Katelyn Depew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm follows an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies.

Charles Villano is a CFP® professional with 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Primerica Advisors and has an extensive background including roles at Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of his advisory work, Villano serves as a CPE instructor for local CPAs and operates a life coaching program for business owners. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning and business consulting. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms, managing approximately $15 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Edward Meek is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 34 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and has previously worked at Edge Portfolio Management, LLC for 21 years and Alpha Cubed Investments, LLC for one year. He is also a licensed independent agent selling life, health, and disability insurance on a limited basis. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and institutional investors. The firm utilizes tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and proprietary quantitative tools to build client investment programs.

Chad Stein is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management using both model and customized portfolios, and also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Andrew Blessman is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2019. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked at Sebold Capital Management from 2015 to 2019. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a financial planning–led investment process with low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a broad team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Mark Hughes is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 38 years of industry experience, including roles at Hughes Financial since 2000 and positions at Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Securities INC dating back to the late 1980s. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in selling and servicing fixed life, fixed annuities, and health insurance products through an outside insurance business. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, businesses, and active-duty military personnel overseas. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Pavel Yurevich is a CFP® professional at PNC Wealth Management with eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Capital One. Outside of his advisory role, Pavel is an owner and operator of residential rental properties. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm employs algorithm-driven risk assessments and external portfolio delegates, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Scott Biestek is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Palatine, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Commonwealth since 2010 and also operates The Law Office of Scott A. Biestek, J.D., where he serves as an attorney and owner. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with a variety of advisory programs and services. The firm provides operational, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management support while advisors maintain discretion in portfolio construction.

Thomas Drennan is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also worked with World Financial Group since 2002. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in the sale of insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a model portfolio and third-party manager approach to investment advisory services, supported by a large advisor network and multiple program platforms.

John O'Callaghan is a financial advisor with SPC in Mount Prospect, IL, holding a ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 52 years of industry experience and has been with Sigma Planning Corporation and Sigma Financial Corporation since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independently licensed insurance agent operating under Touch Financial Group in Northfield, IL. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering both discretionary and nondiscretionary management through a large network of advisers.

Brian Rapacki is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 19 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and various entities, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model with a mix of model and customized portfolios and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Todd Kemp is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and has also been involved with several other ventures, including ownership of The Kemp Group and serving as a registry instructor at the Heartland Institute of Financial Education. Additionally, he offers estate planning services through Net Law. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, providing both advisory and broker-dealer services. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program choices and supports plan clients through affiliated retirement and recordkeeping entities.

Michael Warren is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, based in Lombard, IL, with 39 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth and Garrett Consulting since 2008 and has been self-employed since 1985. His additional business activity includes work in fixed insurance. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Barbara Natale is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 35 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with PNC Investments since 2014. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategy pilot for employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Laura Davis is a financial advisor at Park Avenue Securities with 40 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and previously worked at Primerica Advisors and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of her advisory role, she operates Advanced Strategies & Design, LLC, focusing on wealth accumulation and preservation strategies. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment programs. The firm combines a large-scale integrated model with multiple investment management approaches and specialized account services.

Eric Behrends is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 registrations and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank in 2023, he worked at the State Farm Gary Behrends Agency for seven years and spent a year as a stay-at-home dad. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage channels, offering various managed account programs via the Passageway platform. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides access to multiple investment strategies, including mutual fund and ETF models, SMA strategies, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Rita Latnhotha is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Mesirow Financial and Princor Financial. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, and offers integrated retirement plan services alongside affiliated legal, trust, and recordkeeping businesses.

Robert Blanford is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Garrett Consulting, Rockstar Rodeo, and The Clubhouse. Outside of finance, he is also a musical performer. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing approximately $213 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform with discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custodial services.

Jorge Palacios Murphy is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and JP Morgan Securities LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base that includes individual and institutional investors such as retirement plans, charitable organizations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a combination of investment advisory and brokerage services, utilizing a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies delivered through platforms like Envestnet.

Scott Wertz is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company in Melrose Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, LPL Financial, and Firstmerit Bank. The Huntington Investment Company, operating as Huntington Financial Advisors, provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and business entities. The firm uses an open-architecture investment model combining third-party sub-managers and affiliate Private Bank offerings, delivering services through various wrap-fee programs on the Envestnet MAS platform.