Nicole Romito is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hightower Advisors since 2020. Prior to this, she spent 15 years at Private Vista, LLC (formerly Financial Strategy Network LLC). She holds a Series 66 license and is based in Chicago, IL. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager investment approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and diversified portfolio construction strategies.

Daniel O Brien is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TC Wealth Partners and Trust Company of Illinois, where he worked for 20 years. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that incorporates affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a variety of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Shauna Kelly Moran is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Mesirow Financial since 2005. In addition to her advisory role, she has been involved with FEAST since 2004. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients, including private individuals, pension plans, government entities, and institutional clients. The firm employs a comprehensive investment process that includes preparing Investment Policy Statements, setting asset allocation targets, and utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Zachary Abrams is a financial advisor with William Blair in Chicago, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining William Blair, he worked at SS&C Technologies for three years and has a background that includes roles in technology and education. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients through active, research-driven strategies across equities, fixed income, and alternatives. The firm manages approximately $64 billion in assets under management and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Salvador Briseno is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its broker-dealer registration and municipal-advisor status with a bank affiliation, providing a range of discretionary managed-account options and access to specialized portfolio management and tax-overlay services.

Kevin Murphy is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and six years of industry experience. His career includes positions at JPMorgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank before joining PNC Investments and PNC Bank. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm uses algorithmic questionnaires to recommend risk bands and implements investments via approved model strategies with an emphasis on mutual funds and ETFs.

Jordan Taylor is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Transamerica, Taylor worked at Robinhood Markets, Inc. and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Outside of financial services, Taylor has diverse work experience in customer service roles across various industries. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice and education programs. The firm’s investment approach incorporates proprietary software and model portfolios developed by Morningstar Investment Management to provide personalized asset allocation and retirement guidance.

Juan Aguilar is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Aurora, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Aguilar serves as a soccer referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation and assists with legal document preparation for Zeigler Chrysler, as well as working part-time in customer service at a firearm dealer and range. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers a range of investment programs on its Passageway Managed Account platform, combining third-party portfolio managers with advisor-guided investment strategies.

David Oulvey is a financial advisor at VALIC Financial Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at VALIC since 2014. Additionally, he serves as an agent with Agia, involved with non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models to construct client portfolios.

Amy Green is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2010, based in Chicago, IL. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm combines an internal investment team with governance committees to create customized portfolios, utilizing both proprietary and external strategies, and is notable for its scale and involvement with investment company clients.

Jake Nelson is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at Edward Jones and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he also works part-time as a server and delivery driver at Leona's Restaurant. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis methods to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management to client goals and risk tolerance.

Sean Whitney is a CFP® and CFA® with six years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and was previously with MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC for eight years. Whitney is a partner in two LLCs that provide capital for real estate ventures but does not engage in their operations. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm combines internal expertise and external managers to provide customized portfolio management and offers coordinated Family Office services for complex client needs.

Mark Cassell is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2017. His prior roles include positions at Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors, Gnv Advisors, and Geneva Investment Management of Chicago. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base, including high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and investment companies. The firm utilizes a governance structure involving internal investment teams and committees to construct customized portfolios, combining proprietary and external strategies, and manages approximately $67.8 billion in assets.

Stephen Sumeraj is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with PNC Investments since 2012. Outside his advisory role, he operates ESBE Auctions as a sole proprietor, a non-investment related business. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering for employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven model selection and delegates portfolio implementation to third parties, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Patrick Biladeau is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Cresset in 2018, he worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities from 2013 to 2018. Cresset Asset Management manages approximately $78.9 billion in client assets and provides wealth management, financial planning, portfolio management, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a risk-aware approach combining strategic asset allocation with active and passive investment management across a broad range of asset classes.

William Norris is a financial advisor at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with CIBC Private Wealth and CIBC National Trust Company since 2010, totaling 16 years with the firm. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm’s investment process integrates an internal team, relationship managers, and governance committees to create customized portfolios using both proprietary and external strategies, and it is notable for its portfolio management services for investment company clients.

Jeffrey Levine is a financial advisor with Mesirow Advanced Strategies Inc, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mesirow Financial, Inc. since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an ethics officer for the City of Riverside Ethics Commission and is a member of the Endowment Committee at West Suburban Temple Har Zion. Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. The firm previously sponsored pooled investment products but currently has no assets under management and does not solicit new investors; it maintains compliance and governance policies applicable should the products be reinstated.

Daniel Kempf is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019. Prior to his current role, he was employed at Oracle Corp and has served in academic roles at Indiana University. Kempf serves on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America Northeast Illinois Council and mentors MBA students at Indiana University. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individuals, executives, plan sponsors, and institutions, providing financial planning and portfolio management alongside specialized offerings such as Private Family Office services and Alternative Investments. The firm integrates proprietary research, strategic allocation models, and a broad range of affiliated capabilities to tailor its services to client objectives.

Derek Slater is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked with MML Investors Services LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance Co. In addition to his advisory role, he is also active as an insurance agent with National Life Group and Lakeshore Financial Group. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse range of clients including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms utilizing third-party asset managers and combines long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading.

Timothy Lense is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2001 and also works with Agia since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Sandbar Marina on Lake Marie and serves as treasurer for Sandbar Bar and Grille. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models and operating with a substantial client base supported by over 1,200 advisors.