Paul Blumberg is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Financial, Inc. since 1993 and with Mesirow Investment Services, Inc. since 1983. He serves as a director for the nonprofit organization I Have a Dream. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs an investment approach that includes creating Investment Policy Statements, setting asset allocation targets, and conducting due diligence across various asset classes, while offering access to both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

Trevor Merkley is a financial advisor at &Partners with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at K Force, Chicago Public Schools, and JPMorgan Securities LLC. &Partners serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, ERISA consulting, and brokerage services through both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis and oversees accounts managed directly by advisors or third-party managers.

Scott Biestek is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He serves as principal of Biestek Wealth Management, LLC, active since 2017, and also works as an attorney through his own law office since 2009. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing approximately $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad platform including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, retirement consulting, and custody services.

Thomas Drennan is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also worked with World Financial Group since 2002. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in the sale of insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach to investment advisory services, supported by a large advisor network and multiple program platforms.

Michael Gubin is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been affiliated with Schmidt Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance and annuity sales through his positions at Schmidt Financial and MAG Advisors Inc., where he serves as president and sole owner. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary assets and serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management services, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services, employing a research approach based on fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory.

John Lothery is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked with OSAIC and Journey Financial Group. Focus Partners serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering comprehensive wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach combining active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

John O'Callaghan is a financial advisor with SPC in Mount Prospect, IL, holding a ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 52 years of industry experience and has been with Sigma Planning Corporation and Sigma Financial Corporation since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independently licensed insurance agent operating under Touch Financial Group in Northfield, IL. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering both discretionary and nondiscretionary management through a large network of advisers.

Max Wasserman is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Miramar Capital LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and uses a diversified, risk-class based investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Todd Kemp is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also been involved with several other ventures, including ownership of The Kemp Group and serving as a registry instructor at the Heartland Institute of Financial Education. Additionally, he offers estate planning services through Net Law. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, providing both advisory and broker-dealer services. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program choices and supports plan clients through affiliated retirement and recordkeeping entities.

Laura Davis is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 40 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and has worked with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she operates Advanced Strategies & Design, LLC, focusing on wealth accumulation and preservation strategies. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Wealth Management, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, along with access to proprietary programs and third-party solutions.

Kimberly Petricca is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 19 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, Triad Advisors, Inc., and GCG Financial LLC. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, and institutional clients. The firm employs a comprehensive investment process that includes setting asset allocation targets, applying due diligence across various asset classes, and utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment products.

Jamie Gaballa is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2024, Jamie was employed at Fifth Third Bank since 2022 and was self-employed from 2013 to 2021. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing clients access to multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Rita Latnhotha is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Mesirow Financial and Princor Financial. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, and offers integrated retirement plan services alongside affiliated legal, trust, and recordkeeping businesses.

Jonathan Neuman is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with &Partners and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Morgan Stanley. Neuman also serves as a FINRA arbitrator. &Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and corporations, providing investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Christopher Karam is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Independent Financial Partners since 2011 and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Sheridan Road Financial, LLC. Karam also serves as a Supervisor of Cuba Township in Barrington, Illinois, overseeing the township’s operations and finances. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform focused on individualized investment strategies and is noted for its retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Kexin Yang is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Yang has worked with nonprofit organizations such as the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center and The Bail Project. Yang’s background also includes roles at The George Washington University and Washington University in St. Louis. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized services such as Private Family Office and Executive Wealth programs, utilizing strategic allocation models and access to a wide range of affiliated Goldman Sachs products and resources.

Jin Liu is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Hightower Advisors in 2019, Liu worked for Navistar Inc. from 2014 to 2019. Outside of advisory work, Liu is a partner in Ecommerce Express LLC. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm employs a multi-manager approach that incorporates both affiliated and third-party managers, leveraging proprietary research and offering a range of portfolio construction strategies.

Fadel Krisht is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Strategic Wealth Advisors Group, and LPL Financial. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, comprehensive plan design, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm serves very large institutional investors and provides access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

Kyle Odeshoo is a financial advisor at Carson Wealth with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Carson Wealth and the March McLennan Agency. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $50.6 billion through a network of over 650 advisors. The firm serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and tailored investment solutions supported by a dedicated Investment Committee.

Daniel Dolgin is a financial consultant with Kestra Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Investment Services and Kestra Advisory Services since 2020 and previously at First Allied Advisory Services and Safecor Health. In addition to his advisory roles, Dolgin serves as Vice President of Life at Associated Agencies, managing life, disability, and long-term care insurance. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including plan design, fiduciary consulting, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients that include large institutional investors such as sovereign wealth funds.