Richard Desmedt is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor AXA Advisors since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with an outside insurance brokerage and serves as trustee and successor trustee of trusts established in 2023. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients across wealth levels, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset management programs, utilizing both proprietary offerings and third-party asset managers.

Elizabeth Miller is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 1998 and Bank of America since 2009. Miller serves as the incoming President of the Jewish Federation of Peoria, a volunteer leadership role on the nonprofit’s board. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Agata Kowalyk is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 34 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Primerica Advisors since 1992. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in referral activities for home security and automation products through co-located affiliates of Primerica. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving primarily individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm employs a model-delivery approach managed by third-party asset managers and supports a range of investment strategies including recently added cryptocurrency ETF models.

Alex Hickman is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and six years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Trader Joe's, and Subway. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, and endowments, focusing on non-discretionary asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm employs a centralized due diligence process supported by quantitative and qualitative research, with capabilities that include derivatives and commodities advisory.

Jim Ostach is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 53 years of industry experience. He worked at Raymond James Financial and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. from 2001 to 2021 before joining LPL Financial in 2021. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting a broad range of strategic and tactical investment approaches.

Khalekidan Melkamu is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Bank of America, N.A., and has experience as a self-employed individual and with Uber. Outside of finance, he provides commentary as an independent contractor for a professional wrestling streaming service. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, providing model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Juan Rangel Jr. is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America and Chicago Marketing Inc. Outside of advising, he works as a delivery employee for Uber Eats and DoorDash. 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, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Steve Lusietto is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Evanston, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and five years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Robinhood, TD Ameritrade, and State Farm Insurance. He is affiliated with Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm uses proprietary fundamental research combined with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios and serves multiple registered investment companies, including roles involving model portfolio delivery and formal advisory services.

Carla Nitz is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience. She is currently with LPL Financial and has also worked at Blyth & Associates, Inc. and Securities America, Inc. Additionally, she is involved in tax preparation and accounting through North Central Tax Services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Ted Nelson is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Evanston, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 22 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2003. 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 firm's advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research with forward-looking capital market assumptions and incorporates an ESG eligibility framework.

Chaicharn Dhepyasuwan is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Wilmette, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2006 and with JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA. since 2005. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a non-discretionary program focused on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process integrates quantitative and qualitative due diligence, incorporating an ESG eligibility framework and leveraging broader derivatives and commodities capabilities.

Joshua Noparstak is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Equitrust Financial Group and Securities America Inc. Noparstak also operates Northstar Legacy Planning, a business affiliated with his LPL practice. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to model portfolios and third-party asset managers, supported by extensive operational and research tools.

Barry Skolak is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2018, following an 11-year tenure at BMO Harris N.A. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a family-owned three-unit residential property in Chicago. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily 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 combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary separately managed accounts, utilizing multi-asset model portfolios and a centralized operational structure.

Anthony Hubick is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2013. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs that provide discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services, tailoring strategies to each client’s risk profile.

John Seaman is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2011 and at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and delivers services both directly and through corporate financial planning agreements.

John Ho 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 and Jpmorgan Chase Bank (IL) since 2024. Prior to that, he was employed at M1 Finance and Foreign Auto Connect. 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 and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm's advisory process integrates centralized due diligence combining quantitative and qualitative research, and it maintains broader derivatives and commodities capabilities compared to many institutional advisory programs.

Craig Alexander is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2011 and also serves as an associate financial advisor at Piekarski and Associates, assisting with practice management and client service. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Karina Elperin is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2013 and currently works with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2024. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses structured planning tools and modeling techniques as part of its financial planning process.

Kristen Folland is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Robert W. Baird since 2008. She is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies from traditional allocations to more complex approaches, including private funds and real-asset exposures.

Mirza Baig is a financial advisor with Merrill holding a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at Citi and Bank of America. Baig also has a background in education, having taught at Northeastern Illinois University. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.