Elizabeth Pedretti is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 credentials. She joined Edward Jones in 2025 and has a prior ten-year career at Robert Half. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Melissa Vald is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2019. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with experience working with high net worth clients since 2005, providing comprehensive financial planning that includes retirement and income planning, tax-efficient investing, and estate plan considerations. Her career in financial services includes roles as a Financial Planning Associate at Wells Fargo from 2015 to 2019, and at Morgan Stanley from 2007 to 2015, as well as serving as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley from 2005 to 2007. Melissa holds a California Insurance License. Outside of her professional work, Melissa enjoys family activities, theater, traveling, and volunteering.

Adam Bukowski is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services in Lisle, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with MassMutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for the DuPage Senior Citizens Council, a nonprofit organization. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers structured, collaborative financial planning engagements using firm-approved analytical tools, with optional implementation of recommendations through separate brokerage or insurance arrangements.

Matthew Lenerville is a financial advisor at Fidelity with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in ecommerce as the owner of Net Brands, LLC, and participates in marketing and sales for Fae Forest Fungi, LLC, a gourmet and medicinal mushroom business. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services and is noted for its use of systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

Jamie Morrow is a financial advisor at Stifel with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at RBC Capital Markets, Raymond James & Associates, and Midland States Bank. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach relies on proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group, providing analytical support for asset allocation and financial planning.

Brandon Gongorek is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2026. Prior to joining Ameriprise, he worked at Globaltranz for eight years and AFN for five years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a Premier Retirement Income service that delivers tailored retirement planning advice, emphasizing dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Peter Wilmot is a CFP® and ChFC® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2015. His prior experience includes roles at Opus Wealth Partners, LLC, MSI Financial Services, Inc., and Waterstone Financial Group, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with PWA Tax Services, LLC, which provides tax preparation and accounting services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan participants. The firm supports its advisors with various investment approaches including proprietary and third-party model portfolios, and offers a broad suite of financial and non-advisory services.

Nicholas Tagliere is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2016. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research supported by a centralized due diligence team, with recommendations that may include ESG criteria and broader derivatives capabilities.

Jean Lacour is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wayne Hummer Investments for 17 years before joining Raymond James in 2023. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and municipalities, offering financial planning and investment consulting primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Michael Furness is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for five years and has over a decade of experience with LFK Group LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he assists as a portfolio manager for Horse Cove Partners, providing back-office support for daily trading processes. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC distributes services through a large nationwide network of independent advisors, serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through multiple program structures and has over $256 billion in assets under management.

Patrick Naughton is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera and its affiliates since 1988 and founded Naughton Financial Services in 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Naughton serves on the Board of Lay Trustees for Marmion Academy, a private high school, and is a board member of the John Paul II Renewal Center, a religious organization. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports over 10,000 independent advisors and serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party investment managers.

Ashar Khan Mohamed Khan is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America and freelance finance consulting. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors, with portfolio implementation supported by internal and third-party managers.

Kamlesh Thakrar is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. He has worked with Avantax Advisory Services and Avantax Investment Services, and has also operated Kris Kumar & Associates, a tax preparation and accounting business, since 1985. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options and more than $256 billion in assets under management.

Dominic Tommasone is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in various roles including at Thrivent Financial and Village Automotive. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive written recommendations on a wide range of planning topics without implementation. The firm combines goal-based analyses with managed-account options under a consolidated billing system while maintaining separate planning and portfolio management services.

Joel Billings is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2008, with prior roles at Natcity Investments, Inc. and Invest Financial Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, Billings serves as a substitute teacher in the Geneva School District 304. 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 financial planning and investment management services, including access to model portfolios, third-party asset managers, and institutional programs.

Seth Kunio is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Warrenville, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise in 2023, he worked in education at West Aurora High School and Jewel Middle School. He is also a student research assistant with Michigan State University’s GlobalEdge international business center. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized recommendations through a centralized consulting team. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Cynthia Jaracz is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Lisle, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning using structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Jeffery Harper is a CFP® professional with 37 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and has held roles at Good Life Advisors, LLC, Level Four Advisory Services, LLC, Opus Wealth Management Group, and MSI Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in agricultural activities, including overseeing the raising and selling of cattle. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supporting a large network of advisors with diverse investment strategies.

Brian Michel is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Sugar Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2005. Outside of advising, he serves as president of the Capitol Professional Center Association. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Siara Spaulding is a financial advisor at Fidelity with five years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Her work history includes roles at Fidelity Investments, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. She has also held positions outside finance at Gap Inc. and Banana Republic. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage model portfolios and funds.