Mary Kate Simon is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with five years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at SG Americas Securities, LLC, Walker & Dunlop, and Marquette University. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning that utilizes firm-approved tools and models to support client goals.

Michael Resnick is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation with 15 years of industry experience. He currently serves as a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors and has previously worked at firms including OSAIC, Alera Investment Advisors, Triad Advisors, GCG Financial, and Securian Financial Services. He is also a member of the University Alumni Board at Brandeis University. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm delivers advice through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and utilizes both proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Troy Grospitz is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2015. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management solutions supported by multi-asset model portfolios and centralized operational infrastructure.

Robert Teik is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 38 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license and has been with LPL Financial since 1997. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President and Treasurer for Ossanna Consulting Group, Inc., a consulting business where he dedicates part of his time. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies across discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.

Patrick Skowron is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors, Mass Mutual, and Fidelity Investments. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC, where he works, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios and advisory solutions.

Jeffrey Horwich is a financial advisor with Merrill in Glenview, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 12 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, Lifetime Financial Group, Horwich Financial Group, and Cetera Advisors. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Jeffrey Froman is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 2006 and began his career in financial services in 1996. Jeffrey specializes in working with businesses to address their retirement, benefit, executive, and equity compensation program needs. Jeffrey holds several professional designations, including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified 401(k) Professional (CKP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS). These credentials support his ability to tailor and manage retirement benefit plans suited to the unique needs of organizations. He provides a broad range of services to plan sponsors, including plan design guidance, provider selection, plan performance tracking, investment menu updates, and employee education to encourage participation. His approach includes reviewing plan features and investment options to identify opportunities for improvement in technology, reporting, fees, and fiduciary risk management. Jeffrey earned a Bachelor's Degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master's Degree from DeVry University.

William Brandstrader is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and approximately one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Chicago Partners Wealth Advisors, Loyola University Chicago, and various service-oriented businesses. Outside of advising, he has worked in the hospitality sector, including at Yardhouse and North Shore Country Club. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Patrick Gorand is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, J.P. Morgan Securities, and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Gorand is a silent shareholder in Shiftgig, Inc., an online job placement platform for the service industry. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors. The firm combines quantitative asset allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its investment recommendations.

Nicole Astabraghpour is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2015 and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with advisory programs and tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process that includes firm-approved tools and scenario modeling to support client financial plans.

Bridget Eickhoff is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with J.P. Morgan in various capacities since 2015. 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. The firm operates alongside affiliated brokerage, distribution, and investment management functions, delivering services on a non-discretionary basis with a centralized due-diligence framework.

Michael Williams is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Thrivent Financial, Thrivent Investment Management Inc., Mattress Firm, and PNC Mortgage. Outside of financial advising, he is involved in consumer demonstrations at various Costco locations in the Chicagoland area. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory models, including those implemented by third-party asset managers and LPL-sponsored programs, serving clients through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives.

Stacey Woehrle is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. She has worked with Equitable Advisors since 2019 and was previously affiliated with Axa Advisors, LLC for one year. Outside of her advisory role, she is a member of the Women's Club of Wilmette and is a sales associate with Realty Benefit Services. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a broad network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party managers.

Thomas Paulson is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Lake Forest, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and City National Bank. Outside of advising, he is an officer and 50% owner of a plumbing supply company and serves as treasurer on the board of a family education foundation providing college scholarships. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with customized portfolio management integrating in-house and third-party managers, alongside features such as tax management and responsible investing.

Jayson Kaus is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at RBC Capital Markets. His career includes roles at City National Bank, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a committee member of the Lake Forest Lake Bluff Rotary Club. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients. The firm provides tailored portfolio management and advisory services through a variety of wrap fee programs, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Brian Katz is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015 and with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, following prior roles at Citigroup Global Markets and Merrill. Katz is involved in managing several real estate and trust entities. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs structured planning tools such as Monte Carlo simulations and Secular Return Estimates in its advisory process.

Maria Cintron is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill for 11 years before joining UBS Financial Services, where she has been since 2024. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing model-based asset allocations and proprietary research to tailor financial plans. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, providing a broad range of products and capital markets services.

Christine Pall is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 51 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2014. She is also involved as a registered assistant to Chan Kang through CHK Group LTD, managing an advisory business. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service for individuals approaching or in retirement, focusing on clients with significant investable assets. The firm provides written, non-discretionary recommendation reports that incorporate research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis, supported by a centralized consulting team and algorithmic tools, with an emphasis on Ameriprise-managed accounts and affiliated investment products.

Jelena Stanojevic is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools.

Donald Wallace is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co., holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 46 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert Baird & Co. since 1993. Outside of his advisory role, Wallace serves as president of Sunset Ridge Country Club, a nonprofit private country club, where he oversees scholarship selection and the financial condition of the fund. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group offers a range of consulting and portfolio services tailored to client goals and risk tolerances, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, separately managed accounts, and both traditional and non-traditional investment strategies.