Nicole Mayer is a financial advisor at Allworth Financial, L.P. with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Arbor Point Advisors and Securities America. Outside of her advisory role, Mayer is an author and consultant for Senior Services of Illinois, focusing on life and health insurance. Allworth Financial is a fee-based SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management using various model strategies and employs third-party sub-advisers when appropriate.

Mingdong Tan is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Hightower Securities, LLC and Hightower Advisors since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of Asphalt Plus LLC, a construction company. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base that includes individual and institutional investors. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Matthew Vasiliauskas is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has recently started his career in the financial industry and previously worked at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Portillo's Restaurant Group, Inc. He also has experience with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and the Wheaton Park District. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, institutional clients, and plan sponsors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs. The firm integrates strategic allocation models, manager selections, and a variety of implementation platforms, leveraging capabilities across the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Edward Meek is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 34 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and has previously worked at Edge Portfolio Management, LLC for 21 years and Alpha Cubed Investments, LLC for one year. He is also a licensed independent agent selling life, health, and disability insurance on a limited basis. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and institutional investors. The firm utilizes tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and proprietary quantitative tools to build client investment programs.

Andrew Blessman is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2019. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked at Sebold Capital Management from 2015 to 2019. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a financial planning–led investment process with low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a broad team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Pavel Yurevich is a CFP® professional at PNC Wealth Management with eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Capital One. Outside of his advisory role, Pavel is an owner and operator of residential rental properties. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm employs algorithm-driven risk assessments and external portfolio delegates, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

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 66 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at K Force, Chicago Public Schools, and several financial services firms including JPMorgan Securities LLC and Prime Trading LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base of individual and institutional investors, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary accounts managed via the Envestnet platform and NFS brokerage infrastructure.

Scott Biestek is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 15 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth since 2013 and operates Biestek Wealth Management, LLC, where he is involved in both advisory services and insurance sales. In addition, Biestek maintains a law practice as an attorney. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, 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 at firms including Journey Financial Group and Royal Alliance. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, corporate, retirement plan, and institutional clients, offering a range of wealth management and financial services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that integrates fundamental and quantitative analysis along with access to alternative investments and overlay strategies.

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.

Michael Warren is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, based in Lombard, IL, with 39 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth and Garrett Consulting since 2008 and has been self-employed since 1985. His additional business activity includes work in fixed insurance. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Laura Linger is a financial advisor at William Blair with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair & Company, LLC since 2004. Outside her advisory role, she owns Exquisite Presentations, a tapestry placement business with inventory held for charitable donations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Laura Davis is a financial advisor at Park Avenue Securities with 40 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and previously worked at Primerica Advisors and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of her advisory role, she operates Advanced Strategies & Design, LLC, focusing on wealth accumulation and preservation strategies. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment programs. The firm combines a large-scale integrated model with multiple investment management approaches and specialized account services.

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.