Charis Ellis is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Wheaton, IL, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations. She has 11 years of industry experience, including roles at Edward Jones and Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. Charis also serves as an event coordinator for College Church in Wheaton, organizing weddings and other church events on an as-needed basis. Commonwealth Financial Network is a national dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive platform that includes managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody/clearing services.

Adam Larson is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient, where he has worked since 2022, following previous roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Savant Capital Management. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools alongside alternative investments where appropriate.

William Buhr is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has prior experience at JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a broad client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting through a combination of passive and active investment strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Richard Bentel Jr. is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked with Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013 and has experience in tax preparation at HR Block. Outside of financial services, he has worked as a delivery person for Domino's Pizza. 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 across risk-based mutual fund portfolios and offers education and support services including retirement planning and separation counseling.

Aris Tatevosian is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 24 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at J.P. Morgan Securities, Northwestern Mutual, Arlington Capital Management, and Country Financial. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs on the Passageway Managed Account platform, providing options ranging from mutual fund and ETF models to separately managed accounts with tax-overlay and direct indexing strategies.

Jeffrey Stensland is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds the PFS™ designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 35 years of industry experience, including over 20 years with Kestra Investment Services and a decade at Kestra Advisory. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of AFS Group Ltd., which provides administrative support. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of institutional and individual clients, including large plan sponsors. The firm provides services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advisory, with a client base that includes sovereign wealth funds and other large investors.

Douglas Clermont is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 63 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at The Leaders Group, Inc., GBS Insurance & Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Co., and PrinCor Financial Services. He is also licensed as an outside insurance agent, selling fixed life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Its approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, with a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios that uses risk questionnaires to customize portfolios reviewed quarterly.

Christopher Pontarelli is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones and Competitive Property Solutions, LLC. He is based in Summit, Illinois. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and combines third-party portfolio managers with advisor-managed sleeves, featuring services such as direct indexing and tax-overlay strategies within a structure affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Margaret Myers is an advisor at Kestra Advisory with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Kestra Advisory, Kestra Investment Services, Bridge Financial Technology, and Goldman Sachs & Co. She also works as an advisor at BlueLake Wealth Advisors, providing financial planning, investment management, and insurance services. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm provides a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education, supporting clients with a combination of proprietary and third-party managed solutions.

Jeremiah Lorenz is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fortis Investors for 19 years before joining Kestra Advisory and Partners Wealth Management in 2019. He is also involved in insurance product recommendations through BlueLake Wealth Advisors. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors as well as institutional and individual clients, offering services such as plan design, fiduciary consulting, and employee education. The firm supports a range of investment solutions including discretionary trading and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Craig Morgan Jr. is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in St. Charles, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. from 2009 to 2017 before joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2017. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies that include firm-developed and third-party models with ongoing oversight and client customization.

William Howson is a CFP® with ten years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2025. His prior roles include four years at HighTower Securities LLC and Bank of America, as well as experience at Merrill and The Vanguard Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal investment team and third-party managers, and provides enhanced tax and accounting integration as well as family office and employer financial wellness solutions.

Marty Pereira is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding CFP®, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and over 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory since 2016 and previously held roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and CSMG International Ltd. Pereira is also the Investment Advisor and Director of Research & Analytics for Partners Wealth Management, where he focuses on asset allocation and investment research. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as plan design, fiduciary consulting, and employee education. The firm serves a broad client base including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, and supports a range of investment platforms and third-party managed solutions.

Mark Diorio is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2015. The firm provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. Brookstone Capital Management employs a range of investment strategies, including strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, Unified Managed Accounts, and options-enhanced strategies, while also serving as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

James Alexander is a CFP® certified financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edge Portfolio Management, TD Ameritrade Investment Management, and Scottrade. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management services to a diverse national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset-allocation and manager selection strategies, integrating proprietary quantitative screens alongside third-party managers and individual securities.

Robert Strobel III is a CFP® professional with 36 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC spanning 12 years. He serves as a board member of the Towne Place West Homeowners Association in Schaumburg, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and charitable and educational organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies that combine firm-developed and third-party models with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee.

Melissa Hollon is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds the Series 66 designation. She has four years of industry experience and has worked with firms including Massino Financial Group, Tempus Labs Inc, PwC, and PepsiCo. Hollon serves as Treasurer of the Professional Women's Club of Chicago, overseeing the organization's financial management and budgeting. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various adviser and promoter arrangements.

Michael Moleski is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, Moleski manages a family farm business. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm emphasizes a financial planning-led investment approach with low-cost indexing and offers a range of supplemental strategies and integrated retirement plan services.

Hilary Gellings is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Citigroup and its related entities since 2014. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, providing a wide range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by in-house research and extensive market capabilities.

Benito Ibarra Jr. is a financial advisor at Mariner with 9 years of industry experience and holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has worked at several firms including New York Life Insurance Co, Northwestern Mutual, Centaur Financial LLC, and Christopher Financial Group, LLC. He serves as a board member of the Medical Organization of Latino Advancement, a nonprofit supporting Hispanic/Latino health professionals. Mariner serves a diverse client base, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm uses customized discretionary portfolios combining in-house research with third-party managers and provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office services.