Mark Metz is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Creative Planning, where he has worked since 2023. Prior to that, he was at The Vanguard Group, Inc from 2021 to 2023 and Vermillion Financial Advisors in 2020. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting, individually managed strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Theresa Colson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Diversified Investment Advisors since 2011 and at Diversified Investors Securities Corp. since 2008. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through programs that provide managed portfolios and investment education, utilizing proprietary software and model asset allocations developed in partnership with Morningstar Investment Management. The firm operates at scale with a large client base and focuses on non-discretionary advisory services rather than high-net-worth or standalone financial planning.

George Dogandjiev is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Star Logistics Solutions LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Level Solutions LLC, a business consulting firm. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm combines bank affiliation with a municipal-advisor registration and provides multiple discretionary managed-account options, including direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Brian Gilmore is a financial advisor at William Blair with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at William Blair since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at PNC Wealth Management, Natcity Investments, Inc., and Invest Financial Corporation. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary model portfolios, access to private funds, and co-investment opportunities.

Patricia Prado Gutierrez is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Aurora, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and has a longer tenure with Fifth Third Bank dating back to 2006. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm combines bank affiliation with broker-dealer and municipal advisor registrations, providing access to multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

William Hammond is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC and has previously worked at firms including T2 Asset Management and Woodbury Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he provides tax advice and tax preparation services under Hammond Capital Management Ltd, separate from his investment advisory role. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment strategies and technology platforms.

David Floyd is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Riverstone Wealth Partners and Commonwealth Financial Network from 2021 to 2026, and held positions at UBS Asset Management from 2016 to 2020. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients such as sovereign wealth funds and other large institutional investors.

John Matenko is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Principal Financial Services in Saint Charles, IL. He has one year of industry experience and has held positions at Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance Company, and various other roles including at St. Charles Country Club and Goldfish Swim School. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm focuses on direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

David Berendt is a financial professional at Lincoln Investment with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a small groups coach for the Boomerang Project, teaching educators how to facilitate mentoring programs for high school students. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management using strategic model portfolios and third-party managers, and maintains a history of serving educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs.

Frank Vandy is a financial advisor with Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC in Aurora, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Spire Investment Partners, and LPL Financial. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized, primarily long-term portfolio management using ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, supported by a network of approximately 286 advisors serving over 13,000 clients.

Sarah Garvin is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Geneva, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes five years at ADTRAV Travel Management. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based analyses and written recommendations on a wide range of financial planning topics. The firm allows clients to combine planning with managed accounts under a consolidated billing option, while keeping the services distinct.

Michelle Martin is a financial advisor at Fidelity with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior work includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, American United Life, OneAmerica Securities, and AXA-Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Ronald Pryer is a Series 66-registered financial advisor at Edward Jones with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Matthew Krajniak is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial since 2021. His prior roles include positions at Focus Financial, Royal Alliance Associates, and Waddell & Reed. Outside of his advisory work, he is a business owner of Midwest Motoring and is involved with the Leads Organization of Downers Grove Executives. 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 broad range of advisory services, including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, supported by advanced research tools and a network of over 22,800 advisors.

Eric Saunders is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Aurora, Illinois, with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2000 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 certifications. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and maintains a commercial property in Aurora. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million clients, including individuals and institutions. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Seth Wormley is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Association for Individual Development and is an elected member of the Kendall County Board. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Sharon Piet is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 26 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been affiliated with Raymond James since 2022. She is also associated with My Advisor & Planner LLC, where she serves as a wealth manager. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers non-discretionary planning tailored to client goals and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Terence Prokop 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 since 2023. Prior to this, he held positions at Westpoint/MassMutual Life Insurance Company and Denis Kelly/Wespoint/Mass Mutual, and has experience in education with Teach For America and local school districts. 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 searches, and customized performance reporting. Their advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research, using forward-looking capital market assumptions to build model asset allocations within a non-discretionary framework.

Colin Gleason is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with over 14 years of industry experience, including a lengthy tenure at Northern Trust. He holds a Series 66 designation and is based in St. Charles, Illinois. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jordan Hennings is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management holding a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Wintrust Financial, CUSD 200 Wheaton Warrenville South High School, and Firmatek LLC. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management for institutional clients.