Peter Trinidad Jr. is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Brookstone since 2013 and at Smart Retirement Strategies, Inc. since 2009. In addition to his advisory roles, he is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds, delivering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis through model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts.

Gian Carlo Ornelas is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with two years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2021, including prior experience at Shankland Financial Advisors and Illinois State University. Outside of finance, he has experience in the automotive service sector with Platinum Car Wash. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and integrates tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Philip Monnier is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Western Springs, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC in 2018, he worked at Capital One Advisors, LLC and Capital One Investing, LLC from 2015 to 2018. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party-managed investment strategies.

Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 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 approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and private investment opportunities.

Paul Schee is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2022, following nine years at Capstone Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs customized, discretionary portfolios supported by an internal management team and third-party managers, and integrates tax and accounting services alongside operational financial wellness tools.

Maxine Mott is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 31 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF and Macy’s. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise 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 and portfolio management supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team, with many client relationships remaining advisor-led and tailored through model portfolios and platform tools.

Linda Sabo is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Wheaton, IL. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience, all with Benjamin F. Edwards. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment consulting services supported by a large network of advisors and extensive assets under management.

Kurt Helmich is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has previously worked at Hightower Advisors and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs, employing a mix of internal management and third-party asset managers with a long-term investment approach.

Benjamin Rogina is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment, he has worked in warehouse logistics at Amazon and assists with operations at Rogina Engineers & Surveyors LLC. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise 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, consulting, and portfolio management through a combination of advisor-managed and firm-managed model portfolios, supported by an in-house investment management team and third-party managers.

Carla Merlak is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Brookstone since 2016 and also operates Merlak Tax Advisory Group Inc, where she provides tax preparation, planning, and insurance services. Additionally, she is involved with natural wellness product sales and financial and retirement planning through Next Phase Financial LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers fee-based asset management and financial planning primarily through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee programs, utilizing a range of investment strategies including tax-aware and ESG models.

Bradley Mills is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Elmhurst, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2005. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and use of platforms like Fidelity Institutional Wealth Adviser.

Shaila Maloney is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Nuveen Asset Management, CUNA Mutual Group, and Bank of America. Her current role at TIAA-CREF involves serving clients in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, offering model and customized managed accounts with a fiduciary standard applied to its RIA services.

James Gazis is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2025. He has also been affiliated with Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd for over 16 years, where he is the owner of a wealth management business. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of clients with a decentralized advisory model and notable retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Hoi Ying Yau is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2016 and has been affiliated with World Financial Group since 2015. Her other business activities include the sale of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses a model portfolio and third-party manager approach, supported by multiple program platforms such as Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

Charles Schuster is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Monroe Capital LLC and Madison Boats LLC, along with four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing over $295 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Katherine Morris is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Planmember Securities Corporation. She has held positions at Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013 and was a member of the Oswego Police Pension Board from 2010 to 2018. In addition to her financial advisory work, she is involved in a non-investment administrative business. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios while offering participant education and support services.

Nicholas Curcio is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA since 2017 and joined TIAA-CREF in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at HarrisDirect LLC and E*TRADE Capital Management LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with pre-existing TIAA employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers customized portfolio management and operates as adviser to a donor-advised fund, applying a fiduciary standard within its vertically integrated advisory model.

Rachel Kowalczyk is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Mariner since 2018 and previously worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC for four years. Kowalczyk operates out of Mariner’s Oakbrook Terrace, IL office. Mariner serves a diverse group of clients including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs customized portfolio strategies supported by an internal investment team and third-party managers, and provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office capabilities alongside traditional advisory services.

Jesse Zaragoza is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, U.S. Bancorp Investments, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of securities, he is involved in brokering insurance and property and casualty products. Eagle Strategies serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with a significant focus on non-discretionary asset management and advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products.

Steve Shyman is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Brookstone since 2015. Additionally, he operates Wilsave Financial and is involved as a distributor of water ionizer machines. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily through discretionary model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and turnkey asset management platform services.