Jesse Szlaga is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mariner. Prior to joining Mariner, he worked at OFM Wealth and previously at Mariner Wealth Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, and specialized services such as tax coordination and employer financial wellness programs. The firm utilizes discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an investment committee and combines in-house research with external managers and platforms.

James Snider is a financial advisor with Planmember Securities Corporation in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been self-employed since 2003 and owns a business consulting firm, Snider & Associates, which provides general management services unrelated to securities. He also operates Tax Prep Partners, a tax preparation service. Planmember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans and offering participant-level investment options through their asset allocation portfolios. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation framework and risk-based mutual fund portfolios ranging from conservative to aggressive.

Chad Sturtz is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 1997 and Principal Life Insurance Company since 1996. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Sturtz Farm, LLC, which focuses on corn and soybean production. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Daniel Baer is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup since 2005. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and operates with institutional scale, including in-house research, derivatives services, and bespoke solutions for large relationships.

Sandra Gentry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. She has worked at Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2020 and has been with Bankers Life & Casualty since 2014. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a unit field trainer agent for Bankers Life and Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions.

Brian Vanderlugt is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2010 and previously held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. During his career, he has been based in Wheaton, IL. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser with over 500 advisors, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement and investment consulting, and insurance products, utilizing a mix of proprietary strategies and third-party models.

Tristan Abalos is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC holding a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience with prior roles at Osaic Wealth Inc and LPL Financial. Outside of finance, he has operated The Screen Guys LLC since 2014. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs a variety of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform.

Michael Lawrence is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He has worked at CWM, LLC, Carson Wealth, and Carson Group since 2021, and previously spent 23 years at Chicago Equity Partners. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of partner offices and more than 600 advisors. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios and provides services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan solutions, and sub-advisory offerings.

Matthew Mirabella is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors LLC and independent contracting with Tax Smart, LLC and Scott Tucker Solutions, Inc. He has diverse work experience outside advisory services, including positions in retail and delivery. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a varied client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment approaches to serve over 127,000 clients through a platform-focused advisory model.

Tyler Welter is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has eight years of industry experience, including roles at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2018. He is also licensed as an insurance agent, providing life, health, long-term care, disability insurance, and annuities on a part-time basis. Principal Securities offers comprehensive brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and military personnel, with a focus on financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Jigar Doshi is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked at First Midwest Securities, Inc. from 2010 to 2015 before joining Independent Financial Group in 2015. Doshi serves as a board member for the non-profit Vernon Hills Indian Association. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension/profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms and utilizes a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and both passive and active investment exposures.

Matthew Dial is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked for US Bank from 2015 to 2021. Dial is based in Naperville, Illinois. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and consulting services, combining proprietary and third-party investment strategies with in-house equity and fixed income portfolio management.

Matthew Kocmond is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Downers Grove, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, he worked at firms including LPL Enterprise LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Joanna Pomagier is a financial advisor with William Blair, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at William Blair since 2017 and previously at Northern Trust Securities Inc. and Northern Trust Bank. 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 emphasizes active, research-driven management across various asset classes and provides access to proprietary models, third-party sub-managers, and private investment opportunities.

Steven Jesanis is a financial advisor with William Blair in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience, having worked at William Blair & Company, L.L.C. since 2003. 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 utilizes an active, research-driven management approach across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

E Wurtzebach is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience and is currently with Lincoln Investment, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at Legend Equities Corporation. He also maintains agency roles servicing fixed annuities with Great American Life Insurance Company and Mass Mutual. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise firm that serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that constructs strategic model portfolios and adaptive investment strategies.

Marek Klincewicz is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Sirius Holdings LLC and World Financial Group, Inc. He is also involved in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and businesses, delivering services through multiple advisory platforms and a large network of advisors. The firm’s investment approach relies primarily on model portfolios and third-party managers rather than individual advisor discretion.

Suzanne Fickle is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC in Wheaton, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Capital Management, Bank of America, and Merrill. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through programs focused on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning, utilizing proprietary software and portfolio oversight from Morningstar Investment Management.

Steven Zareck is a Series 65 registered advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with experience beginning in 2013. His prior roles include positions at Amerilife and Affiliated Consulting Group. He is based in Wheaton, IL. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through its BCM Platform and wrap-fee program.

James Galiger is a CFP® with 36 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with SPC. He has worked at Sigma Financial Corp since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he assists with his spouse's event business as a bartender and server. SPC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm supports a large network of advisors delivering tailored, discretionary advice and offers multiple account programs through Fidelity/NFS custody and execution.