Cara Esser is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience. She is currently with Creative Planning and previously worked at Mesirow Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and Morningstar. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as president of her Chicago condominium homeowners association. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and incorporates private market exposure alongside institutional and retirement plan services.

Wayne Titche is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with City National Rochdale since 2014, now part of RBC Rochdale, LLC, located in Chicago, IL. RBC Rochdale serves a diverse client base including high net worth individuals, investment companies, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process that blends quantitative screening with fundamental analysis, utilizing proprietary tools and Monte Carlo simulations to tailor portfolios across equity, fixed income, real assets, and alternative investments.

Leslie Cannon is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. Currently with Cresset Asset Management, LLC since 2024, Leslie previously worked at The Invictus Collective, LLC, JPMorgan Securities, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Merrill. Cresset Asset Management, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets for a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm focuses on diversified, asset-allocation-driven portfolio construction using both active and passive strategies, supported by a structured due-diligence program and a range of wealth management and advisory services.

Brad Long is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 14 years of experience at Fiducient Advisors LLC, where he has worked since 2012. Based in Chicago, IL, he focuses on investment management within the firm. Fiducient Advisors provides investment management, outsourced CIO, and consulting services to a diverse client base that includes institutional and non-institutional clients such as pension plans, endowments, corporations, and private investors. The firm employs a research-driven approach emphasizing asset allocation and investment manager due diligence, managing approximately $34.2 billion in regulatory assets as of December 31, 2024.

Iris Sagrado is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. She has 20 years of industry experience and is also the owner of Filro Global Hiring and Filro Caregivers, businesses outside the investment sector. Additionally, she serves as an arbitrator with FINRA and is president and treasurer of Sagrado & Stears, Inc. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through its network of 477 independent advisors and operates an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers.

Scott Zopfi is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor at William Blair with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2015. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, offering proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Sumit Desai is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at West Loop Investment Advisors, Ltd. and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory work, he provides marketing and financial advice to a general dentistry practice and serves as treasurer for a condominium homeowners association. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a disciplined approach involving investment policy preparation, asset allocation, and due diligence across a range of asset classes and may utilize third-party sub-advisors along with proprietary private investment products.

Karim Ahamed is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cerity Partners LLC since 2010. He holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Chicago, IL. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in nonprofit and educational organizations, including serving as board member and treasurer of Ingenuity, Inc., an arts education nonprofit, and participating in finance committees for several endowment funds. Cerity Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $126.9 billion in client assets, serving a diverse clientele that includes individuals, families, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers a range of services from investment management to financial planning, emphasizing diversified asset allocation and access to alternative and private-market investments.

Jenni Engstrom is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors in Chicago, IL, with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at TC Wealth Partners, LLC and Trust Company of Illinois. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a manager selection approach that incorporates affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and diversified portfolio construction strategies.

Tyler Saam is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Alight Solutions for 16 years and had brief roles at Lockton Investment Advisors and Lockton Companies. Outside of his advisory work, he is a shareholder in Saam Oil Company, Inc., a family-owned business. Creative Planning serves a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, providing portfolio management, financial planning, fiduciary services, and access to private market investments. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Michael Mccabe is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors since 2020. He previously worked at RPC Private Wealth, Private Vista LLC, and Retirement Programs Co., where he continues as a pension consultant and part owner. Outside of his advisory roles, he has managerial responsibilities at MCW Management, LLC, and is involved in life insurance sales through Allianz Insurance. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

Linda Litner is a financial advisor at Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 credential with four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cresset Asset Management, LLC and Summit Trail before joining Sequoia Financial Group, where she currently serves as Senior Vice President, Family Wealth. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC provides wealth planning, investment management, and retirement-plan and business-consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, trusts, and family offices. The firm combines in-house model portfolios with custom accounts and third-party manager selection, supported by a dedicated Investment Policy Committee and comprehensive research resources.

Kyle Deal is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and has previously worked at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Telemus Capital, and Huber Financial Advisors. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, corporate, and institutional clients, offering wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, utilizing fundamental and quantitative analysis alongside alternative tools such as trend-following and options overlay strategies.

Debra Willson is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. She previously worked for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC for 15 years before joining Rockefeller Financial in 2024. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform, combining broker-dealer operations with trust, insurance, and asset management capabilities.

Blake Green is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and HighTower Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an Independent Insurance Agent. Cresset Asset Management is a multi-disciplinary investment adviser managing approximately $78.9 billion in client assets, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a disciplined, risk-aware approach across a range of asset classes and leverages third-party managers and advanced tools such as artificial intelligence for research and analysis.

Lu Ling Li is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at BGSLK Management, LLC, Ling Finance LLC, and Flexible Benefit Service Corporation. She is also involved in part-time sales of insurance and non-insurance products through Ling Finance LLC. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and businesses, utilizing a variety of advisory programs and model portfolios managed by third-party firms.

Scott Carnow is a financial advisor at William Blair with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1995. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, offering proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Kyle Griffith is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently advising at Creative Planning since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Wipfli Financial Advisors and The Mather Group. He is based in Chicago, IL. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by tax-loss harvesting, private market exposure, and use of sub-advisors for retirement plans.

Marcello Paolella is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Before entering the financial sector, he worked with Envision Mobile Imaging LLC and Inspire Medical Billing, Inc. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its advisory services closely with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Anastasios Manolis is a financial advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC in Chicago, holding a Series 65 designation and currently in his first year with the firm. His prior experience includes roles at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, Northern Trust Corporation, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Outside of finance, he has worked in the restaurant industry with Levy Restaurants. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services such as investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework, integrating fundamental and quantitative analysis alongside alternative strategies.