Patrick Oconnor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2016. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group.

Noah Swift is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brookstone, he worked at Wealth Financial Services and Tax Advisory and has experience in design and self-employment. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through both internal and external sub-advisors.

Edward Dunphy is a financial advisor at William Blair with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2013 and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven investment approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Paul Niemiec is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of financial services, he works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a special events company. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and managed portfolio programs, utilizing a mix of in-house and third-party strategies overseen by an Investment Management & Research team.

Jonathan Chung is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, Merrill, and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Assistant Pastor at Highland Presbyterian Church. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers a variety of investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account Platform and supports clients with multiple portfolio management options, including mutual fund and ETF models, SMA strategies, and direct indexing.

Robert Duwa is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Co LLC since 2010. 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 model portfolios along with access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Michael Greenen is a CFP® and PFS™ with 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and previously worked at Edge Financial Advisors, Lantern Wealth Guardians, and operated his own CPA practice. He is the owner of Michael J. Greenen CPA PC, dedicating part of his time to this business during trading hours. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset-allocation and manager selection processes, incorporating proprietary quantitative screens and a range of investment options, including private-market offerings and affiliated pension, insurance, and venture services.

James Davis is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Skokie, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC for 13 years before joining Commonwealth in 2025. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an assistant basketball coach at Christian Heritage Academy. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser that supports a national network of advisors and their clients by providing a range of advisory programs and operational services. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios and customizable investment solutions while serving as a platform provider with extensive clearing and custody relationships.

Valbona Ceci is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. Prior to joining Mariner in 2017, she worked at BMO Private Bank from 2013 to 2017. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations across various strategies and maintains integrated tax and administrative capabilities uncommon for firms of its size.

Sharif Husseini is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Brookstone Capital Management LLC since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Morningstar Investment Management LLC and Nuveen Investments. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, utilizes a range of investment vehicles, and serves as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

Themi Pieropoulos is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services since 2016 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Company since 2012. Pieropoulos also maintains a fixed insurance agent role focused on life and health products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. 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.

Jack Hansen is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mariner with three years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018. Prior to his advisory career, he held roles at Afton House Inn and Finish Line. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolio strategies supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and family office capabilities not commonly found at large advisory firms.

Thomas Cleland is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 20 years of industry experience. Cleland has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. since 2016. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse range of clients including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management, utilizing a variety of managed strategies and an internal trading desk.

Christopher Hendricks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. He has held roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Fidelity before joining TIAA-CREF in 2026. Hendricks holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Benjamin Audley is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. He currently works at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC and previously held roles at Hightower Advisors, LLC and Mesirow Financial, Inc. prior to joining his current firm. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm primarily constructs customized portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income with a primarily long-term approach, while also offering discretionary investment management and family office services.

Lihua Zhu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Prime Planners Inc and HR-Block, along with her position as an IRS Enrolled Agent providing tax preparation services. She has also been involved with the Xilin Northwest Chinese School and co-owns a small business with Frank Liu. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm serves individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a large network and multiple advisory platforms.

Nick Summa is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2009 and affiliated with Fifth Third since 2007. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing, tax-overlay services, and access to FIWA-sponsored fund strategist programs, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Jennifer Lyons is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Company since 2000. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, with proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investments.

Jose Almanza is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Berwyn, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2021 and previously at MML Distributors, LLC and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company from 2016 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chief Operations Officer for Lakeshore Financial Network, a business specializing in tax preparation, and works as a loan originator for ILoan Home Mortgage. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors, their participants, and retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model linked to Empower’s administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and managed account solutions focused on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Cameron Nylec is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner. His prior roles include positions at JMG Financial Group, Ltd. and Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. He also spent four years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Mariner serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an Investment Committee and offers integrated tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory enterprises.