Michael Kruchten is a CFP® with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and is co-owner of Pursuit Wealth Group, LLC, as well as Compass Tax Advisors, LLC, which provides tax preparation services. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and First Midwest Bank. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with a range of advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management support, allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction alongside model portfolios managed by Commonwealth’s Investment Management and Research team.

Angela Burdelik is a financial advisor at William Blair with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1992. Based in New Lenox, IL, she has spent her entire career at the firm. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides clients access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Trevor Johnson is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is active as an online seller on eBay and TCGPlayer.com and creates trading and playing card content on YouTube. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform.

Brenda Long is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Principal Securities since 2003 and Principal Life Insurance Co. since 2000. She is also designated as a bank officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company, supporting retirement plan account relationships across multiple Principal entities. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Craig Horvath is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Joliet, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 29 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with LPL Financial and Level Four Advisory Services. Horvath is involved in insurance agency activities and serves as a non-variable insurance agent. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing customized portfolios with a long-term approach and employing internal management alongside third-party managers.

Stephen Berenson is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at RL Tax and Bookkeeping, LLC, which provides tax accounting services. 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 broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and centralized due diligence to support advisor and client needs.

Xiao Chen is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Integrity Alliance, LLC. Prior to joining Integrity Alliance, Chen held roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Lion Street Financial, and related entities. Outside of finance, Xiao Chen is involved in community organizations including serving as Vice President of the Hunan Association of the Midwest USA and as a board member of the Chinese American Association at Greater Chicago. Chen also owns a performing arts business focused on music and acting. Integrity Alliance is a large advisor network providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers various investment management approaches, including advisor-managed discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers, supported by a range of operational features such as dual SEC registration and affiliated insurance distribution.

Nicholas Pagliai is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having eight years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, Fifth Third Bank, and Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a history of working with educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and third-party managers.

Diane Sewing is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with The Voyager Group, Ltd. since 2006. Outside of her advisory role, she co-chairs worship and spiritual life at Trinity Lutheran Church and serves on the Village of Elwood Parks & Recreation Committee. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment approach through its in-house Investment Management & Research team, offering model portfolios and advisor-led consulting tailored to client objectives.

Frank Palmasani is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Joliet, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at Sourcebooks and Great American Advisors, Inc., as well as over three decades at Hinsdale South High School. He has worked with Lincoln Investment for 16 years. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a broad client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a focus on educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that constructs strategic model portfolios and employs third-party managers.

Mark Wheeler is a CFA® charterholder with 24 years of industry experience and has been with William Blair since 2009. He is based in Orland Park, IL, and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private fund opportunities.

Brenda Ingram is a financial advisor at GWN Securities Inc. with 36 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at GWN Securities since 2015, alongside operating Ivory Tower Financial Services since 1994. Ingram serves as vice president and board member of Eric Family Services, a nonprofit organization. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients through discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios. The firm manages approximately $3.65 billion across more than 37,000 accounts and is noted for its legacy use of market-timing and momentum-based investment strategies.

Amy Montgomery is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2022 and has been with Pursuit Wealth Group and Commonwealth Financial Network since 2022. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a variety of advisory programs and services, including custom portfolio solutions and retirement plan consulting, while supporting affiliated advisors with operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management resources.

Maja Baric is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2015. Prior to that, she has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2005. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs and portfolio management options via the Passageway platform and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor.

Maurice Rodgers is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Hazel Crest, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at RER Solutions Group LLC and New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through various program types and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Lucero Ramirez is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with one year of experience in the financial industry. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been affiliated with Fifth Third Bank since 2015. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, and trusts. The firm offers investment advisory and brokerage services through various programs and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway Managed Account platform.

Scott Wei is a financial advisor with Integrity Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Integrity Alliance, he was with Lion Street Advisors and Lion Street Financial. Wei is also the owner of Dentdelioun LLC, where he has worked as an insurance agent since 2011. Integrity Alliance serves a diverse client base including individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans, offering advisory and brokerage services through a network of over 300 independent advisors managing approximately $5.4 billion in assets. The firm provides a variety of investment solutions including discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party manager referrals across multiple platforms.

Michelle Griffith is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 34 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations, Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Advocate United Church of Christ, focusing on fundraising and growth development. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across a range of wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs. The firm combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research and execution capabilities.

Adam Provance is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at First Midwest Bank and LPL Financial, both from 2013 to 2022, and is a co-owner of Compass Tax Advisors, LLC, which provides tax preparation services. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform that includes managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement and plan consulting, and custody/clearing services.

Nancy Kwain is a financial advisor at William Blair with 35 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with William Blair since 2005. Based in Orland Park, IL, she is part of a larger team of advisors at the firm. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, and pension and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.