Kathleen Kelly is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 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 an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and private investment opportunities.

Paul Schee is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2022, following nine years at Capstone Financial Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs customized, discretionary portfolios supported by an internal management team and third-party managers, and integrates tax and accounting services alongside operational financial wellness tools.

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.

David Copeland is a financial advisor with NorthCoast Asset Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Focus Partners Wealth, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, and Strategic Wealth Partners Group. NorthCoast Asset Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a quantitative and systematic investment approach with a broad range of portfolio management strategies, serving clients primarily on a discretionary basis.

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.

Joseph Stasko is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc. and JPMorgan Investment Management Inc. from 2015 to 2022 before joining Goldman Sachs in 2022. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base including individual investors, corporate and employer-sponsored participants, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management using strategic and tactical allocation models, manager selections, and a variety of implementation approaches, supported by proprietary and third-party analytics.

Danielle Thiel is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Goldman Sachs since 2021, following a 16-year tenure at The AYCO Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth households, corporate participants, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored services such as Executive Wealth and Private Family Office support, leveraging centralized investment resources and a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary managers within a large integrated financial group.

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.

Thomas Gonzales is a financial advisor at Allworth Financial, L.P. with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Mass Mutual, and Healy Scanlon Law Firm. Allworth Financial is a fee-based SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management using a variety of model strategies and employs both discretionary and non-discretionary engagements.

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.

John Werd is a financial advisor with Goldman Sachs Wealth Services, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at Frost Bank and Delos Living LLC, as well as earlier positions outside of finance. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning and portfolio management supported by specialized teams and integrates strategic allocation models, manager selections, and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations across multiple platforms.

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.

Ethan De Rose is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., having worked in the financial services industry since 2023. His experience includes roles at Bankers Life Securities, Inc., and Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc., as well as prior work in construction and education. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, as well as retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.