John Griggs

William Utes is the sole advisor at UTES Wealth Strategies in Antioch, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 56 years of industry experience. He has been managing his own advisory business since 2019 and has worked with Securities America Advisors, Inc. since 2007. In addition to investment advising, he occasionally offers insurance reviews to clients through approved vendors. UTES Wealth Strategies provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and other entities. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with selected outside money managers and offers educational newsletters and seminars to clients.

Trevor Johnson is a financial advisor at Dream Weaver Financial Planning LLC in Richmond, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2024, he worked at Discover Financial Services from 2013 to 2018 and was involved with the organization I Am! I Can! for five years. Dream Weaver Financial Planning LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and consulting. The firm uses fundamental analysis combined with Modern Portfolio Theory to create customized portfolios and manages accounts on a discretionary basis with quarterly reviews.

James Kramer is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Kramer Investment Services, LLC and has been self-employed since 2013. Kramer also owns and operates Kramer Investment and Insurance Services, Inc., where he spends a significant portion of his time as an insurance agent. Kramer Investment Services, LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and liaison services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm uses fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to construct and monitor portfolios and is notable for its use of derivatives and futures within separately managed accounts, as well as for serving a large client base without a firm account minimum.

Shawn Block is a financial advisor at Briggs Financial Inc. with five years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. He has worked as a performer and emcee for Medieval Times since 2007, where his responsibilities include acting, media, marketing, and special events. Briggs Financial serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing discretionary investment management, ongoing financial planning, and in-house tax preparation, managing approximately $52 million in assets. The firm’s investment approach is based on fundamental analysis with a long-term orientation and does not charge performance-based fees or accept commissions tied to capital gains.

Timothy Spyrnal is a financial advisor with Spyrnal Financial Group in Neenah, WI, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Spyrnal Wealth Management, Spyrnal & Associates, and Global Financial Private Capital. Outside of advisory services, he is an independent insurance agent involved with Spyrnal Insurance, LLC. Spyrnal Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and referrals to third-party money managers. The firm employs a client-specific investment approach combining discretionary management, model portfolios, and outside managers, while also integrating insurance services through affiliated agencies.

Amy Barrett is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Barrett Wealth Connection LLC since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she volunteers as a pro-bono investment manager for Congregation Am Echod and serves on the board of the Illinois and Dressage Combined Training Association. Barrett Wealth Connection LLC provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as pension plans, foundations, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm emphasizes written Investment Policy Statements and a discretionary, buy-and-hold investment approach, and offers educational seminars at no charge as part of its client and participant outreach.