James Gazis is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2025. Prior to this, he spent 15 years at Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd and three years at Commonwealth Financial Network. He is the owner of Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd, an investment-related business focused on wealth management. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of clients and is notable for its specialized retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Charles Schuster is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Monroe Capital LLC and Madison Boats LLC, along with four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing over $295 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Katherine Morris is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 23 years of industry experience. She is affiliated with Planmember Securities Corporation and has worked at Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with MS Business Services, a non-investment administrative firm. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation framework and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios ranging from conservative to aggressive, while also offering education and support to plan sponsors and participants.

Nicholas Curcio is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA since 2017 and joined TIAA-CREF in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at HarrisDirect LLC and E*TRADE Capital Management LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with pre-existing TIAA employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers customized portfolio management and operates as adviser to a donor-advised fund, applying a fiduciary standard within its vertically integrated advisory model.

Rachel Kowalczyk is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. She previously worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC from 2013 to 2017 before joining Mariner Wealth Advisors in 2018. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers to implement customized portfolios and provides integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Jesse Zaragoza is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of securities, he is involved in brokering insurance and property and casualty products. Eagle Strategies serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with a significant focus on non-discretionary asset management and advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products.

Steve Shyman is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Brookstone since 2015. Additionally, he operates Wilsave Financial and is involved as a distributor of water ionizer machines. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily through discretionary model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and turnkey asset management platform services.

Sarah Krapec is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Her prior work includes roles at Global Retirement Partners, LLC, Strategic Retirement Partners, and Kestra Financial, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Trevor Johnson is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is active as an online seller on eBay and TCGPlayer.com and creates trading and playing card content on YouTube. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform.

Corey Speck is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mariner with three years of industry experience. He has been with Mariner since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, where he helps raise funds and coordinate events. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, along with integrated tax, accounting, and family office services.

Thomas Ferraro is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill and Wells Fargo in various capacities. Outside of his advisory role, Ferraro coaches wrestling and other sports and serves as a board member of a religious organization. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across multiple wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs, broker-dealer execution, and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains unique market roles, including functioning as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Alexandria Dotson is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at PNC Investments since 2016 and at PNC Bank from 2016 to 2018. Outside of her advisory role, she has been involved as a property owner-landlord. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services, including a model-based digital discretionary portfolio program available by invitation to employees. The firm’s approach uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Andrea Jevne is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Ameriprise. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Martin Dolph is a financial advisor at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Foundations since 2017. In addition, he is active as a sales manager and independent agent at American Senior Benefits, focusing on insurance and annuity sales. Foundations Investment Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, offering tailored advice through model portfolios and an asymmetric rebalancing approach.

Craig Horvath is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Joliet, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 29 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with LPL Financial and Level Four Advisory Services. Horvath is involved in insurance agency activities and serves as a non-variable insurance agent. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing customized portfolios with a long-term approach and employing internal management alongside third-party managers.

Patrick Rule is a financial advisor with William Blair in Clarendon Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair since 2016. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division serves individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients through discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, offering proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Veena Gandhi is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2015 and is also involved in estate planning education through roles with Inheritguard, LLC and LSPN Pro LLC. Additionally, she participates in activities related to insurance sales and client education with affiliated entities including World System Builders and EBRM Agency. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high net worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach across multiple platforms, including Transamerica ONE and TFA365, with approximately $1.7 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Nathan Meek is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC in Wheaton, IL, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials with two years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Fidelity Investments and Edge Financial Advisors, LLC. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management services to a diverse national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and institutional investors. The firm utilizes tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and proprietary quantitative screening alongside third-party managers and individual securities.

Stephen Berenson is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at RL Tax and Bookkeeping, LLC, which provides tax accounting services. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

Xiao Chen is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Integrity Alliance, LLC. Prior to joining Integrity Alliance, Chen held roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Lion Street Financial, and related entities. Outside of finance, Xiao Chen is involved in community organizations including serving as Vice President of the Hunan Association of the Midwest USA and as a board member of the Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago. Chen also owns a performing arts business focused on music and acting. Integrity Alliance is a large advisor network providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers various investment management approaches, including advisor-managed discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers, supported by a range of operational features such as dual SEC registration and affiliated insurance distribution.