Melissa Mendoza is a financial advisor at William Blair with 15 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Co LLC since 2010 and holds a Series 66 designation. 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, and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Kyle Bakhshi is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair since 2021 and previously spent seven years at Nuveen. 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 uses an active, research-driven investment approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, and provides proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Christopher Lewis is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and previously worked at Geneva Advisors, LLC for 12 years. 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 employs a comprehensive investment process involving proprietary and external strategies, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and specialized services such as Family Office support for complex needs.

Michael Leist is a financial advisor with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Geneva Advisors, LLC and Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors prior to joining CIBC in 2017. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm employs a structured investment process that integrates internal teams and external managers to offer customized portfolio management, financial planning, and coordinated Family Office services.

Paul Kubasiak is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Northern Trust Bank, Sheridan Road Advisors, Independent Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. Kubasiak is based in Chicago, IL. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, and it also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Mary Mclean is a CFP® with 15 years of experience in the financial industry. She is currently with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC and previously worked at HighTower Advisors LLC and Private Vista, LLC. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting, family office services, and wrap-fee programs, emphasizing customized portfolios and a primarily long-term investment approach.

Sean Ullrich is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with seven years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Hightower in 2023, he worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. He is also involved with Impact Mental Performance and 314 Training Academy. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s advisory approach focuses on manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning and retirement consulting services.

John O’Toole is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair and Company L.L.C. for over 27 years, with a brief gap between 2022 and 2026. 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 active, research-driven management strategies across equities, fixed income, and alternatives, and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Blake Johnson is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cerity Partners LLC, where he has worked since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at HPM Partners LLC and Advanced Mechanical Services. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a diverse national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs a tailored asset-allocation process utilizing proprietary quantitative screens alongside third-party managers and individual securities, and it offers access to alternative and private-market investments.

Thomas Mc Grath is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient and has previously worked at Foreside Financial Group, Segall Bryant and Hamill, and MSCI. Mc Grath holds a Series 63 license and is based in Chicago, IL. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and applies risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Thomas Mckeown is a CFP® and CFA® with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cresset Asset Management, LLC since 2021 and previously spent six years at Fidelity Investments. Based in Chicago, IL, he holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Cresset Asset Management, LLC is an SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets across a diverse range of clients. The firm employs a diversified, asset-allocation-driven approach that combines active and passive strategies, supported by a structured due-diligence program and private fund management.

William Ryan is a financial advisor at William Blair with 31 years of industry experience. He has held positions at William Blair since 2018 and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. for 17 years. Ryan serves as a director of PACTT, a nonprofit organization focused on helping children and adults with autism. 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 emphasizes active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary investment models, access to private funds, and co-investment opportunities.

Kieran Casey is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services based in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 18 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role at Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Co., he worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Casey also serves as a bank/trust officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Co., supporting retirement plan account relationships across multiple business lines. 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 financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions with discretionary investment implementation.

John Cultra is a financial advisor at William Blair with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at EPIC Systems and Jaco Management, Inc. Outside of finance, he has been involved with the La Grange Country Club for several years. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides 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 and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Joseph Hoffman is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. since 2017 and previously spent 20 years with Russell Investment Group. Hoffman serves as an at-large trustee on the board of the Seattle City Employees' Retirement System. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides investment management and financial planning services to private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, and institutional clients. The firm employs both proprietary and third-party investment strategies across multiple asset classes and manages affiliated private investment funds.

Benjamin Mc Fadden is a financial advisor at William Blair with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at William Blair since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Cowen and Company, Water Walker Investments, and multiple engagements with Johns Hopkins University. 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 equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, providing proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Emmett Omalley is a financial advisor at William Blair with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with William Blair since 2019. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Indiana University and Park Ridge Country Club. 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 active, research-driven strategies across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Ethan Speelman is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2023 and has prior experience at Fifth Third Bank, Hope College, and Calvary Schools. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options combining third-party portfolio managers and advisor-managed strategies, and it is notable for its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

William Parker is a financial advisor at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Fiducient Advisors LLC for 12 years before joining CIBC Private Wealth Advisors in 2024. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base, including high net worth individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm employs a collaborative investment process featuring internal teams and committees to create customized portfolios using both proprietary and external strategies, distinguishing itself through its scale and involvement with investment company clientele.

Ruth Uress is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2026. Her prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Relative Value Partners, Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, and Kowitz Investment Group. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using a blend of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds within an enhanced open architecture framework.