Ryan Skibinski is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in St. Charles, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and Amsted Rail. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Jeff Fjeldheim is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously operated Fjeldheim Financial Group for 15 years and worked with Raymond James Financial Services for 17 years. Fjeldheim maintains ownership of Fjeldheim Financial Group, LLC, primarily to manage the wind-down of his prior independent advisory business. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services aimed at individuals nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, delivering written recommendations focused on income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines proprietary research and modeling with advisory and brokerage solutions through affiliated entities.

Ann Jenkins is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Ameriprise since 2018, following a 20-year tenure at Fidelity Brokerage Services. Outside of her advisory role, she has a long-standing position with Petsmart. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients with significant investable assets, combining research and modeling with tax-efficient strategies. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Kimaron Gardner is a financial advisor with Stifel in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2007 and concurrently serves as a shareholder, officer, and director at Gardner Building & Development Inc., a land ownership and development business he has been involved with since 1990. Gardner is also a board member and secretary of The Grove at Wynstone Homeowners' Association. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm utilizes a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses intended to support client decision-making.

Kenneth Norkus is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked at Independent Financial Group, Leader One Financial, and several mortgage companies. He is also involved with Great Mortgage Company, a mortgage and real estate services business. LPL Financial is a national investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and various portfolio strategies.

Kevin Madden is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise in various capacities since 2009. Madden is also the owner of Kevin J. Madden, Inc., a business involved in managing his Ameriprise activities. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service providing written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Darrin Shallcross Sr. is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and spent 20 years at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation prior to joining OSAIC in 2025. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing a financial planning corporation and has experience selling equity indexed life and annuity products. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and multiple platforms to provide customized portfolio management.

Larry Ekstrom is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 47 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2009 and 2015, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the advisory board of the Swedish American Museum and participates on the board and finance committee of the Barrington Area Conservation Trust. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a broad range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, providing tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and research.

Steve Apostolopoulos is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Schaumburg, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 38 years of industry experience. His career includes ten years at Wells Fargo Clearing and seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, alongside over four decades with Commar. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment offerings.

Scott Holzer is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs for individuals and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning services, utilizing structured discovery conversations and firm-approved planning tools.

Patrick Perrotta is a financial advisor at Cetera with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Hurt & Associates, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Cetera entities since 2016. He is also involved with Hurt & Associates, Inc., an investment-related business in Lombard, IL. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC provides advisory services through a nationwide network of over 10,000 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with a broad range of investment program options.

John Pekar is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been affiliated with Primerica since 2013. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in sales of loan products, home security, and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors is a large-scale sponsor and discretionary portfolio manager of a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm delivers advisory services using model-driven strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and provides trade execution and custody through established financial institutions.

Jessica Deibert Lopez is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Edward Jones for five years and has experience as a hairstylist at Salon D'Amore, where she continues to work part-time. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning and investment consulting to individual and institutional clients, including pension plans and municipal entities, offering tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by comprehensive financial and asset allocation analysis.

Robin Drost is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Palatine, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors and BMO Harris Bank. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Kenneth Munao is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with various Morgan Stanley entities since 2007, including Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Outside of his advisory role, he is the sole proprietor of Daddy's Dip Racing Stable. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and financial planning services that incorporate firm-approved tools and strategies tailored to client needs.

Oscar Villalva is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with individuals and families to develop personalized financial strategies that address education planning, family wealth management, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. He provides guidance on various financial matters including investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events, and also connects clients with Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Oscar holds a Bachelor's Degree from Escuela Bancaria y Comercial and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is fluent in both English and Spanish, enabling him to serve a diverse client base. Outside of his professional work, Oscar enjoys playing soccer and tennis, and spending time with his family.

Jacques Simpson is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 40 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2012. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. As a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities.

Michele Westmaas is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior work experience at Thrivent Financial and John Wood Community College. Outside of her advisory role, Michele is active as a public speaker on disability-related topics and facilitates person-centered planning sessions for individuals with developmental disabilities and their support networks. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, providing comprehensive goal-based financial analyses without discretionary trading authority. The firm’s approach emphasizes holistic planning across a range of topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.

Brian Mcilwee is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. He has worked with Primerica since 2019 and previously was associated with J. J. McLLWEE COMPANY for over four decades. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in the sale of home security, automation, and loan products through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients, delivering model-based investment strategies supported by third-party asset managers and custodial services. The firm has a large national presence with nearly 4,000 advisors and approximately $15.5 billion in assets under management.

Carlos Zepeda is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His career includes six years at Bank of America/Merrill Edge and four years with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, using a process that combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework. The firm offers non-discretionary advice through a select group of Wealth Advisors.