Megan Kowalski is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Hightower Securities, LLC since 2014. Based in Chicago, IL, her work focuses on serving a diverse client base through her firm. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to both individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various asset classes.

Stacey Specht is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill and UBS Financial Services. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer providing securities transactions, variable insurance products, and placement and investment banking services.

Rocio Aguinaga is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets. She previously worked at Deloitte Services LLP for nine years before joining Citigroup. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer execution and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with a focus on internal standards and oversight committees to select and monitor managers.

Ethan Redensek is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has four years of industry experience. He has worked with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2021 and has been with Schwab Wealth Advisory since 2026. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm uses standard asset-allocation models and Schwab’s internal research tools to deliver tailored recommendations, while trades are executed only with client authorization.

Scott Blajszczak is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Mesirow since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Kemper Corporation, Loyola University Chicago, Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Co., and Auxin Group. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes setting investment policy statements, asset allocation targets, and conducting due diligence across various asset classes, with access to proprietary and third-party investment products.

Phillip Dragisic is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management who holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2015. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering—a discretionary, invitation-only online account using algorithm-driven risk assessments and managed through mutual funds and ETFs.

Scott Garrett is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, he worked at Equitable Advisors, LLC and held positions at Albermarle Corporation and FMC Corporation. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Paula Vollum is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes 15 years at JPMorgan Securities LLC and her current role at Agia involves activities related to non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S. individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet UMA models and providing options such as Tax Overlay and ESG Overlay services.

Patrick Sands is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Charles Schwab-related entities since 1999, including Charles Schwab Bank from 2005 to 2022. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm’s guidance is based on Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with a focus on personalized recommendations and client authorization for trades.

Lisa Norcia Appelbaum is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. with 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and returned to the industry following an eight-year retirement. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients, including private individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a disciplined investment process involving asset allocation, due diligence across various asset classes, and access to proprietary private investment products and third-party managers.

Maja Baric is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2015, also maintaining a concurrent role at Fifth Third Bank since 2005. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering a variety of program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform. The firm operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor, providing access to multiple portfolio management strategies and services.

Daniel Mesirow is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at the University of Iowa and Glenbrook North. Mesirow Financial Investment Management’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning to a range of clients, including private individuals, pension plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm employs both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products, using a process that includes Investment Policy Statements, asset allocation targets, and due diligence across various asset classes.

Richard Bergman is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC since 2021. His previous work includes roles at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. He serves as board secretary for the Maple Tower Condominium Association and is an advisory board member of the Jewish United Fund/Federation, where he participates in various committee activities. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary solutions across multiple asset classes.

Maurice Rodgers is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Hazel Crest, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at RER Solutions Group LLC and New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through various program types and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

James Kitchens III is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Agia and self-employment, and he has been a soccer coach with Hot Shots Sports since 2018. 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 for portfolio construction.

Payton Winebar is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Payton has been with William Blair since 2019 and also has experience working with Indiana University and Kelly Construction & Design, LLC. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm focuses on active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Cameron Kasmar is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair Investment Management, LLC since 2017. Prior to his advisory role, he worked at Aquilon Energy Services and studied at Northern Illinois University. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm focuses on active, research-driven management across multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Delia Parker is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and owns an online health coaching business, Luna Strong LLC. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals, focusing on customized asset allocation, tax efficiency, and a blend of fundamental and technical analysis.

Eileen Sullivan is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., where she has worked since 2016. Her professional background is wholly with Bankers Life and its affiliated entities. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored portfolios aligned with client goals and risk tolerances.

Servia Rindfleish is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. She has worked at Mesirow Financial since 2019 and previously at First American Bank from 2013 to 2019. She serves on the Chicago advisory board of Team IMPACT, a nonprofit connecting children with serious illnesses to local college athletic teams. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products, applying quantitative and qualitative due diligence across a range of asset classes and offering access to specialized strategies and affiliated feeder funds.