Benjamin Crowder is a Senior Financial Advisor and First Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Chicago. He provides financial guidance to founders, professionals, and families navigating significant life stages, including business liquidity events, deliberate wealth-building, and retirement planning. With over 20 years of experience, Benjamin's expertise encompasses executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He takes a proactive approach that combines disciplined portfolio management with an understanding of the personal and emotional aspects of financial decisions. Benjamin holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He is also involved in the community through his participation with Chicagoans for Nebraska. Outside of work, he enjoys baseball, basketball, football, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Frank Novelli is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. He collaborates with clients to understand their unique financial goals and motivations, aiming to develop tailored financial plans that address individual needs and objectives. His objective is to serve as a primary financial advisor, providing advice and service. Frank's professional experience includes roles as Vice President and Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab (2022-2023), Senior Financial Consultant at TD Ameritrade (2020-2023), and Vice President and Advisor Consultant at Nuveen Investments (2014-2020). Outside of his professional career, Frank's personal interests include concerts, fishing, parenthood, scuba diving, snowboarding, and traveling.

Ann Freeman is a Senior Financial Advisor at BBV Wealth Management Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, she began her career in Institutional Equity Sales, including a notable tenure at Lehman Brothers. Her work alongside portfolio managers and analysts has contributed to her strategic approach and ability to see the big picture in financial planning. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Ann holds several professional designations, including Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She focuses on areas such as executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy and philanthropic planning, portfolio management, socially responsible and ESG investing, as well as supporting women and wealth. Ann is active in community organizations including Ellevate Chapter Leader Chicago, Impact Grants Chicago, and Women's College Alliance. Outside of work, she is a wife and mother of four, with personal interests that include baseball, biking, football, gardening, golfing, interior decorating, photography, scrapbooking, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Alexia Jackson is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Chicago, specializing in helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals through holistic wealth management. She holds professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Her expertise encompasses investment and portfolio management, comprehensive wealth planning, retirement analysis and annual tracking, executive compensation management, tax minimization strategies, and business retirement plans. Alexia focuses on areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, and tax minimization. Alexia earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is actively involved in the Chicago community, serving on the boards of Goodman Theatre, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lurie Children's Hospital Junior Council, and Merrill's Women's Exchange. Her community involvement reflects a commitment to supporting local organizations alongside her professional work.

Derek West is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2023. In his role, he collaborates with clients and their families to develop personalized financial plans that address both current and future needs. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Derek gained experience as a Wealth Management Banker at U.S. Bank from 2017 to 2023. Throughout his career, Derek has focused on understanding clients' financial goals to provide tailored advice and strategies. His professional background includes expertise in wealth management and financial consulting, assisting clients in pursuing their financial objectives. No information regarding Derek's education, credentials, personal interests, or community involvement was provided.

Andrew Meyer is a Private Wealth Manager at Merrill Private Wealth Management based in Chicago. In this role, he advises ultra and high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and multi-generational families on comprehensive wealth strategies tailored to their financial objectives, family dynamics, and risk tolerance. His approach combines deep financial expertise with a commitment to building trust-based relationships, ensuring personalized strategies that prioritize clients' best interests. With nearly two decades of experience, Andrew provides guidance across investment management, wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, and other areas such as corporate benefits, education planning, executive compensation, and tax minimization. He collaborates with Merrill’s specialists and leverages the broader capabilities of Bank of America to offer clients access to services including trust and estate planning, alternative investments, custom credit, and banking solutions. Prior to his current role, Andrew served as an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and began his career at a boutique financial services firm in Indianapolis. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship and Management. He has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification, the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), and Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designations through The American College. Since relocating to Chicago in 2017, he lives in Oak Park with his wife and three children and is an active member of the Beta Graduate Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. His personal interests include music, spending time with family, and traveling.

Deejay Ijaola is Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor at Fidelity Investments. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2013, progressing through roles including Investment Consultant, Financial Consultant, Vice President Wealth Planner, and currently serving as Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor since 2024. Prior to joining Fidelity, Deejay held various positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Advantage Funds from 2008 to 2013. Since beginning his career in financial services in 2008, Deejay has developed extensive experience in creating financial plans with clients. He focuses on helping clients develop, implement, and maintain financial plans that provide confidence and composure even in challenging markets. Outside of his professional work, Deejay has interests in comedy, family activities, fitness, tennis, theater, and traveling.

Thomas Ratos is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill for over 11 years, providing personalized wealth management strategies tailored to each client’s financial goals. Thomas focuses on helping families, professionals, and business owners pursue financial independence through comprehensive planning and investment management. Thomas graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's degree in Consumer Economics, concentrating in Financial Planning. In 2015, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) designation. Additionally, he holds professional credentials including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His areas of expertise include college education planning, employee benefits planning, executive compensation, equity compensation services, legacy planning, portfolio management, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Thomas maintains FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations and holds life, health, and variable insurance licenses. Residing in Geneva, Illinois, Thomas lives with his wife Rachel and their two sons, Colin and Matthew. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports such as basketball, golf, hiking, running, tennis, and spending time with his family. He is also engaged in community volunteering in line with Merrill’s tradition of community participation.

Brian Roche is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Partner of The Roche Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been providing personalized financial advice since 2010, focusing on helping clients make informed decisions about their wealth. Brian works with successful families, business owners, and professionals to design strategies that align with their values and aspirations, including retirement plans for business owners. Brian's expertise encompasses areas such as divorce transition planning, education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. His commitment to excellence has been recognized through inclusion in the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list in 2023 and 2024, the Forbes Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors lists in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as The Roche Group's recognition in the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Brian graduated from Boston College with degrees in Finance and Economics. He holds multiple professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Brian and his wife Sarah live in Chicago with their two boys. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, engaging in sports such as baseball, basketball, golf, running marathons, and skiing. He is also involved in the community through participation with Back on my Feet.

Daniel Sandlin is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over fifteen years of experience, he serves the financial needs of prosperous families primarily in the metropolitan Chicago area, focusing on delivering tailored, goals-based wealth management guidance. His approach emphasizes understanding clients’ unique situations and objectives through personalized discussions, allowing him and his team to apply seven distinct wealth management disciplines that aim to preserve and grow clients’ wealth in alignment with their goals. Daniel graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and participated in the Semester at Sea global study abroad program sponsored by the University of Virginia. He earned his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2015. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2012, Daniel was a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley (formerly Smith Barney) beginning in 2000. His client focus includes college education planning, retirement income, legacy planning, tax minimization, and managing new wealth. Residing in Chicago, Daniel is an active member of the Union League Club. Outside of his professional commitments, he enjoys golfing and spending time in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.