Kenneth Kruss is a financial advisor with OSAIC based in Lake Zurich, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 30 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services for 17 years before joining OSAIC in 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Kruss Investment Services, Inc., a company involved in fixed insurance sales. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm utilizes asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios across various asset classes on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Derek Nichols serves as Vice President and Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2026. In this role, he leads a team of advisors by providing support and coaching aimed at maximizing their potential. He focuses on fostering a positive work environment and developing the skills and capabilities of his team to serve more clients effectively each day. Prior to his current role, Derek was a Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments from 2024 to 2026, and before that, he was Vice President and Wealth Planner at the company from 2018 to 2024. His mission is to create a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation within his branch while delivering exceptional service and value to clients. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Derek has personal interests that include fitness, football, golf, hiking, and motorcycles.

Blake Ripes is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Fifth Third Bank, and National Securities Corp. Outside of finance, he has experience in the hospitality industry, including positions at Quinton's Bar and Brill and Picklemans. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios and manage registered investment companies.

James Oshaughnessy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Global Retirement Partners, HUB International, Sheridan Road Advisors LLC, and Independent Financial Partners. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with model portfolios and research support.

Eva Maria Atanassova is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she held roles at Aramark, Enterprise Holdings, and several educational institutions. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad client base, including retail and institutional investors. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios drawn from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Todd Bauman is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2009. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets, using a centralized consulting team to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations that incorporate research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional provider.

Nicholas Curio is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank since 2026 and previously worked at Second Avenue and UBS Financial Services Inc. Outside of finance, his background includes work in the hospitality and retail sectors. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing structured planning tools and investment models while generally acting in an advisory capacity.

John Tofilon is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to both individual and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and structured discovery conversations. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers comprehensive financial planning services directly and through corporate agreements.

Kelly Ipjian is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Triad Advisors, Alera Investment Advisors, GCG Financial Services, and Securian Financial Services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Shawky Yoakim is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Mass Mutual Investors Services, Fifth Third Securities, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. As a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities.

Jefferson Batt is a CFP® professional with over 22 years of industry experience currently affiliated with Cetera. He has held roles at Cetera and VOYA Financial Advisors and is the president of Batt Financial Group, Inc., a financial services firm he has led since 2013. Batt also serves as a board advisor for IncubatEDU, a charitable organization supporting student entrepreneurship through strategic mentorship. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC operates a multi-manager platform providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm supports a large network of independent advisors and offers a range of investment program structures, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

David Carter is a financial advisor at Merrill with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Merrill in 2022, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank from 2011 to 2022. 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 for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Kathleen Liggins is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Buffalo Grove, IL, where she has six years of experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2007 in various roles. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Treasurer for the Barrington Juniors Women’s Club and is a managing member of BK Legacy Holdings LLC, a consumer retail products business. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a variety of advisory strategies, including both discretionary and non-discretionary options, and maintains a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Blade Varian is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Fisher Investments since 2013. Fisher Investments serves a global mix of institutional and private clients, providing discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm employs a centralized investment process that combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to construct diversified portfolios and offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services.

Greg Imhoff is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with business entities such as BMGI Planning Partners, LLC, and Intuitive Financial LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services supported by research and model portfolios from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

Dejan Acimovic is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings over 15 years of experience in wealth management, sales, and finance, with a focus on helping clients achieve their financial goals through personalized strategies. Dejan holds the designations of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University Paris XII and is fluent in Serbo-Croatian, French, and English. Dejan emphasizes understanding each client’s full financial picture to develop flexible strategies that align with their long-term objectives. In addition to his professional work, he participates in community activities and volunteers with local organizations. Outside of work, Dejan enjoys basketball, reading, soccer, and traveling. His approach is centered on working closely with clients one-on-one to establish tailored financial plans that pursue their personal goals.

Pandit Singharuksa is a financial advisor with Merrill in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Interfirst Mortgage Company, and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Joseph Scott is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a rental property business in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supplemented by firm-approved tools.

Vanessa Drolshagen is a financial advisor with Merrill in Northbrook, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 2 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2015 and previously worked at Bank of America, N.A. Vanessa is a co-trustee of a family trust and owns a home remodeling business where she assists with administrative tasks. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Christine Kusher is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 23 years of industry experience. She has worked with LPL Financial since 2022 and has concurrent roles at Cuna Brokerage Services, Inc. and Cuna Mutual Insurance Society since 2010. Outside of her advisory work, she is also a self-employed musician. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diverse advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios and research from various sources to support discretionary and non-discretionary management.