Matthew Scherer is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with five years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and has previously worked at Geneva Advisors, LLC for 16 years. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and wealth management services to individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm combines internal investment teams and external managers to offer customized portfolio solutions, including options strategies and coordinated Family Office services.

Nicole Romito is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hightower Advisors since 2020. Prior to this, she spent 15 years at Private Vista, LLC (formerly Financial Strategy Network LLC). She holds a Series 66 license and is based in Chicago, IL. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager investment approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and diversified portfolio construction strategies.

Ethan Krumwiede is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Doyenne Wealth Advisors LLC and Chicago Wealth Management, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he provides live DJ services through Mode Events in Chicago. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporate entities, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to specialized investment vehicles. The firm emphasizes discretionary, customized portfolio strategies supported by comprehensive tax and accounting services and unique operational capabilities such as administrative CFO functions and employer financial wellness tools.

Daniel O’Brien is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2021 and previously spent five years at TC Wealth Partners and twenty years at Trust Company of Illinois. He holds the Series 65 designation and is based in Chicago, IL. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions using both affiliated and third-party managers, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and retirement consulting.

Zachary Abrams is a financial advisor with William Blair in Chicago, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining William Blair, he worked at SS&C Technologies for three years and has a background that includes roles in technology and education. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients through active, research-driven strategies across equities, fixed income, and alternatives. The firm manages approximately $64 billion in assets under management and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Salvador Briseno is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its broker-dealer registration and municipal-advisor status with a bank affiliation, providing a range of discretionary managed-account options and access to specialized portfolio management and tax-overlay services.

Brunilda Veliu is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with extensive internal oversight and maintains a combination of large institutional scale along with specialized market roles.

Jordan Taylor is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has prior experience at Robinhood Markets, Inc. and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. before joining the firm. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer‑sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners, offering managed advice programs and investment education services that emphasize asset allocation, contribution rate, and retirement age guidance. The firm leverages Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary software and model portfolios to deliver personalized investment recommendations.

David Tucker is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at AE Wealth Management since 2018 and previously at SGL Financial LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is the author of the book "Escape Illinois" and conducts informational classes through FMT Rejuvenate Your Retirement. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes model portfolio and direct asset management programs, utilizing various investment strategies and supporting third-party RIAs through sub-advisory and model-licensing arrangements.

Donald Wade is a CFP® professional with 47 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2017 and previously spent 28 years with Legend Equities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a timeshare that he rents when not in use and operates a small S corporation for tax and accounting purposes. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management through model portfolios, and advisor-led consulting, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and third-party managers.

Juan Aguilar is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Aurora, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Aguilar serves as a soccer referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation and assists with legal document preparation for Zeigler Chrysler, as well as working part-time in customer service at a firearm dealer and range. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers a range of investment programs on its Passageway Managed Account platform, combining third-party portfolio managers with advisor-guided investment strategies.

David Oulvey is a financial advisor at VALIC Financial Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at VALIC since 2014. Additionally, he serves as an agent with Agia, involved with non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models to construct client portfolios.

Amy Green is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2010, based in Chicago, IL. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm combines an internal investment team with governance committees to create customized portfolios, utilizing both proprietary and external strategies, and is notable for its scale and involvement with investment company clients.

Sean Whitney is a CFP® and CFA® with six years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and was previously with MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC for eight years. Whitney is a partner in two LLCs that provide capital for real estate ventures but does not engage in their operations. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm combines internal expertise and external managers to provide customized portfolio management and offers coordinated Family Office services for complex client needs.

Mark Cassell is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2017. His prior roles include positions at Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors, Gnv Advisors, and Geneva Investment Management of Chicago. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth advisory services to a diverse client base, including high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and investment companies. The firm utilizes a governance structure involving internal investment teams and committees to construct customized portfolios, combining proprietary and external strategies, and manages approximately $67.8 billion in assets.

Stephen Sumeraj is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with PNC Investments since 2012. Outside his advisory role, he operates ESBE Auctions as a sole proprietor, a non-investment related business. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering for employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven model selection and delegates portfolio implementation to third parties, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Stephen Muto is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2019, following previous roles at Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC and Whitnell & Co. Mariner serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm manages customized portfolios through an internal team and third-party managers, and is notable for its integration of tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

William Norris is a financial advisor at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with CIBC Private Wealth and CIBC National Trust Company since 2010, totaling 16 years with the firm. 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’s investment process integrates an internal team, relationship managers, and governance committees to create customized portfolios using both proprietary and external strategies, and it is notable for its portfolio management services for investment company clients.

Daniel Kempf is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019 and previously held roles at Indiana University and Oracle Corporation. Kempf serves on the Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America Northeast Illinois Council and acts as an alumni mentor for MBA students at Indiana University. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base including individual investors, executives, institutional clients, and plan sponsors. The firm utilizes strategic and tactical allocation models and offers specialized programs such as Private Family Office services and Executive Wealth programs, supported by an integrated platform across Goldman Sachs affiliates.

Derek Slater is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked with MML Investors Services LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance Co. In addition to his advisory role, he is also active as an insurance agent with National Life Group and Lakeshore Financial Group. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse range of clients including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms utilizing third-party asset managers and combines long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading.