Steven Putzel is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. for 14 years and Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC for four years. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds under an enhanced open architecture framework.

Vincent Allegra is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2023, he worked for Mesirow Financial, Inc. for 19 years. Outside of his advisory role, Allegra serves on the boards of Choose DuPage and Hinsdale Swim Club, contributing to community development and local recreational activities. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental portfolio management techniques and integrated retirement plan services.

Zackary Meuser is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Corient in Chicago, IL. He previously worked at Vivaldi Capital Management LP and Mesirow Financial, Inc. before joining Corient in 2026. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers, utilizing risk management tools and alternative investments where appropriate.

Patrick Phillipp is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Stifel for nine years and The Federal Savings Bank for two years before joining Rockefeller Financial. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, operating as a registered broker-dealer that offers a range of securities and investment banking services.

Adam Kinsinger is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC in Chicago. He previously worked at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. and DVI. Outside of advising, he assists with tax preparation at ShankerValleau Accountants, Inc., an accounting firm. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds.

Luis Markin is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, and JP Morgan. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types, including mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and direct indexing, delivering its investment solutions via the Passageway Managed Account Platform.

Nicholas Eppler is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with four years of industry experience. He is currently a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Chicago, IL, having previously worked at firms including Edward Jones, Fidelity Investments, and MassMutual. Eppler has also held roles outside of financial services, including employment with Keyence Corporation of America. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and select Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm employs asset-allocation models and research tools to guide investment decisions, with client authorization required for trades, and typically recommends separately managed accounts handled by third-party or affiliated managers.

Cassidy Ammons is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) based in Chicago, IL. She holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equity Services, she worked with National Life Group and TriFound Advisory LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in insurance agency activities and media workshops through her association with Chicago Wealth. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm combines multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers, offering a range of investment strategies that include both long-term and shorter-term options.

Edward Dunphy is a financial advisor at William Blair with 33 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company since 2013 and holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. 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 investment approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Andrew Sternberg is a CFP® professional based in Chicago, IL, with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Corient since 2026, following a 13-year tenure at Vivaldi Capital Management LLC. Sternberg currently serves as an advisor at Corient, a firm offering investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. Corient employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions, using risk management tools and alternative investments where appropriate.

Paul Niemiec is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Lombard, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of finance, Niemiec works as an assistant coordinator for Sarah Kathleen Events, a wedding and event planning company. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is an enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, 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 develops strategic model portfolios and adaptive strategies.

Jeffrey Toner is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 41 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Comprehensive Asset Management & Servicing, Inc. and Private Vista, LLC. He serves as a board member for SGA Youth and Family Services, a charity based in Chicago, participating in policy and program reviews. Hightower Advisors provides a broad range of investment advisory and planning services to individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through its network of Advisor Practices.

Diogen Paskali is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with William Blair in Chicago, Illinois. He joined the firm in 2023 and has prior experience working in educational institutions including Miami University and Saint Ignatius College Prep. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its integrated platform.

Evan Lemker is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation. He has experience spanning multiple roles since 2012, including positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, the University of Iowa, and Hy-Vee. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm provides direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

James Noe is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment since 2005. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, including a long history with educators and 403(b) and 457(b) program participants. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and advisor-led consulting, supported by an in-house investment management team and third-party managers.

Dhruv Patel is a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Goldman Sachs since 2023. Prior to his advisory role, he studied at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and gained experience outside finance in the automotive service sector. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services serves a wide range of clients, including individual investors, corporate participants, executives, plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management tailored to client objectives, leveraging strategic allocation models, manager selections, and both discretionary and non-discretionary implementations within the broader Goldman Sachs ecosystem.

Tyler Cissell is a financial advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and holds a Series 65 license. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked in various roles across nursing education, accounting, and management from 2015 to 2026. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach combining active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Matthew Dillig is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with HighTower Securities, LLC and Hightower Advisors since 2012. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a variety of investment vehicles such as mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Themi Pieropoulos is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services since 2016 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Company since 2012. Pieropoulos also maintains a fixed insurance agent role focused on life and health products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. 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.

Matthew Ward is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Hightower Securities, LLC, G Treasury, Symphony Clinical Research, and Illinois State University. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and employs proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles.