Brian Paragi is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. He also has experience as a business owner with Paragi Sales LLC. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm typically employs model-driven investment strategies and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and insurance product sales through affiliated entities.

Lia Hege is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2021. Outside of her advisory role, Lia serves as a board member of the Fire Foundation of Central Illinois, supporting inclusive educational opportunities for students with special needs in Catholic schools. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm’s approach includes comprehensive written recommendations across various planning topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.

Robert Meyer II is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, and has 29 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2025, he spent 16 years with Commonwealth Financial Network. Meyer is also the managing partner of Provident Financial Group, LLC, a support company he founded in 2009. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by analytical tools and maintains specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Gregory Teschke is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms, including LPL Financial and Equitable Advisors. His current tenure at Raymond James began in 2022. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, and municipal entities, offering tailored financial planning and consulting with a range of portfolio management styles.

Brent Deal is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Orkin, Pruco Securities LLC, Prime Communications, and Spring Communications. He is based in Champaign, IL. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional entities. The firm uses model-driven investment implementation and offers access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and affiliated insurance and trust services.

Karen Owens is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 30 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC for over 27 years combined. Outside of her advisory role, she is a part owner of Pine Lake Trust, a farming business. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by internal research and third-party strategists, and offers services such as financial planning, consulting, and access to third-party asset managers.

Cristin Gaines is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. since 2012, as well as Busey Bank and Busey Trust Company. Outside of her advisory role, she is employed with Busey Investment Services, where she meets with clients and supports investment-related services. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse range of clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses analytical tools and tailored investment consulting to help clients achieve their financial goals and offers specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Courtney Goembel is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and holds a Series 66 designation. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, providing a wide range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process that utilizes firm-approved tools and market outcome modeling.

Cole Lilley is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Champaign, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked at the University of Illinois for five years and attended Lilley High. MassMutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, providing ongoing, collaborative client relationships with a focus on goal analysis and written recommendations.

Thomas Frey is a financial advisor with Sterling Wealth Management, Inc. in Champaign, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has operated Frey Financial since 1993, consulting with former clients and reviewing their investment accounts as requested. Sterling Wealth Management serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, business entities, and retirement plans, offering private wealth and asset management services. The firm follows an evidence-based, long-term investment approach focused on fundamental analysis, global diversification, asset allocation, and cost minimization, with portfolios typically managed on a discretionary basis.