Valbona Ceci is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently with Mariner in Oakbrook, IL. Her prior experience includes roles at BMO Private Bank and Mariner Wealth Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services, implementing customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and supported by both in-house and third-party managers.

Jack Hansen is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Mariner who has four years of industry experience. He has worked with Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018. Prior to his advisory role, Hansen held positions at Afton House Inn and FINISH LINE. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm uses discretionary, customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and combines in-house research with allocations to third-party managers across a range of asset classes and strategies.

David Brown is a financial advisor with William Blair in Highland Park, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair and Company, L.L.C. since 2003. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models alongside access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Benjamin Audley is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. He currently works at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC and previously held roles at Hightower Advisors, LLC and Mesirow Financial, Inc. prior to joining his current firm. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm primarily constructs customized portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income with a primarily long-term approach, while also offering discretionary investment management and family office services.

Sarah Taylor is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at TD Ameritrade and Benjamin F. Edwards. Before entering the financial services field, she spent over a decade as a homemaker. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, investment management, brokerage, insurance products, and M&A advisory services.

Lihua Zhu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Prime Planners Inc and HR-Block, along with her position as an IRS Enrolled Agent providing tax preparation services. She has also been involved with the Xilin Northwest Chinese School and co-owns a small business with Frank Liu. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm serves individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a large network and multiple advisory platforms.

Zachary Bohlin is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked for Robert Bosch LLC for 11 years. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various managed account platforms, employing multiple analytical approaches and acting as a fiduciary when advisory agreements are in place.

Gabriel Korach is a financial advisor with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Mesirow Financial since 2010. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services. The firm serves private individuals, institutional clients, and government entities, using both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products.

Jennifer Lyons is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Company since 2000. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, with proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investments.

Peter Henkel is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he was affiliated with Indiana University and has held roles at Ivy Hills Country Club and Mercy Health Plex. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a wide range of clients, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs, utilizing strategic allocation models and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations within the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Cameron Nylec is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner. His prior roles include positions at JMG Financial Group, Ltd. and Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. He also spent four years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an Investment Committee and offers integrated tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory enterprises.

Deepen Modi is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Midwest Securities, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities. He is also president and sole owner of DKRS of Northbrook, a corporation unrelated to investment activities. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, employing a mix of passive and active strategies combined with ongoing manager due diligence.

Anthony Jones is a CFP® professional with two years of experience at Corient. Prior to joining Corient, he worked at Industrial Federal Credit Union and Regions Bank, and he also spent six years at Purdue University. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions, supported by continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.

Steven Gillhaus is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner Wealth Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Savant Wealth Management, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management, LLC, and BMO Harris Financial Advisors, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the elected Treasurer of the Farmington Bath and Tennis Club, a summer tennis and swim club in Chicago. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios combining in-house research and third-party managers, with notable integration of tax and accounting services and operational capabilities such as administrative CFO functions and a Financial Wellness Platform.

Cramer Soebbing is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently with Mariner. He previously worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors from 2015 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the advisory board of the H Foundation, which organizes charitable events and raises funds for basic science cancer research. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and is noted for its integration of tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Matthew Mikula is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Corient. His career includes nearly two decades at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC before joining Corient and its related entities. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team-driven investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and uses advanced risk management and stress testing tools.

Jacob Lankford is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial and the Wealth Enhancement Group. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by quantitative and fundamental research and an internal Investment Committee.

Kevin Zasada is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. His career includes roles at Empower Financial Services, Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, Fisher Investments, and Merrill. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services (WEAS) offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment process that blends passive and active managers, overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Daniel Lanman is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019, following prior roles at The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied, Capstone Financial Advisors, and Great Lakes Advisors. Outside of finance, he was involved with The Red Lion and has academic experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Universidad Pontifical Comillas. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and portfolio management. The firm utilizes strategic allocation models, proprietary analytics, and integrates capabilities across the Goldman Sachs network to deliver comprehensive wealth management solutions.

Graham Garcia is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in various capacities including positions at Waterway Carwash, Shakou, and Old Elm Club. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop tailored portfolios aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.