting the organization’s mission and research agenda. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and uses both proprietary and third-party asset management solutions tailored to client risk profiles.

Samuel Varzino is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with the firm since 2025 and has prior experience at Saint Andrews Capital. Equitable Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm utilizes a combination of proprietary and third-party advisory models, providing a range of investment options including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and select alternative investments.

Elijah Muhammad is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and accumulating 15 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at PFS Investments, Inc., and multiple hospital systems. He is involved in sales of loan products and home security referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm employs model-driven investment strategies managed by third parties and supports execution and custody through Pershing.

Joseph Schoenhardt is a financial professional with 39 years of industry experience. He currently works at Osaic Wealth and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior experience includes over two decades at Securities America Advisors and Veravest Investment Advisors. Outside his advisory role, he is involved in selling insurance products through his insurance agency based in Chicago. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporations, offering both brokerage and advisory services. The firm employs a model-based investment process with portfolio optimization and provides access to a broad platform of programs and third-party managers.

Scott Bowman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Hinsdale, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1993. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of Wild Card Racing, LLC, an entity established to facilitate use of a garage at the Autobahn Country Club. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Kevin Kost is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Elmhurst, IL, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Michael Townsend is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Raymond James & Associates since 2017. His prior experience includes roles at Waddell & Reed, Ameriprise, and various insurance carriers. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser overseeing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering tailored financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a broad range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Michael Scanlan is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has nine years of industry experience, including seven years at Edward Jones. Outside of his primary role, he serves as CEO and independent contractor for msm wealth management. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools and supports institutional consulting and portfolio management across a large advisor network.

Giulio Liotine is a Senior Financial Advisor and Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings extensive experience in financial services, having begun his career in 2002 and joined Merrill in 2009. Giulio specializes in managing personalized and defined investment strategies on a discretionary basis, incorporating individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. His client focus areas include executive compensation, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and tax minimization. Giulio served honorably in the U.S. Army and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Illinois University. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and communicates fluently in English and Italian. Giulio’s approach centers on understanding his clients’ needs through close collaboration to craft customized financial strategies aimed at helping them pursue their goals. Outside of his professional commitments, Giulio spends time with his wife and children and enjoys activities such as biking, chess, golfing, hiking, reading, and running.

Kimberly Clark is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with Cetera and First Merchants Investment Services for seven years. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a board member for South Chicago Parents & Friends, Inc. and as a committee co-chair for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers through a multi-manager platform that includes model portfolios, automated allocations, and bespoke strategies.

Cynthia Cooper is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Outside of her advisory work, she owns a rental property listed on Airbnb. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs and separately managed accounts. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and is notable for its extensive national network of advisors and branches, as well as its affiliated financial services.

Michael Young is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Orland Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an executor for an estate. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored financial planning and utilizing firm-approved planning tools and models. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services through both individual and corporate financial planning agreements.

Alexandra Sanchez is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2025 and has prior experience working in the restaurant industry and in educational roles. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning guided by firm-approved tools and methodologies.

Clint Verhagen is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, Verhagen serves as a member of the Lions Club, vice president of a local preschool board, and treasurer of a service organization. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services with a multi-manager platform that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies.

Alan Moravec is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans since 2004. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive written recommendations on financial planning topics without implementation. The firm emphasizes holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Alfred Macaluso is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors since 2018 and was previously with Wells Fargo Clearing and Prudential Equity Group, LLC. He owns and operates PVI Capital Advisors, a separate investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser providing investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services and develops tailored recommendations using proprietary research and tools, with implementation options through various brokerage or advisory programs.

Elliot Hann is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors based in Oak Brook, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has one year of industry experience, including an internship at Morgan Stanley. Hann has held various roles outside finance, including work in landscaping and retail. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory programs and third-party asset managers, focusing on matching clients with investment models or discretionary managers based on their risk tolerance and financial information.