Brian Ellerman is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Co since 2015. Ellerman serves on the board of the Kenilworth Community Fund, a nonprofit that raises donations for local community organizations. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs under both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Benjamin Welch is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, J. McGovern and Associates, Lincoln Investment Planning, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a Boys U5 Division Coordinator and board member for AYSO 300, a youth soccer organization. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise advisory and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm combines advisor-led consulting with model portfolios developed by an in-house investment management team and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services across various platforms.

Dane Sauer is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Schaumburg, IL. He has been with Mercer since 2016 in various roles. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, and non-profits. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, and offers a broad range of specialized services including retirement plan consulting and family office solutions.

Julie Bucaro is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently with Corient, where she has worked since 2022, following a 13-year tenure at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools and alternative investments as appropriate.

Jorge Seda Rivera is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a CFP® designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2020, following prior roles at The Huntington Investment Company and PNC Investments. Outside of financial advising, he manages behavioral health practice management businesses, providing administrative and consulting support. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation generally carried out on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Shamolie Panjwani is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services holding a Series 66 designation. She began her advisory career in 2022 and has prior experience in various roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including Admissions & Recruitment and University Health Services. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a broad client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized wealth programs. The firm integrates resources across the Goldman Sachs ecosystem and employs strategic allocation models, manager selections, and advanced research tools in its advisory approach.

Daniyal Ahmed is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Cetera Planning Partners and has previously worked at firms including Avantax Planning Partners, Avantax Insurance Services, and Honkamp Krueger Financial Services. His background includes roles in financial planning and client advisory services. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly pre-retirees and retirees, offering investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement-related advice. The firm provides a diversified investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance, supported by a range of ancillary services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate-planning solutions.

Zachary Dombrowski is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) who holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2015 and previously worked at Rogers Financial Group from 2021 to 2024. Outside of his advisory role, Dombrowski serves as an elder board member at CityLine Bible Church and participates as an election judge with the Chicago Board of Election. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services with an emphasis on tailored recommendations, managing primarily non-discretionary assets within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Nikola Plavsic is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and LPL Enterprise LLC. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. 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.

Frank Nemeth is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A.G. Edwards & Sons. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm provides a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, using multiple program structures and technology tools to support its advisors and clients.

Russell Game is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding a ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses, with 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brookstone since 2017 and previously spent time with Center Street Advisors and Center Street, as well as owning and operating Game & Associates Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and president of Game & Associates Financial Services, which sells insurance products including fixed annuities. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models alongside a diversified mix of investment vehicles and serves both as a primary advisor and sub-advisor through its turnkey platform.

Maureen Zygler is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Mutual of Omaha Investor Services. She also has experience in the hospitality sector, having worked at Kona Grill and Uncle Julio's Restaurant. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement advisory services through a large network of investment adviser representatives and a range of affiliated and unaffiliated investment products.

Bryan Brooks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held roles at firms including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Nuveen, and TIAA. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management services, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Carson Poulin is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, based in Deerfield, IL, and has three years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Goldman Sachs Ayco, Lake Forest College, and SPM Financial. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, and institutional clients. The firm uses strategic allocation models, manager selections, and a range of fee arrangements to tailor investment solutions, leveraging the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem for expanded product access and support.

Eric Walania is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair And Company, L.L.C. since 2004. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Western Springs, IL. 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 models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Samuel Awad is a CFP® professional with nine years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC since 2026, following six years at HighTower Advisors LLC and four years at Private Vista, LLC. Outside of financial advising, he provides operational and IT consulting and executive coaching, assisting with strategic IT programs and coaching high-potential executives. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a primarily long-term investment approach with customized portfolios and a variety of model and wrap-fee program options.

Joseph Florina is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Brookstone Capital Management LLC and Wealth Financial Services & Tax Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at Interactive Brokers, First American Bank, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a range of investment strategies including ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced approaches.

Nathan Freeman is a financial advisor at Wealthspire Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Independent Financial Partners, Rudwall Wealth Management, LPL Financial, and American Century Investment Services. In addition to his advisory work, he owns PKJ LLC, a health care services referral business. Wealthspire Advisors is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $34.3 billion in assets for nearly 9,700 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and nonprofits. The firm employs an institutional-style asset allocation framework and offers services such as wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting.

Charles Williams is a CFP® professional with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with Independent Financial Partners since 2010 and previously served at LPL Financial and IFP Securities, LLC. Williams is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies, where he teaches a retirement planning and employee benefits course. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

David Kohlmeyer is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. He is currently with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., where he has worked since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He serves as treasurer for the Wheaton Academy Foundation in a volunteer capacity. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a network of more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including proprietary and third-party investment strategies with discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions.