John Josten is a financial advisor at Cetera with 38 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Lamb Little and VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he manages an agricultural business through John M. Hanson Enterprises LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services and operates a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party investment strategies.

Rumen Hristov is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been associated with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, Hristov co-owns Rumen Consulting Corp., a business that provides tax preparation services. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and separately managed account options within a wrap-fee structure. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee model, delegating trading responsibilities to BNY Mellon Advisors.

Jose Lopez Maldonado is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Wauconda, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors from 2016 to 2019 before joining LPL Financial in 2021. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Joseph Christopoulos is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, all with LPL Financial. He operates out of Arlington Heights, IL. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Dennis Marach is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linsco Private Ledger since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Marach Financial Management, which includes activities such as tax preparation and writing non-variable life insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by research and diverse investment strategies.

Peter Schallmoser is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He specializes in designing cost-effective corporate retirement plans—including 401(k), defined benefit, and non-qualified platforms—for businesses that prioritize employee economic empowerment. Since 1997, Peter and the Schallmoser Group have worked closely with corporate and high net worth individual clients to develop personalized financial strategies that align with their unique goals. His areas of expertise include corporate benefits, equity compensation services, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Peter holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola University Chicago and a Master’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University. He holds multiple professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Beyond his professional work, Peter serves as a Village Trustee for the Village of Lake Barrington, Illinois, and volunteers with the Crushers Club in Englewood, Chicago. His personal interests include adventure sports, baseball, and traveling.

Erick De La Cruz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2025. Prior to this role, his work experience includes positions at Coro Enterprises LLC The Red Lion, Exmoor Country Club, and Target Corporation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer that provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Melanie Sheedy is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience, currently with J.P. Morgan Securities. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and also has a long tenure at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2001 to the present. Her prior experience includes managing The Sheedy Family Living Trust. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory services with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Svitlana Sheppard is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been active in the financial services industry since 2003, beginning her career with Merrill in 2010. Svitlana works closely with high-net-worth clients as part of The Sheppard Group, contributing to the delivery of a broad range of wealth management services and strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University, graduating summa cum laude. Svitlana also possesses several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Originally from Ukraine, Svitlana is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. She engages with the community through involvement with Better Money Habits in partnership with Khan Academy and the Chicago Public Library Foundation Associate Council. Outside of work, she resides in Chicago with her husband and enjoys biking, cooking, hiking, running, skiing, traveling, and yoga.

Andrew Beierwaltes is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999, following a tenure at Axa Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a deacon at St. John Brebeuf Parish and is involved in several church-related leadership roles, including director positions and fundraising activities. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through third-party programs. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, utilizing a range of third-party asset managers and advisory programs tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Brian Magura is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Brandon Nguyen is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, M1 Finance, and Merrill Edge/Bank of America. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Casey Torrey is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Round Lake, IL, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Torrey is the owner and singer of a local band called Acousticats. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, with a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management.

Brian Schnell is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northern Trust Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides planning services alongside broader investment and brokerage capabilities.

Stanley Kottke is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs while keeping the services separate.

Dennis Gorman is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC for five years and has operated Gorman & Associates since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with a CPA Affiliate Program through Gorman & Associates. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Roger Smith is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Edward Jones since 2000. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, investment options, and fiduciary services supported by a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Erik Rosencrans is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He joined The Rosencrans Group in 2022 and works alongside his father and business partner, Jeff Rosencrans, who has been a Merrill advisor for over 40 years. Erik brings his background in corporate financial strategy and experience in management consulting and private equity—where he advised corporations on financial strategy and operational efficiency across technology, healthcare, and finance sectors—to his role in wealth management. Erik's expertise includes investment management, retirement planning, tax minimization strategies, insurance, and estate planning services. He supports clients in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, legacy and liquidity management, managing new wealth, small business strategies, and retirement income. His approach is grounded in research, analytical rigor, and a commitment to client success, emphasizing thoughtful, personalized guidance and building lasting relationships. He holds bachelor's degrees in Entrepreneurship, Corporate Innovation, and Marketing from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Erik lives in Chicago with his wife Lauren and participates in community organizations including Groop of Friends and The Friendly Scholars Foundation.

Peter Van Houten is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill and LPL Financial since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a real estate rental investment on Amelia Island, Florida. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by internal and third-party research.

Patricia Ciebien is a financial advisor at Merrill with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 1986. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.