Charles Murin is a financial advisor with Corient, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Corient since 2022 and previously spent eight years at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and customized asset allocation, supported by continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.

Maxine Mott is a financial advisor at Lincoln Investment with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at TIAA-CREF and Macy's. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a particular focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs, managing approximately $22.9 billion in advisory assets.

Nasser Afzali is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His background includes various roles related to tax, accounting, insurance, and pro bono financial training, with involvement in nonprofit organizations such as The Promise Land Charities Inc and volunteer work with Caris Pregnancy Counseling and Resources. He also provides estate planning document preparation through Net Law Inc and supports The Farsi Church in Chicago Land with tax and accounting services. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers a range of advisory and broker-dealer services, combining proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Linda Sabo is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Wheaton, IL. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience, all with Benjamin F. Edwards. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment consulting services supported by a large network of advisors and extensive assets under management.

Kurt Helmich is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has previously worked at Hightower Advisors and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office services, and sponsors wrap-fee programs, employing a mix of internal management and third-party asset managers with a long-term investment approach.

Nathanial Chapel is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Farther and has operated Chapel Financial Group Inc. since 2017, where he is involved as a president and insurance agent focusing on fixed annuities, Medicare Supplement, life insurance, and long-term care. Chapel has also maintained advisory roles at Tru Financial Strategies under his ownership since 2017. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services mainly to individual investors, trusts, and estates, utilizing a web and mobile platform alongside in-person meetings. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing proprietary model portfolios or customized allocations with algorithmic rebalancing, and it integrates AI tools to supplement advisor judgment.

Carla Merlak is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Brookstone since 2016 and also operates Merlak Tax Advisory Group Inc, where she provides tax preparation, planning, and insurance services. Additionally, she is involved with natural wellness product sales and financial and retirement planning through Next Phase Financial LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers fee-based asset management and financial planning primarily through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee programs, utilizing a range of investment strategies including tax-aware and ESG models.

Eric Andresen is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2005 and joined NewEdge Advisors in 2023. Andresen is involved in tax preparation and accounting services through Midwest Small Business Accounting. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing model-based strategies and technology tools to support advisors and clients.

Bradley Mills is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Elmhurst, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2005. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and use of platforms like Fidelity Institutional Wealth Adviser.

Shaila Maloney is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Nuveen Asset Management, CUNA Mutual Group, and Bank of America. Her current role at TIAA-CREF involves serving clients in Wheaton, Illinois. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division 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 distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, offering model and customized managed accounts with a fiduciary standard applied to its RIA services.

Stephen Gregg is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Transamerica Financial Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Prudential and Pacific Life, among others. He may also perform home office functions for other business units within Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm utilizes model portfolios and third-party managers through multiple program platforms to serve a broad client base.

James Gazis is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2025. He has also been affiliated with Balanced Asset Strategies, Ltd for over 16 years, where he is the owner of a wealth management business. 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 tens of thousands of clients with a decentralized advisory model and notable retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Dominic Colletti is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022. Prior to joining Mercer, he worked at Polaris Wealth Advisory Group and Fidelity Investments. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach with globally diversified portfolios and offers a range of solutions such as discretionary and non-discretionary management, financial planning, and retirement consulting.

Lisa Shake is a financial advisor at William Blair with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at William Blair since 2021. Prior to joining William Blair, she spent nine years at Fifth Third Private Bank. 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 active, research-driven strategies across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Charles Schuster is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Monroe Capital LLC and Madison Boats LLC, along with four years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing over $295 billion in client assets through more than 1,100 advisors.

Katherine Morris is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Planmember Securities Corporation. She has held positions at Veritrust Wealth Management since 2013 and was a member of the Oswego Police Pension Board from 2010 to 2018. In addition to her financial advisory work, she is involved in a non-investment administrative business. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation approach and manages risk-based mutual fund portfolios while offering participant education and support services.

Nicholas Curcio is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA since 2017 and joined TIAA-CREF in 2025. His prior experience includes roles at HarrisDirect LLC and E*TRADE Capital Management LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with pre-existing TIAA employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers customized portfolio management and operates as adviser to a donor-advised fund, applying a fiduciary standard within its vertically integrated advisory model.

Rachel Kowalczyk is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Mariner since 2018 and previously worked at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC for four years. Kowalczyk operates out of Mariner’s Oakbrook Terrace, IL office. Mariner serves a diverse group of clients including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs customized portfolio strategies supported by an internal investment team and third-party managers, and provides integrated tax, accounting, and family office capabilities alongside traditional advisory services.

Jason Brooks is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners since 2019. His prior roles include tenures at First Heartland Consultants and Signature Financial Services. Outside of advising, he provides bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation services on a part-time basis. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform with flexible investment approaches, including centralized asset management options and specialized retirement-plan advisory capabilities.

Jesse Zaragoza is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Downers Grove, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Prudential Insurance Company of America, U.S. Bancorp Investments, LLC, and New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and corporate and charitable clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.