Melissa Erath is a financial advisor with Merrill in Deer Park, Illinois, holding the Series 66 designation and possessing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 1990. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for Trinity Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois, where she assists in establishing financial guidelines and policies. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a mix of model-based and discretionary investment strategies tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Arnold Bender is a financial advisor with Cetera in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 35 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Alera Investment Advisors, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. Outside of advising, he owns an accounting and tax preparation business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services, operating a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management.

Lawrence Zelen is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been providing financial and wealth management advice since 1992, following in the footsteps of his father, who joined the firm in 1961. Lawrence focuses on helping affluent families, individual clients, and closely held businesses achieve their long-term financial objectives. His areas of expertise include college education planning, legacy planning, LGBT wealth planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and retirement income. Trained as a CPA, he collaborates with clients' tax professionals to develop strategies aimed at minimizing income tax liability and selecting tax-advantaged investments. Lawrence holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses, life and insurance licenses, and the Personal Investment Advisor designation. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University and is proficient in English and French. Outside of his professional role, Lawrence enjoys biking, boating, playing pickleball, reading, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

Marie Wurtel is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Cetera and its related entities since 2007 and was previously associated with Eric Wurtel & Associates, Inc. from 1993 to 2024. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through a large network of independent advisors and employs a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Magdalena Sekscinski is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at J.P. Morgan firms since 2007 and spent one year with Thermomix / Vorwerk LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a selective group of Wealth Advisors, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process incorporates both quantitative and qualitative research supported by centralized due diligence, with an emphasis on customized solutions and broader derivatives capabilities.

Robert Winters is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera since 1999 and is the managing member of Winters LLC, a CPA firm specializing in tax, audit, and accounting services. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary account structures.

Sam Schneider is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2024. In this capacity, he partners with Financial Consultants to build relationships with clients based on mutual trust and understanding. He focuses on developing a comprehensive knowledge of clients' financial goals and needs to collaborate on creating financial plans tailored to each client's personal situation. Sam has extensive experience within Fidelity Investments, having held various positions since 2016. His roles have included Help Desk for Wealth Management Service, Wealth Management Service Associate, Relationship Manager, Financial Representative at the Investor Center, and High Net Worth Service Associate. This progression reflects his broad exposure to different facets of financial services and client engagement within the firm.

Brett Gardiner is a financial advisor at Cetera with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previous experience at Woodbury Financial Services, OSAIC, and Cetera Advisors LLC. Gardiner serves as a board member of a faith-based organization, C247 Father's Arms Ministries. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Joy Majewicz is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms since 2007. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a broad range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes structured financial planning through a discovery process and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Maria Goebel is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill in 2007, initially serving as a Client Associate before becoming a Financial Advisor in 2012. As a member of the Karras Poplin Schroeder Group, Maria focuses on managing the wealth and finances of affluent families, retirees, women in transition, executives, and entrepreneurs. Her practice includes comprehensive wealth management with specialized experience in concentrated stock positions, executive compensation, and collaboration with clients' legal and accounting professionals to coordinate financial and legacy strategies. Maria holds a Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State University and professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She offers clients personalized advice and guidance, creating an environment where they feel understood and supported in achieving their financial goals. Her expertise encompasses portfolio design, long-term strategy, executive compensation analysis, college education planning, corporate benefits, retirement income, and socially responsible investing. Outside of her professional role, Maria is involved with the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and traveling, and values spending time with her family. Maria is committed to providing empathetic service and comprehensive financial approaches tailored to her clients' objectives.

James Ruddy serves as a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, joining the Ruddy Group in 2020. In this role, he provides financial advice and guidance, working closely with his team to address client objectives and needs. His areas of client focus include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. James is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He prioritizes his clients' best interests by providing clear, strategic advice supported by the research and expertise of Merrill and Bank of America. His team aims to help clients manage investments to grow and preserve wealth while planning for meaningful financial goals. James was educated at Glenbrook South High School and the University of Arizona. Outside of his professional role, he is involved in the Glenview Buddy Ball community program and has personal interests that include adventure sports, baseball, basketball, boating, bowling, football, golfing, music, traveling, and watching movies.

Jake Schuman is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Private Bank, and Rockefeller Capital Management, as well as various other positions outside the financial sector. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients. The firm delivers non-discretionary, written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting, supported by centralized due diligence and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

Lydia Ridgeway is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked in various roles including at Romona Elementary and Wintrust Financial, with a background that also includes work on the documentary "Vincible." Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Jeffrey Fitzgerald is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, having joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2017. Jeffrey is a partner in LPF & Associates, where he focuses on delivering a comprehensive approach to managing wealth by listening closely to clients' needs and aligning strategies with their long-term goals. His expertise includes family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Jeffrey holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts and holds professional designations as a CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He provides clients with access to Merrill's investment insights as well as the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America. Residing in Wilmette with his wife and two teenage children, Jeffrey enjoys spending time with his family through travel and other activities. He also dedicates time to volunteering with community organizations, following Merrill's tradition of community involvement.

Justin Lee is a financial advisor with Cetera in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera and its affiliated firms since 2017 and is the managing partner of Jmj Financial Group Inc., a role he has held since 2008. Lee also sells fixed insurance products, including life, health, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, combining discretionary and non-discretionary authorities across multiple program structures and custodial relationships.

Tariq Laliwala is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., where he has served since 2012. He specializes in family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, and tax minimization. Tariq is committed to building strong client relationships and developing personalized wealth management strategies tailored to individual financial goals. He began his career in the investments field in 1998 at Northern Trust and has also worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Tariq holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, as well as the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA) designations. He earned his bachelor's degree from DePaul University and is fluent in Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, and English. Outside of his professional work, Tariq is involved with the Muslim Community Center of Chicago and the Village of Morton Grove. His personal interests include golfing, tennis, and traveling.

Christopher Schuck is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Farmers Insurance from 2017 to 2020. 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, operates under a fiduciary standard, and maintains a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jeffrey Malas is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Northfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for three years before joining LPL Financial in 2011. Outside his advisory role, he sells Legal Shield services, which provide prepaid legal protection including legal advice and document review. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by advanced operational tools.

Sumeet Gupta is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Long Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PFS Investments Inc. and Primerica Financial Services since 2002 and 2003, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in We Change Lives LLC, an investment-related business. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, focusing on retail clients rather than institutional or pension plan management.

Robert Biernat is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 50 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by a structured discovery process and firm-approved planning tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides services through various investment and planning strategies.