Brian Ellerman is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Co since 2015. Ellerman serves on the board of the Kenilworth Community Fund, a nonprofit that raises donations for local community organizations. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs under both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Benjamin Welch is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Lincoln Investment, LPL Financial, J. McGovern and Associates, and Lincoln Investment Planning. He serves as a Boys U5 Division Coordinator and board member for a youth soccer organization. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer‑sponsored retirement plans, focusing on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, utilizing both strategic and dynamic approaches across discretionary and non‑discretionary programs.

Dane Sauer is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Schaumburg, IL. He has been with Mercer since 2016 in various roles. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, and non-profits. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, and offers a broad range of specialized services including retirement plan consulting and family office solutions.

Julie Bucaro is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently with Corient, where she has worked since 2022, following a 13-year tenure at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools and alternative investments as appropriate.

Jorge Seda Rivera is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a CFP® designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2020, following prior roles at The Huntington Investment Company and PNC Investments. Outside of financial advising, he manages behavioral health practice management businesses, providing administrative and consulting support. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation generally carried out on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Nikola Plavsic is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. He is based in Downers Grove, Illinois. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Frank Nemeth is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wells Fargo Advisors. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a wide range of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

Russell Game is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 35 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. Prior to joining Brookstone in 2017, he worked at Center Street Advisors and has operated Game & Associates Financial Services, Inc. since 2002, where he is owner and president. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a variety of investment strategies to implement client portfolios.

Maureen Zygler is a financial advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Vipco Advisors, Kona Grill, and Uncle Julio's Restaurant. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional clients such as retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, wrap programs, third‑party manager access, and plan-sponsor consulting through multiple program structures, primarily focusing on non-discretionary, recommendation-based advice.

Bryan Brooks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held roles at firms including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Nuveen, and TIAA. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management services, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Eric Walania is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair And Company, L.L.C. since 2004. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Western Springs, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Samuel Awad is a CFP® professional with nine years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC since 2026, following six years at HighTower Advisors LLC and four years at Private Vista, LLC. Outside of financial advising, he provides operational and IT consulting and executive coaching, assisting with strategic IT programs and coaching high-potential executives. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a primarily long-term investment approach with customized portfolios and a variety of model and wrap-fee program options.

Joseph Florina is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Brookstone Capital Management LLC and Wealth Financial Services & Tax Advisory, having previously worked at Interactive Brokers and First American Bank. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and a wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Nathan Freeman is a financial advisor at Wealthspire Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Independent Financial Partners, Rudwall Wealth Management, LPL Financial, and American Century Investment Services. In addition to his advisory work, Freeman owns and operates PKJ LLC, a health care services referral business. Wealthspire Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $34.3 billion in assets for nearly 9,700 clients, including individuals, corporate plans, and nonprofits. The firm uses an institutional-style asset allocation approach with a range of investment vehicles and offers services such as wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting.

Charles Williams is a CFP® professional with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with Independent Financial Partners since 2010 and previously served at LPL Financial and IFP Securities, LLC. Williams is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies, where he teaches a retirement planning and employee benefits course. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

David Kohlmeyer is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent nine years at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the treasurer for the Wheaton Academy Foundation, a role involving quarterly evening meetings. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management services, using strategies managed internally and by third parties, with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee.

Jeffrey Perkins is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and also serves on the board of Marengo Area Outreach Enterprises. Outside of finance, he manages Perkins Farm, which sells hay and beef. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using third-party managers and proprietary solutions delivered through multiple platforms.

James Wilkins is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, OSAIC, Securities America Advisors, and National Planning Corporation. He also works as a wealth advisor utilizing variable annuities for financial planning solutions. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm serving over 24,000 clients through approximately 366 advisors. The firm uses an open-architecture investment approach, offering individualized asset allocations, model portfolios, and third-party manager programs.

Kahina Kherbouche is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Fifth Third Bank since 2019, with prior experience at MB Financial Bank, Liberty Tax, and Joson's Deli. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a range of clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Nader Maalouf is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Uber, J.P. Morgan Securities, and AXA Advisors. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs alongside broker-dealer execution and custody services.