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.

Patrick Phillipp is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Stifel for nine years and The Federal Savings Bank for two years before joining Rockefeller Financial. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, operating as a registered broker-dealer that offers a range of securities and investment banking services.

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.

Nicholas Eppler is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with four years of industry experience. He is currently a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Chicago, IL, having previously worked at firms including Edward Jones, Fidelity Investments, and MassMutual. Eppler has also held roles outside of financial services, including employment with Keyence Corporation of America. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and select Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm employs asset-allocation models and research tools to guide investment decisions, with client authorization required for trades, and typically recommends separately managed accounts handled by third-party or affiliated managers.

Patrick Oconnor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with TIAA-CREF and Tiaa since 2016, following eight years at Securian Financial Services, Inc. and CRI Securities, LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily for individuals with existing ties to TIAA through employer retirement plans, as well as for trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management using both model and customized strategies, and it serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

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, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of finance, Niemiec works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a wedding and event planning company. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that develops strategic model portfolios and adaptive strategies.

Sharif Husseini is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He currently works at Brookstone Capital Management LLC and has previously held roles at Morningstar Investment Management LLC, EveryIncome, GRT Securities, Advisors Asset Management, Nuveen Investments, and AMG Funds. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities, employing a variety of asset-allocation models and investment strategies through a turnkey asset management platform.

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.

Jack Hansen is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Mariner who has four years of industry experience. He has worked with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018. Prior to his advisory role, Hansen held positions at Afton House Inn and FINISH LINE. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm uses discretionary, customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and combines in-house research with allocations to third-party managers across a range of asset classes and strategies.

Sebastian Galindo Sosa is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group and Wells Fargo. He holds Series 63 and 66 licenses and is based in Chicago, IL. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance is based on standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with recommendations tailored annually to each client’s goals and risk tolerance.

Erica Bunnell is a CFP® professional at Cerity Partners LLC with seven years of industry experience. Prior to her current role at Cerity Partners, she worked at HPM Partners LLC for five years. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, charitable institutions, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services and employs a client-specific investment framework combining quantitative screening, manager selection, and both third-party strategies and direct security selection.

Christopher Hendricks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. He has held roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Fidelity before joining TIAA-CREF in 2026. Hendricks holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Julie Byrnes is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Merrill. Byrnes is based in Chicago, IL. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm combines a Private Advisor model with an integrated investment platform that offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to alternative investment solutions, alongside registered broker-dealer services.

Jose Almanza is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Berwyn, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2021 and previously at MML Distributors, LLC and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company from 2016 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chief Operations Officer for Lakeshore Financial Network, a business specializing in tax preparation, and works as a loan originator for ILoan Home Mortgage. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors, their participants, and retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model linked to Empower’s administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions focused on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Cameron Nylec is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner. His prior roles include positions at JMG Financial Group, Ltd. and Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. He also spent four years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an Investment Committee and offers integrated tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory enterprises.

Christopher Sporer is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2025. His prior roles include positions at CIBC Private Wealth, Charles Schwab, and TD Ameritrade. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and a variety of implementation options.

Taylor Reynolds is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing seven years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms including Avail Financial Partners LLC, Christopher Financial Group, and Noble Capital Group. Outside of his advisory work, Reynolds coaches youth lacrosse for players aged 6 to 14 and serves on the boards of the Chicago Area University of Alabama Alumni Association and the Rotary Club of Downers Grove. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse clientele, including individual and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and offers a range of program types, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within its integrated New York Life structure.

Steven Gillhaus is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner Wealth Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Savant Wealth Management, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management, LLC, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the elected Treasurer of the Farmington Bath and Tennis Club, a summer tennis and swim club in Chicago. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios combining in-house research and third-party managers, with notable integration of tax and accounting services and operational capabilities such as administrative CFO functions and a Financial Wellness Platform.