Scott Stratford is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides wealth management guidance to a select group of individuals, families, and institutions across the country, including many active and retired business owners. Scott works closely with clients to tailor wealth management strategies that align with their goals and evolving life circumstances, focusing on protecting the wealth they have accumulated. Scott joined Merrill in Chicago in 1987 after earning a bachelor's degree from Marquette University. He holds several professional designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA). As a Portfolio Manager, he manages Personalized or Defined Strategies on a discretionary basis, which may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. A long-time Chicago resident, Scott has volunteered for over 25 years with the World’s Largest Block Party sponsored by Old St. Patrick’s Church. He has also served as president of the Marquette Club of Chicago and on the national board of the Marquette University Alumni Association, as well as on the board of the Chicago Athletic Association. Scott lives in Barrington Hills with his wife and son.

Jing O'Brien is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Edward Jones from 2007 to 2010 before joining LPL Financial in 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with JADE Accountants & Tax Services, focusing on individual and small business tax preparation and filing. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and various technology platforms.

Richard Desmedt is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor AXA Advisors since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with an outside insurance brokerage and serves as trustee and successor trustee of trusts established in 2023. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients across wealth levels, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset management programs, utilizing both proprietary offerings and third-party asset managers.

Elizabeth Miller is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 1998 and at Bank of America since 2009. Miller serves as the incoming president and a board member of the Jewish Federation of Peoria, a nonprofit organization, where she is involved in fundraising and leadership activities. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to fiduciary clients of Bank of America. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Agata Kowalyk is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Park Ridge, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 1992 and Primerica Financial Services since 1990. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in the sale of home security and automation products through affiliated companies and participates in mortgage loan product sales. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited selection of separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and employs a tiered wrap fee structure, focusing on retail clients rather than institutional pension or profit-sharing plans.

Mark Stack is a financial advisor with Cetera in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Avantax Advisory Services and 1st Global Advisors and serves as a tax manager providing tax consulting and compliance services at Lumsden & McCormick LLP. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers diverse portfolio management and financial planning services with multiple program options and a multi-manager platform.

Alex Hickman is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Trader Joe's and Subway. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. As a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan, the firm combines institutional advisory services with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Michael Burdick is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Elk Grove Village, IL. He previously spent 30 years with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, delivering tailored, research-based recommendations through a centralized consulting team. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Jim Ostach is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 53 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. from 2001 to 2021. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches along with research from internal and third-party sources.

Patrick Spiedel is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2023. He brings a decade of experience in financial services to his role, having held positions as an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023, a Private Client Banker at JPMorgan Chase, N.A. from 2018 to 2022, and a Relationship Banker at JPMorgan Chase, N.A. from 2015 to 2018. His professional focus is on understanding clients' unique financial situations and partnering with them to build and implement comprehensive financial plans. Throughout his career, Patrick has worked closely with clients to provide ongoing support as their life circumstances and financial goals evolve. He relies on a breadth of knowledge accumulated over ten years to assist clients in their financial journeys. Outside of his professional work, Patrick has interests in fitness, gardening, parenthood, reading, running, and volunteering.

Khalekidan Melkamu is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Bank of America, N.A., and has experience as a self-employed individual and with Uber. Outside of finance, he provides commentary as an independent contractor for a professional wrestling streaming service. 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, providing model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Juan Rangel Jr. is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America and Chicago Marketing Inc. Outside of advising, he works as a delivery employee for Uber Eats and DoorDash. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Steve Lusietto is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Robinhood Markets, TD Ameritrade, and State Farm Insurance. He is affiliated with Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, which provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage a diverse range of investment portfolios.

Carla Nitz is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2020. Her prior experience includes five years at Blyth & Associates, Inc. and 25 years at Securities America, Inc. She is also involved in tax preparation and accounting through North Central Tax Services. LPL Financial serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, and retirement plan consulting with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research and technology-driven strategies.

Trevor Hart is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Schaumburg, Illinois office. He has been serving the needs of high-net worth clients since 1993, primarily working with individuals, business owners, and corporate executives. Mr. Hart offers a range of services including retirement and wealth transfer forecasting, asset allocation and investment style analysis, asset and discretionary portfolio management, as well as cash management, banking services, and lending through Bank of America, NA. He uses a defined process to integrate clients' circumstances into tailored financial strategies and meets regularly with clients to ensure alignment with their personal situations. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Bradley University, where he also lettered in varsity basketball. Trevor resides in Barrington, Illinois, with his wife and three children.

Artur Stypula is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held positions at several firms, including The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Farmers Insurance. Outside of finance, he is involved as a musician with NBC Universal. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients through advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers financial planning, consulting, access to model wealth portfolios, third-party asset management, and a range of brokerage and insurance products.

Joshua Ezzo is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2022. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2012, progressing through roles including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, Financial Representative, and Retirement Brokerage Services. Throughout his career at Fidelity, Joshua has worked closely with clients to develop wealth strategies aimed at benefiting them and their families now and in the future. He holds a California Insurance License, supporting his expertise in financial and insurance matters.

Jason Swedo is a financial advisor at Cetera with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Cetera and Cetera Wealth Services since 2021. He also serves as an account director and relationship manager at J.D. Power. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party managers.

Ted Nelson is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2012 and has worked with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. since 2003. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework when recommending strategies.

Chaicharn Dhepyasuwan is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2006 and also holds a position at JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.