Robert Basile is a CFP® with 8 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2021. He previously worked at Fifth Third Private Bank for nine years and The AYCO Company, L.P./Mercer Allied for seventeen years. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds with investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to pooled vehicles and third-party managers. The firm combines customized portfolio management with integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness services.

Lance Sherry is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, Fifth Third Private Bank, and Bank of America Private Bank. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that emphasizes tax- and fee-sensitivity within an enhanced open architecture framework, combining active and passive strategies alongside specialized offerings such as an Options Income Overlay and a trend-following sleeve.

Byron Ramult is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd in Elmhurst, IL, holding a CFP® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 24 years of industry experience and has previously worked at firms including LPL Financial and Wealth Enhancement Group. Stratos Wealth Partners serves a broad mix of individual, corporate, retirement plan, and institutional clients through a distributed network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning services using a range of investment vehicles and frequently employs sub-advisors and third-party manager platforms.

Jesus Perez is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at CITI Private Advisory, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets since 2021, following positions at Northern Trust Bank and Northern Trust Securities from 2018 to 2021, and JP Morgan Securities LLC and JP Morgan Chase Bank between 2012 and 2018. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by internal standards and oversight committees, and combines large institutional scale with unique market roles and commercial arrangements.

Ramesh Poola is a CFA charterholder and financial advisor at Creative Planning with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at IRON Financial, LLC for eleven years before joining Creative Planning in 2021. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental tactics such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Brett Thelander is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Merrill since 1994. 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 operates a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and broker-dealer services including securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking.

Stephen Oostema is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2005 and also serves as an agent at Agia, focusing on 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, and brokerage services, managing approximately $26.4 billion in discretionary assets through a network of over 1,200 advisors.

Wesley Barnes is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner since 2025. He previously worked at Hightower Advisors and Hightower Securities, LLC from 2008 to 2022 and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Barnes is involved in managing a group of doughnut franchise locations and serves on the board of United Way Northwest Indiana. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through comprehensive investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm emphasizes discretionary, customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee, integrating in-house research with third-party managers, and offers distinctive tax, accounting, and administrative CFO services.

Maria Burger is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with First Command and related entities since 2017 and is the business owner of MVB Financial Services, LLC. Burger also serves as president and board member of the West Point Society of Chicago, a nonprofit supporting the United States Military Academy, admissions, and alumni. Additionally, she provides consulting services to chemical and manufacturing companies through the Gerson Lehrman Group. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed centrally by an Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers, using a disciplined manager selection process and established platforms for portfolio administration and custody.

Alexander Kapusta is a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Horizon Wealth Management and Kam's. Outside of finance, he has experience with the United States Soccer Federation and Butterfield Country Club. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and integrated tax services. The firm employs customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and provides a range of strategies spanning equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets.

Xavier Kon Lopez is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Olympia Fields, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and use of National Financial Services and Fidelity platforms.

Zachary Bindler is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Cresset since 2018, previously spending four years at New Market Wealth Management, LLC. Cresset Asset Management, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets for a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm focuses on diversified, asset-allocation-driven portfolio construction tailored to client objectives, employing both active and passive strategies alongside third-party managers.

James Hamman is a financial advisor at William Blair with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with William Blair & Company L.L.C. since 1997 and holds 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 approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models and access to private funds through its MB Investments Program.

Kristie Elstrom is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Harris Investor Services, Inc. for 12 years before joining Bankers Life Securities in 2019. Outside of her advisory role, she has experience as a landlord. 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’s investment process includes customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide portfolio management.

Jennifer Heid is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with First Command in various capacities since 2010. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, delivering investment management through a centralized team that selects and manages model portfolios and third-party managers.

Jon Tyson is a financial advisor at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors, Gnv Advisors, LLC, and Geneva Investment Management of Chicago, LLC. Tyson has been with CIBC Private Wealth Advisors since 2017. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and wealth management services to individuals, families, trusts, employee benefit plans, corporations, and investment companies. The firm employs a disciplined investment process involving an internal team, relationship managers, and committees to create customized portfolios, utilizing both proprietary and external strategies, including options hedges and structured notes.

Clarence Darrow is a financial advisor at William Blair with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Heartland Advisors, Inc., Marquette Associates, Madison Investments, UMB Fund Services, Alpha Investment Consulting Group, and Marquette University. 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 multiple asset classes and provides proprietary models and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Ann Marie Cudzilo is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Transamerica Capital, Inc., Diversified Investors Securities Corp., and First Command Financial Planning. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs that utilize model portfolios and third-party managers selected by an internal Investment Management Team.

Michael Hellen is a financial advisor at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at DePaul University and Options Clearing Corporation. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to private individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, government entities, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm employs both third-party managers and proprietary private investment products, with an emphasis on asset allocation, due diligence across diversified investment types, and access to affiliated feeder funds.

Evelin Freytas is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with New York Life Insurance Company and related entities since 2009 and currently operates Mastermind Wealth Strategies LLC. Freytas serves as President and Advisory Board member of the Ecuadorian Volunteers Association (EVA), a nonprofit focused on education, social, and health programs in Ecuador. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional investors, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of program types emphasizing tailored advice and manages assets primarily on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.