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 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked for J.P. Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank. 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 broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and corporate fiduciaries. The firm integrates with Bank of America’s wider platform, providing access to various financial products and services.

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.

Christopher Auer is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing extensive experience in wealth management and financial planning since beginning his career in 1998. He specializes in education planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Christopher focuses on delivering a comprehensive approach tailored to each client’s individual needs by listening carefully and helping them make informed decisions to achieve their financial goals. He holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Christopher also completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Northern Illinois University. Outside of his professional role, he is involved with the Porsche Club of America and enjoys hiking, music, photography, traveling, and spending time with his family.

John Lancaster III is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he provides tax preparation, planning, and consulting services to both individual and corporate clients. Lancaster also serves as the treasurer on the board of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, participating in local business events and chamber activities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a national SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies, overseeing more than $256 billion in assets through over 10,000 advisors.

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.

Jeffrey Hejza is a CFP® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with LPL Financial and has held previous roles at Commonwealth Financial Network, Realty Associates Network, and Mortgage Services III. He is also involved in mortgage banking through Partners in Mortgage. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, supported by research and model portfolios.

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 at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America and the University of Arizona Global Campus. 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 plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

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, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Bank of America, N.A. and co-manages a family trust as a co-trustee. Outside of her advisory role, she owns AVPro Services, LLC, a home remodeling and handyman business where she also assists with administrative tasks. Merrill provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions program to a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies integrated with Bank of America’s platform, providing access to a wide range of products and services.

Mark Gallegos is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Cetera. He also serves as a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he leads the international tax department, M&A tax area, and tax credits and incentives area, and engages in tax research and speaking on tax topics. Previously, he has worked with Avantax and Borhart Spellmeyer & Company LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered adviser serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, operating a multi-manager platform that allows advisors to implement model portfolios or bespoke strategies across various program structures.

George Aslanidis is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012, also working with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2009. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, offering asset-allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework when recommending strategies.

David Maleh is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Deerfield, IL, and has 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes a structured financial planning process using proprietary tools and serves clients through both direct and employer-sponsored arrangements.

Elzbieta Jarzabek is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fortis Capital Advisors, Cetera, and Fifth Third Bank. She is also involved with Olesen Financial Group, a non-investment-related business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, utilizing firm research and modeling tools to develop tailored recommendations.

Brian Harrigian is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. He has prior experience with Cambridge Investment Research Inc. and Preferred Planning Concepts, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches youth baseball with the Park Ridge Jr. Hawks Traveling Baseball League. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent advisors using a variety of portfolio management approaches and custody arrangements.

Sean Lee is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at Molo Solutions for five years and held roles with Be Reality Group, Core Spaces, and The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including advisory work for registered investment companies and charitable funds. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios, and it engages in activities such as fund-of-funds management and oversight of affiliated sub-advisers.

Leslie Cabrera is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having one year of industry experience. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2023, Leslie worked at Horizon Wealth Management and Benjamin F Edwards. Outside of her advisory roles, she has experience at a nursing home and a recreation center. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and serves clients through direct and corporate financial planning agreements.

Patrick Nix is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera Wealth Services, Avantax, and Alcorn & Cureton, Ltd., where he is involved in accounting and tax preparation. He also owns a tax preparation and accounting services business, advising clients on tax matters and business operations. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, managing over $256 billion in assets.