Christopher Auer is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing extensive experience in wealth management and financial planning since beginning his career in 1998. He specializes in education planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. Christopher focuses on delivering a comprehensive approach tailored to each client’s individual needs by listening carefully and helping them make informed decisions to achieve their financial goals. He holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Christopher also completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Northern Illinois University. Outside of his professional role, he is involved with the Porsche Club of America and enjoys hiking, music, photography, traveling, and spending time with his family.

John Lancaster III is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he provides tax preparation, planning, and consulting services to both individual and corporate clients. Lancaster also serves as the treasurer on the board of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, participating in local business events and chamber activities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a national SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies, overseeing more than $256 billion in assets through over 10,000 advisors.

Gerardo Soriano is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Ameriprise. Soriano is also a licensed long-term care insurance agent. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services through a large network of advisors.

Blade Varian is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Fisher Investments since 2013. Fisher Investments serves a global mix of institutional and private clients, providing discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm employs a centralized investment process that combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to construct diversified portfolios and offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services.

Jeffrey Hejza is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial. His prior experience includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network and Realty Associates Network, among others. He is also involved in mortgage banking through Partners in Mortgage. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a broad range of advisory and brokerage services supported by advanced research and technology tools.

Greg Imhoff is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 1999 to 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as a manager and partner in BMGI Planning Partners, LLC, and has other business interests related to financial planning and insurance. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a wide range of financial planning and investment services through a large network of advisors, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies, supported by technology tools but with investment decisions made by advisors.

Dejan Acimovic is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He brings over 15 years of experience in wealth management, sales, and finance, with a focus on helping clients achieve their financial goals through personalized strategies. Dejan holds the designations of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University Paris XII and is fluent in Serbo-Croatian, French, and English. Dejan emphasizes understanding each client’s full financial picture to develop flexible strategies that align with their long-term objectives. In addition to his professional work, he participates in community activities and volunteers with local organizations. Outside of work, Dejan enjoys basketball, reading, soccer, and traveling. His approach is centered on working closely with clients one-on-one to establish tailored financial plans that pursue their personal goals.

Pandit Singharuksa is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and its affiliate Bank of America, N.A., Pandit worked at the University of Arizona Global Campus, Interfirst Mortgage Company, and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Eileen Curran is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 26 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with J.P. Morgan since 2018. Prior to that, she was with TD Ameritrade Investment Management and Tdameritrade, Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of Wealth Advisors. Their advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research to deliver written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting.

Joseph Scott is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a rental property business in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supplemented by firm-approved tools.

Vanessa Drolshagen is a financial advisor with Merrill in Northbrook, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 2 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2015 and previously worked at Bank of America, N.A. Vanessa is a co-trustee of a family trust and owns a home remodeling business where she assists with administrative tasks. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Paul Wessel is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in St. Charles, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2006. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in independent insurance brokering, specializing in long-term care insurance. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning that includes written recommendations and ongoing advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary research and third-party data within a defined investment ecosystem.

Mark Gallegos is a financial advisor with Cetera and holds a Series 66 designation. He has three years of industry experience and has worked with firms including Porte Brown Wealth Management and Avantax. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he leads the international tax department and the M&A tax area, and engages in tax research, writing, and speaking. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various investment programs and third-party managers.

Michael Solesky is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Itasca, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services since 2000 and the broader Raymond James Financial organization since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an owner and agent in Tistle, Solesky & Burgman Financial Services, where he works with fixed annuities and term life insurance. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to support client goals, while also maintaining affiliations and programs that address specialized advisory needs.

George Aslanidis is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2009. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research, with recommendations limited to eligible strategies that may incorporate an ESG framework.

David Maleh is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 28 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, serving in roles at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. in Deerfield, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including customized financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Angelo Tardi is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Mass Mutual-affiliated firms since 2015 and operates an advisory business through Tardi Family Financial Incorporated, where he supervises and manages investment programs. In addition, he works as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, accident, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved software to support collaborative, goal-based financial planning engagements.

John Weitzel is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2009. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools to help illustrate potential outcomes and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Joshua Zaccanti is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he worked at Northwestern Mutual and has a background in education at Northern State University and local schools in Geneva, IL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and advanced modeling tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides both direct and corporate financial planning services.

Elzbieta Jarzabek is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Cetera, Fortis Capital Advisors, and Fifth Third Bank. Jarzabek is also involved with Olesen Financial Group, a non-investment-related support company based in Lake in the Hills, IL. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm employs a tailored, non-discretionary approach utilizing analytical tools to support client goals and offers specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.