Charles Ferris is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 license. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2025 and has prior experience across various industries including logistics, security, retail, and event design. Ferris has also held roles related to education and community recreation from 2015 to 2021. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs focused on tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools and investment modeling as part of its advisory process.

Lawrence Sabatini is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Painewebber Incorporated since 1986. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm uses proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans according to clients' goals and risk tolerances.

Aaron Redmond is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2014, including a period at BofA Securities in 2019. He is based in Oak Brook, IL. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm provides model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Daniel Murphy is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 27 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Equitable Advisors since 2001, including its predecessor, AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Murphy is a partner at Goal Point Strategies. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory programs and third-party asset managers to tailor investment strategies according to client needs and risk profiles.

Lauren Mlady is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career in financial services in 2017 and joined Merrill and The Suri Group in 2019. Lauren holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC) and Chartered Sustainable Responsible and Impact Counselor™ (CSRIC) designations. Lauren focuses on customized wealth management strategies, providing access to Merrill investing and Bank of America banking resources to assist families in pursuing their financial goals. Her areas of expertise include education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. She also has experience helping clients manage concentrated stock positions and navigate important transition events such as retirement, inheritance, or the sale of a business. Lauren graduated from Butler University with a degree in finance. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys adventure sports, boating, cooking, hiking, horseback riding, reading, spending time with her family, and traveling. She has also written her own cookbook.

Gabe Grzeskiewicz is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with two years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera. He has held roles at multiple Avantax entities since 2024 and is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, a CPA firm where he provides tax and accounting consulting and leads the Elgin office. Gabe is also a board member of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm operates a multi-manager platform with over 10,000 advisors and $256 billion in assets under management.

Mark Brucato is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked in various roles within JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2018. Outside of his finance career, he has experience in the hospitality sector, including roles at Topo Gigio Ristorante and Blue Plate. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, delivering asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting on a non-discretionary basis. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

John Lancaster III is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he provides tax preparation, planning, and consulting services to both individual and corporate clients. Lancaster also serves as the treasurer on the board of the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, participating in local business events and chamber activities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a national SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies, overseeing more than $256 billion in assets through over 10,000 advisors.

Taylor Bunes is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining LPL Enterprise in 2024, he worked at Pruco Securities, LLC for nine years and has been involved with the HealthCare Solutions Team since 2015. Outside of advising, Bunes is active in non-variable insurance sales. LPL Enterprise, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and various institutional clients. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and offers access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and insurance products through affiliated entities.

Douglas McCoy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Saint Charles, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 39 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 1997 and also operates Douglas L. McCoy Financial Services, Inc., which he founded in 1986. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Gerardo Soriano is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Ameriprise. Soriano is also a licensed long-term care insurance agent. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services through a large network of advisors.

Blade Varian is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Fisher Investments since 2013. Fisher Investments serves a global mix of institutional and private clients, providing discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm employs a centralized investment process that combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to construct diversified portfolios and offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services.

Robert Dow is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Oak Brook, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 26 years of industry experience and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2014. He serves as a board member of the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, a religious and community organization in Barrington, Illinois. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services directly to individuals and through corporate financial planning agreements.

Kimberly Smith is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2017. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by advanced modeling tools and a structured planning process.

Kevin Galvin is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 41 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ameriprise Financial Services LLC and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner of a retail business in Charleston, SC, and an author of a book titled *Quiet Strength: A Man's Second Half Can Be Better Than His First*, which does not address financial topics. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered in partnership with advisors.

Ted Coons is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Warrenville, Illinois, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Numark Credit Union, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and Cetera Wealth Services LLC. He operates a related business under the name Planned Financial Independence Co. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a broad range of advisory and brokerage services, leveraging a variety of portfolio management options and technology tools, supported by a network of over 22,800 advisors.

Joseph Scott is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a rental property business in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supplemented by firm-approved tools.

Paul Wessel is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in St. Charles, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2006. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in independent insurance brokering, specializing in long-term care insurance. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning that includes written recommendations and ongoing advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary research and third-party data within a defined investment ecosystem.

Mark Gallegos is a financial advisor at Cetera with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked at firms including Porte Brown Wealth Management and Avantax, and he is a partner at Porte Brown LLC, where he leads areas such as international tax, M&A tax, and tax credits and incentives. He also writes and speaks on tax topics. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable entities, and institutional accounts. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, and bespoke strategies.

Khadia Michel is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC since 2020. Prior to that, she was involved with Come and Go Real Estate and Ayimed International. Her outside business activities include managing an advisory business for Valentine Britt LLC. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service, providing written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement income planning advice that focuses on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.