Maria Fessler is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. She has 28 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MetLife Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Old Mutual Capital. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of asset management and consulting services, utilizing model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and individualized strategies across multiple program platforms.

Sean Nash is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with nine years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and the Series 66 license. His prior work includes roles at JPMorgan Securities LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and various wealth management and financial services firms. Creative Planning provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Roger Fuhrman is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2016. Fuhrman is also a professor at North Central College and is involved with Simplicity Financial Marketing. 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, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, delivering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis via model portfolios and managed accounts.

Christopher Larrabee is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2016. His prior experience includes roles at Stifel, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He also dedicates time as an agent for his step-mother in an investment-related capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, investment management, brokerage, and M&A advisory, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies with dedicated equity and fixed-income trading desks.

Vanessa Retter is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2021. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser offering 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, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Jennifer Casey is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2018. Prior to joining Creative Planning, she worked at CCP Financial Planning Services from 2014 to 2018. She is a member of the board of directors and Outreach Chair at GiGi's Playhouse, a nonprofit that offers educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process centered on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-efficient and fundamental equity approaches, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Bilal Hamideh is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Bankers Life Securities, Inc. and Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc., where he has also managed a team of insurance agents and been involved in licensing and training. Outside of advisory services, he is an insurance representative working with Medicare-related health plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management strategies to client goals and risk tolerances.

William Parrilli is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 44 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Co since 2016. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of the Northern Illinois Shooters Association, where he organizes matches and oversees scoring. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm provides a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement and investment management consulting, brokerage services, insurance products, and certain M&A advisory services.

Gregory Kurinec is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2010. His prior experience includes roles at FSC Securities Corporation, Waterstone Financial Group, Inc., and OSAIC Services, Inc. He is an attorney providing estate planning services, serves as a volunteer public speaker for the Society for Financial Awareness, and holds a board position with the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate plans. The firm employs a combination of strategic asset allocation and multi-manager portfolios across various risk profiles, utilizing both active and passive investment strategies.

Bryan Ball is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Agia and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, Bryan is involved with non-securities insurance products through an agent role at Agia. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment 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, portfolio management, and access to third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that develops strategic and adaptive model portfolios.

Jacob See is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial, Napa Auto Parts, North Central College, and Hampshire High School. Outside of advising, he provides tax preparation and accounting support through Midwest Small Business Accounting and Tax. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party managers through multiple program structures supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Alexander Fernbach is a CFP® professional at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Schumann Financial, CETERA Financial Specialists LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including managed solutions that utilize proprietary strategies and third-party models across equity and fixed income portfolios.

Marta Krupa is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. She previously worked at PNC Investments LLC for 10 years before joining PNC Wealth Management in 2021. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only, discretionary model account available to select employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Michael Lemaich is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management since 2013 and also owns Global Fund Management LLC, where he acts as an insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program, serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm delivers investment management primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios, unified managed accounts, and separately managed accounts, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and TAMP services.

Jesse Szlaga is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner. Prior to joining Mariner, he worked at OFM Wealth and previously at Mariner Wealth Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, and specialized services such as tax coordination and employer financial wellness programs. The firm utilizes discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an investment committee and combines in-house research with external managers and platforms.

Chad Sturtz is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 1997 and Principal Life Insurance Company since 1996. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Sturtz Farm, LLC, which focuses on corn and soybean production. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Daniel Baer is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup since 2005. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and operates with institutional scale, including in-house research, derivatives services, and bespoke solutions for large relationships.

Sandra Gentry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. She has worked at Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2020 and has been with Bankers Life & Casualty since 2014. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a unit field trainer agent for Bankers Life and Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions.

Brian Vanderlugt is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2010 and previously held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. During his career, he has been based in Wheaton, IL. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser with over 500 advisors, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement and investment consulting, and insurance products, utilizing a mix of proprietary strategies and third-party models.

Tristan Abalos is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC holding a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience with prior roles at Osaic Wealth Inc and LPL Financial. Outside of finance, he has operated The Screen Guys LLC since 2014. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs a variety of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform.