Nathen Pastorik is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at GIS Benefits, Inc., Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation, Transamerica Retirement Solutions, Princor Financial, and Principal Financial. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional and pension plans, and municipal entities, providing financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

William Hoffman is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2019 and has previous work experience that includes CJs Bar and Kemper Lakes Country Club. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendations and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Gretchen Nowag is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Aurora, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and Primerica Financial Services since 1998. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in sales of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, providing model-delivery strategies and a limited selection of separately managed accounts to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, with portfolio implementation managed in conjunction with BNY Mellon Advisors.

David Poitras is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird since 2006 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. The DDK Group, part of Robert W. Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, separately managed accounts, and custody and brokerage services, supported by internal research, manager selection, and the use of technology such as artificial intelligence.

Kevin Geist is a financial advisor at Cetera with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co. Geist is also associated with Schumann Financial, a registered investment-related business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional accounts through a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Brian Orr is a financial advisor at Cetera with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Securities America, Equity Bank, and various Cetera affiliates. Orr also serves on the investment committee for Lees Summit Community Church, providing oversight for the church’s financial management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving a wide range of clients including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and unaffiliated third-party managers.

Jack Carter is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including AuguStar Distributors Inc., Calamos Financial Services LLC, Dearborn Partners, L.L.C., and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Tracy Couch is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and delivers services both directly and through employer financial planning agreements.

Michael Lacey is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Lisle, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Signature Resources Capital Management, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Park Avenue Securities. 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 offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved tools and structured annual planning engagements.

Thomas Linas is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Wells Fargo Clearing and has prior experience at Masus Financial Group and LPL Financial. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases.

Mark Duris is a financial advisor with Merrill in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America since 2017 and Merrill since 2016. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved with CampReward, Inc. and has a long-standing association with Tazza Coffee. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts, with a range of tactical asset allocation options and support services.

Jonathan Alberts is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and Iron Horse Wealth Management. Outside of finance, he spent time working at aquatic centers earlier in his career. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service providing written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Lloyd Montgomery III is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Raymond James Financial since 2009. He is also the owner of Montgomery Wing LLC, a support company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and nonprofit clients. The firm uses a non-discretionary, goal-based approach with analytical tools to tailor recommendations and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation.

Kevin Ehlers is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with Ameriprise in Downers Grove, IL, bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its predecessor entities since 1991. Outside of advisory work, Ehlers serves as vice president on the board of a homeowners association and is involved in independent insurance brokering and tax preparation services. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to deliver tailored recommendations. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated entities.

Jamshed Kavina is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Naperville, IL, holding the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and long-term involvement with Primerica Financial Services and H&R Block, where he works as a Master Tax Advisor providing tax preparation and advice. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in sales related to mortgage products and home security referrals through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm employs model-delivery strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and operates at scale with approximately $15.5 billion in assets under management.

David Melby is a financial advisor at Stifel with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at UBS Financial Services, Wells Fargo Clearing, Oppenheimer, and CIBC World Markets. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and allocation methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Gary Weinlein is a financial advisor at Cetera with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Avantax Advisory Service, Ameriprise, and 1st Global Advisors. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services with access to both affiliated and third-party investment managers across various program structures.

Darshil Patel is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, his work background includes roles at Groupon, UPS, and Proteintech Group Inc. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm that serves individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service, which provides written recommendation reports and ongoing advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Julianne Ness is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Deutsche AM Distributors, Inc. for eight years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the secretary for the Woods of Fox Glen HOA, taking notes of board meetings. Fisher Investments provides discretionary portfolio management to a global mix of institutional and private clients, including pension plans, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm uses a centralized investment approach combining quantitative and qualitative research to construct diversified portfolios and offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services.

Joseph Lukowski is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with OSAIC since 2013. Lukowski is also a 50% owner of Advisor Services Group, LLC, a consulting and compliance services firm. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisors, offering integrated brokerage, investment advisory services, and access to third-party money managers. The firm employs asset-allocation tools and automated rebalancing to manage diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes.