Susan Pedersen is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 1991 and focuses on helping clients develop potential solutions and provide investment guidance for individuals, families, and businesses by understanding their short- and long-term financial objectives. Susan holds the designations of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). She is a graduate of DePaul University. Susan specializes in areas including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, and retirement income. She follows a disciplined process that begins with getting to know her clients and their financial situations to craft customized financial strategies aimed at helping them pursue their goals. Susan lives in DuPage County with her husband and two sons. She and her family are active in the community, supporting Christ Church and participating in local missions. She has committed to giving 10% of her time to help others with their financial goals without obligation or cost.

Christina Gilsinn is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Wheaton, IL, with 10 years at the firm and five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Anthony Manfrin is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. in Elgin, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Guardian Life, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, and Unum. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, which serves individual, corporate, pension, and charitable clients with a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services. The firm employs a combination of manager-traded and model-traded strategies, tax management, and unified fee arrangements, supported by internal research and technology including artificial intelligence.

Kyle Butson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Roselle, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior work history includes four years at Edward Jones and roles at Itasca Bank & Trust Co and Integrated Facilities Solutions. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, encompassing financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Kristin McCracken is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role she began in 2024. Prior to this, she worked as a Financial Services Advisor at Merrill Lynch from 2019 to 2024. Kristin collaborates with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their individual priorities and needs. Her professional experience spans several years in the financial services industry, where she has focused on crafting comprehensive financial strategies with her clients. Kristin emphasizes understanding what matters most to each client to co-create tailored financial plans. Outside of her professional work, Kristin enjoys family activities, gardening, and traveling.

Maryan Khalil is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Money Concepts Capital Corp. and BMO Harris Bank. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo, offering investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of planning services, including specialized areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis, using proprietary research and planning tools.

Michael Masciopinto is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 37 years of industry experience. He has held his current role since 2020 and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 33 years. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver written, non-discretionary recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team.

Nicole Mackowiak is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked previously at Avantax Investment Services and 1st Global Advisors, and she currently manages operations at Porte Brown Wealth Management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to various third-party managers and program structures.

Jeffrey Becker is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2006. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a successor trustee for a family living trust. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, operating as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, and futures commission merchant.

Jonathan Blaisdell is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2004, including its predecessor Axa Advisors, and spent a year at Ameriprise. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Director of Travel Baseball for Lockport Boys Baseball, overseeing scheduling, recruiting, and planning on a volunteer basis. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm delivers these services through a network of investment adviser representatives, utilizing both proprietary programs and third-party asset managers.

Kevin Kelly is a financial advisor with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avantax and LPL Financial, and he is the owner of Resurgens Investments, LLC as well as Legacy Tax & Accounting, LLC, where he manages tax and accounting services. Kelly also offers identity theft protection services through Harvard Risk Management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and financial planning services across multiple program structures, offering access to both affiliated and third-party money managers.

Nicholas Katsoolias is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009 and previously worked at Edward Jones from 2007 to 2009. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in non-variable insurance activities, including group health insurance commission work. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Conor Nelson is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked previously at DWS Distributors, Inc., Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and PayNet. Nelson is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base, primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, offering advisory, brokerage, custody, and cash-sweep services through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts and emphasizes multi-asset model portfolios with strategic asset allocation and alternative investment due diligence.

Rita Boudreau is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services since 2011. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management offerings. The firm employs proprietary capital market assumptions and research to tailor investment plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Ryan Hagan is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Glen Ellyn, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2010 and previously worked at PRUCO Securities, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Hagan operates a business entity, RJ Hagan Inc., for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives and advanced operational tools.

Anum Melwani is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill in 2019, Melwani worked at First Security Trust and Savings and JP Morgan Chase. 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 strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Joseph Mazzocchi is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2024, he worked at Community Trust Credit Union and Gold Coast Bank. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering various advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Timothy Sattley is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is a science fiction author and the sole proprietor of High Dive Games, a recreation and art-related business in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is also employed by Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Stephen Cogger is a financial advisor at Cetera with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial for 10 years. In addition to his advisory role, he has worked as a hotel security officer at Courtyard by Marriott Elmhurst since 1988. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of advisors and provides access to multiple program structures and third-party managers.

Anthony Raia is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2002 and previously at Axa Advisors, LLC from 2002 to 2020. He is a member of the DBA Wells, Roselieb & Raia Wealth Management, LLC, where he is involved in operational expenses and payroll without compensation. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and leverages third-party asset managers and advisory programs in its investment approach.