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.

Jake Nelson is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at Edward Jones and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he also works part-time as a server and delivery driver at Leona's Restaurant. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis methods to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management to client goals and risk tolerance.

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.

Patrick Biladeau is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Cresset in 2018, he worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities from 2013 to 2018. Cresset Asset Management manages approximately $78.9 billion in client assets and provides wealth management, financial planning, portfolio management, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a risk-aware approach combining strategic asset allocation with active and passive investment management across a broad range of asset classes.

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.

Jeffrey Levine is a financial advisor with Mesirow Advanced Strategies Inc, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mesirow Financial, Inc. since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an ethics officer for the City of Riverside Ethics Commission and is a member of the Endowment Committee at West Suburban Temple Har Zion. Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. The firm previously sponsored pooled investment products but currently has no assets under management and does not solicit new investors; it maintains compliance and governance policies applicable should the products be reinstated.

Daniel Kempf is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC since 2019. Prior to his current role, he was employed at Oracle Corp and has served in academic roles at Indiana University. Kempf serves on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America Northeast Illinois Council and mentors MBA students at Indiana University. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individuals, executives, plan sponsors, and institutions, providing financial planning and portfolio management alongside specialized offerings such as Private Family Office services and Alternative Investments. The firm integrates proprietary research, strategic allocation models, and a broad range of affiliated capabilities to tailor its services to client objectives.

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.

Pawel Gacek is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently with Mariner. He previously worked at Urban Financial Advisory Corp from 2015 to 2021 before joining Mariner in 2021. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Timothy Lense is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2001 and also works with Agia since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Sandbar Marina on Lake Marie and serves as treasurer for Sandbar Bar and Grille. 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, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models and operating with a substantial client base supported by over 1,200 advisors.

Melissa Mendoza is a financial advisor at William Blair with 15 years of industry experience. She has been with William Blair & Co LLC since 2010 and holds a Series 66 designation. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Kyle Bakhshi is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at William Blair since 2021 and previously spent seven years at Nuveen. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm uses an active, research-driven investment approach across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies, and provides proprietary models as well as access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Christopher Lewis is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and previously worked at Geneva Advisors, LLC for 12 years. 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 employs a comprehensive investment process involving proprietary and external strategies, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and specialized services such as Family Office support for complex needs.

Michael Leist is a financial advisor with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Geneva Advisors, LLC and Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors prior to joining CIBC in 2017. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm employs a structured investment process that integrates internal teams and external managers to offer customized portfolio management, financial planning, and coordinated Family Office services.

Paul Kubasiak is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Northern Trust Bank, Sheridan Road Advisors, Independent Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. Kubasiak is based in Chicago, IL. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services 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’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, and it also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.