Katherine Micek is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Raymond James since 2021 and previously spent eight years at UBS Financial Services. Raymond James & Associates provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and government clients. The firm offers tailored financial plans and investment recommendations through its Wealth Advisory Services Program, alongside institutional consulting and municipal finance capabilities.

Kincade Frank is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, NYLIFE Securities, New York Life Insurance Company, and Aflac. Outside of finance, he has been affiliated with Liberty University and served in the Illinois Army National Guard. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

Gerardo Velasquez is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Milliman, Inc. for nine years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Franklin Hilvers is the Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2015. He has been with Fidelity since 2005, progressing through various positions including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Private Client Relationship Manager, Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultant, Retirement Solutions Representative, and Client Service Representative. Over his 21 years at Fidelity, he has worked with many clients to develop, implement, and maintain financial plans, focusing on retirement, income, and wealth planning. Franklin holds a California Insurance License, which supports his work in providing comprehensive financial advice. He emphasizes integrity in his advisory services and is committed to helping clients and their families work toward their financial goals. Outside of his professional life, Franklin enjoys baseball, concerts, football, family activities, and parenthood.

Matthew Strutzel is a financial advisor at Cetera with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Raymond James & Associates for 14 years. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an elder at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, IL. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm supporting a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services to individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

William Lavanne is a CFP® certificant affiliated with Cetera who has 40 years of industry experience. He currently serves at Cetera and its related entities, including James Hamlin Financial Services, LLC and JHFS Management Corporation, where he holds ownership and management roles. Outside of his advisory work, Lavanne is a licensed insurance agent authorized to offer fixed, life, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services with multiple program structures and access to both affiliated and unaffiliated third-party managers.

Stephanie Barnett is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. since 2015. Barnett is based in Libertyville, IL. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, employing firm-approved software to support goal analysis and recommendations.

Thomas Noto Jr. is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked with Equitable Advisors since 2002, including its predecessor, AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an ice hockey official with USA Hockey. Equitable Advisors serves individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients by providing financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as a dual-registered SEC investment adviser and broker-dealer and collaborates with program sponsors and third-party managers to deliver a range of advisory and brokerage solutions.

Eleni Ftikas is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2026, she worked for Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., and has over two decades of experience at Planning Dynamics, Inc. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by extensive research and model portfolios.

Zachary Cashmore is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in North Barrington, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advisor Share Wealth Management and self-employed advisory firms. Outside of financial advising, he has worked in the brewing industry with Revolution Brewing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving a diverse client base, including individual and institutional clients, with a broad range of advisory programs and affiliated investment options.

James Gregga is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, Illinois. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities from 2012 to 2020. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and a broad range of investment advisory programs. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and analyses but generally acts in an advisory capacity without providing individual security recommendations in its standalone planning services.

Jacob Ries is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2018, he worked for Cetera Advisor Networks from 2013 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Ries has coaching involvement with the Big Foot Union High School and Big Foot Wrestling Club. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research and model portfolios from internal and third-party sources.

Brian Tait is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 13 years of industry experience and has been affiliated with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and Kress & Mackay LLC since 2013. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as an owner and partner in Liberty Lake LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with affiliated brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Umair Mustafa is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Carpentersville, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America, he worked at Adapt Health and held various roles including customer service and delivery positions. Outside of his advisory role, he continues to work part-time in customer service and delivery for Adapt Health and Amazon Flex. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

William Feeney is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Northbrook, IL, with 43 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 1989 and previously worked at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Feeney holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and provides a broad range of capital markets and research resources.

Brett Jenne is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Stifel, where he has worked since 2022, following eight years at Bank of America. Brett is based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm uses a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to support asset allocation and financial planning decisions.

Michael Tursi is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience, currently associated with Wells Fargo Advisors in Arlington Heights, IL. His prior roles include positions at PNC Investments and Charles Schwab. Outside of his advisory work, he owns J.M. Equity Advisors LLC and serves as a notary public. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides a broad range of investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutions. The firm offers specialized planning services and integrates advisory offerings with other financial products and referral channels.

Jeffrey Garbaciak is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at New York Life Insurance, Valic Financial Advisors, and as an independent consultant. His background also includes work outside finance, such as positions at Home Depot and Cafe Lucci. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a large network of independent professionals. The firm provides various investment implementation options, including proprietary and third-party strategies, tailored to client objectives across multiple platform arrangements.

Jared Korn is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in comprehensive wealth management for small business owners, corporate executives, and high-net-worth families. He brings over six years of experience in financial services, offering expertise in portfolio management, tax planning, estate planning, retirement solutions, and executive compensation optimization. Jared holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is actively involved with professional organizations including the Merrill Lynch Bank of America Disability Action Network and the Inter-Generational Employee Network. Outside of his professional focus, Jared enjoys adventure sports such as boating, football, golfing, rock climbing, skiing, surfing, and spending time with his family.

Andrew Carman is a CFP® professional affiliated with LPL Financial, with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2011, with a brief tenure at Securities America Advisors and Securities America, Inc. from 2017 to 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.