Patricia Reilly is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1989. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary model portfolios and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Drew Mullarkey is a financial advisor at Mariner with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Capital Group Companies - American Funds, DoorDash, Morgan Stanley, and Valeo Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a broad range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios that combine in-house research with third-party managers and provides specialized tax integration and financial wellness solutions.

Steven Cole is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential. He has not yet accumulated industry experience in financial advising but has worked in various roles across multiple companies including WilSave Financial, Sweetgreen, and Inland Securities Corporation. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through multiple channels, including serving as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

James Flanagan is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at FSC Securities Corporation, Waterstone Financial Group, Inc., and Re-Direct Securities Corp prior to joining Independent Financial Group in 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author of a retirement planning book, provides pro bono financial advice to cancer patients, and serves as an adjunct professor of gerontology at Concordia University. Independent Financial Group, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through various platforms, utilizing a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and ongoing due diligence with both active and passive investment exposures.

Nathaniel Chan is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Before entering the financial sector, he worked at Lu's Sushi and Chinese and spent ten years at Wheaton College. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, with notable capabilities in tax and accounting integration and administrative family office services.

Michael Wapner is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services since 2017 and previously was with Utopia Green Consulting from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and Board Secretary for Park Ridge Friends of the Parks. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers services ranging from fiduciary consulting and plan design to advisor-managed accounts and acts as an ERISA fiduciary where applicable.

Jacob Lee is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Axa Advisors, LLC. Lee also engages in insurance activities outside of Guardian. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, operates as a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and a variety of advisory programs that include proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Vincent Allegra is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2023, he worked for Mesirow Financial, Inc. for 19 years. Outside of his advisory role, Allegra serves on the boards of Choose DuPage and Hinsdale Swim Club, contributing to community development and local recreational activities. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Amit Kumar is a financial advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has taught graduate-level courses at Benedictine University and Saint Xavier University for over a decade. Outside of his advisory role, he is also a musician who plays musical instruments for compensation. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers a wide range of services, including financial planning and portfolio management, with a focus on recommendation-based, non-discretionary advice through various program structures.

Luis Markin is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, and JP Morgan. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types, including mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and direct indexing, delivering its investment solutions via the Passageway Managed Account Platform.

Patrick Oconnor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2016. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group.

Noah Swift is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brookstone, he worked at Wealth Financial Services and Tax Advisory and has experience in design and self-employment. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through both internal and external sub-advisors.

Edward Dunphy is a financial advisor at William Blair with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2013 and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven investment approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Paul Niemiec is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2026, he worked at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a special events company. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house investment team and uses model portfolios and third-party managers to tailor solutions to client needs.

Robert Duwa is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Co LLC since 2010. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary model portfolios along with access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Michael Greenen is a CFP® and PFS™ with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and previously worked at Edge Financial Advisors, Lantern Wealth Guardians, and operated his own CPA practice. He is the owner of Michael J. Greenen CPA PC, dedicating part of his time to this business during trading hours. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset-allocation and manager selection processes, incorporating proprietary quantitative screens and a range of investment options, including private-market offerings and affiliated pension, insurance, and venture services.

Valbona Ceci is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. Prior to joining Mariner in 2017, she worked at BMO Private Bank from 2013 to 2017. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations across various strategies and maintains integrated tax and administrative capabilities uncommon for firms of its size.

Sharif Husseini is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Morningstar Investment Management LLC and Nuveen Investments. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, utilizes a range of investment vehicles, and serves as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

Larsa Heil is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and also has a background with Fifth Third Bank dating back to 2011. 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 access to multiple managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Themi Pieropoulos is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services since 2016 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Company since 2012. Pieropoulos also maintains a fixed insurance agent role focused on life and health products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. 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.