Crystal Thomas is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2022 and previously spent 13 years at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal Chief Investment Office teams and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Craig Christell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Arlington Heights, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and having 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1982. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in real estate partnerships including hotel room rentals and other rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory services and operates under a fiduciary standard with a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

Brian Muehrcke is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently with J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., where he has worked since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Equitable Advisors, Axa Advisors, Sequoia Wealth Management, Ausdal Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The advisory process combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to build model asset allocations, with recommendations limited to eligible strategies and supported by affiliates.

Megan Pawlowski is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, and Christopher Financial Group LLC. Outside of advisory work, she serves as a board member for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and officiates high school basketball and volleyball games. 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 a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services, managing over $256 billion in assets through a network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Marshall Watanabe is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Des Plaines, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm uses model-driven investment strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and offers custodial and trade execution support via Pershing and BNY Mellon Advisors.

Randy Domingue is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Bloomingdale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2012. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary program focused on asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screening and qualitative research and includes capabilities in derivatives and commodities.

Karina Munji is a financial advisor at Cetera with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with various Cetera entities since 2015 and previously worked at Vijay Thakkar and Associates Ltd. Outside of finance, she works as a freelance audio transcriber for multiple companies. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Benjamin Miller is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates since 2024. Prior to joining Raymond James, he was with UBS Financial Services Inc for 15 years. He is an officer involved in neighborhood management for The Preserve at Long Grove. 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, institutional and pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering non-discretionary financial planning and investment consulting supported by proprietary research and a range of portfolio management styles.

Patrick O'Connor is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2011. Outside of his work at Wells Fargo, he co-owns Armada Financial Partners Ltd with his spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services that include retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning, with specialized services requiring specific advisor credentials.

Ernesto Aranda is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Crystal Lake, IL. His prior experience includes roles at The Huntington Investment Company and Bank of America. He has also been affiliated with DePaul University since 2016. Ameriprise Financial Services is a diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement income planning focused on tax-aware withdrawal strategies and dependable income sources.

Nirdesh Patel is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Signator Investors, Inc. and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. for 22 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an agent with Dynasty Retirement and Financial Services, focusing on fixed annuities and non-variable insurance. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm employs a model-based investment process with portfolio optimization tools and offers a range of brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform.

Lesley Torres is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with two years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her work history includes roles at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Charles Schwab & Co Inc., Magnit, Paylocity, and Edgars Landscaping Inc. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary advisory relationships and access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by strategic asset allocation and a formal alternative investment process.

Daniel Sano is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2022, following a 17-year tenure at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process blends quantitative screening with qualitative research and incorporates ESG criteria, with implementation supported by affiliated investment management entities.

Robert Stackhouse is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Eastern Point Advisors Inc., Investors Capital Corp., and currently maintains a separate investment consulting and advising business, RPS Financial, which he owns and operates. He has been affiliated with Cetera and its affiliates since 2016. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable organizations, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party investment managers and various program structures.

Richard Augustine Sr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at SagePoint Financial, Lincoln Financial Advisors, and Austin Bancorp. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of R.J. Augustine & Associates, a firm providing tax, accounting, and strategic business services, and is treasurer of the Founders Club Homeowners Association. OSAIC Wealth serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform offering brokerage and advisory services, including financial planning, managed portfolios, and retirement consulting. The firm emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various investment strategies and third-party manager programs.

Michael Procaccio II is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and related entities since 2018 and is also involved in operating several Jimmy John's franchise businesses. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform that includes affiliated and third-party managers, with over 10,000 advisors and approximately $256 billion in assets under management.

Julia Pierre Louis is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2014. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary program. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research and employs a forward-looking approach to capital markets, with capabilities that include derivatives and commodities through affiliated entities.

Michael Barwacz is currently a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2024. He has been with Fidelity since 2019, serving previously as a Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2024 and as a Relationship Manager from 2019 to 2021. Prior to joining Fidelity, Michael worked as a Premium Investment Consultant for Merrill Edge between 2017 and 2019. Michael brings over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. His background includes a decade as Director of Retail Trading at TD Ameritrade from 2007 to 2017 and over two decades as a Market Maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange from 1984 to 2007. This extensive experience supports his focus on building comprehensive financial plans tailored to individual goals. Outside of his professional work, Michael enjoys activities such as cooking and baking, family engagements, fitness, football, music, and photography.

Benjamin Gottlieb is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management based in Schaumburg, Illinois. He specializes in working with businesses on retirement, benefit, executive, and equity compensation program needs, supporting companies and individuals in developing retirement programs specific to their plan design. As part of a team, he follows a methodical process to review current plans and look for opportunities to improve technology, reporting, fees, and risk management to help companies fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities. Ben began his career in the financial services industry in 2008. He is a member of the Institutional Advisory Council (IACTM) at Merrill, which includes retirement and institutional designated advisors who provide input to firm management. Ben holds several professional designations, including Certified 401(k) Professional (CkP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and completed the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education Program in 2018. Ben lives in the Northwest Suburbs of Illinois with his wife, Kristen, and their three children, Charlotte, Jack, and Taylor. In his free time, he enjoys football, golf, hockey, activities that help animals, and spending time with his family. He is involved with community organizations such as the Humane Society, Love for Liam, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Aruna Sriram is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has been with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2005. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a selective group of Wealth Advisors. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to deliver customized asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and performance reporting, with clients retaining final decision-making authority.