Michael Steven Nichols

Max is the co-founder of Novak Financial Partners, a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm serving clients nationwide. He helps professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions through comprehensive financial planning and transparent, flat-fee advice. Novak Financial Partners is a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm helping professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions with confidence. As CFP® professionals, we provide comprehensive financial planning that goes beyond investment management. We help clients coordinate investments, retirement planning, tax strategies, equity compensation, insurance, estate planning, and other major financial decisions into one cohesive financial strategy. We charge a transparent flat annual fee because we believe pricing should reflect the value of our advice, not simply the size of your investment portfolio. This allows us to work with professionals who are still building wealth without investment minimums while remaining a cost-effective option for retirees and clients with larger portfolios. Before co-founding Novak Financial Partners, Max worked at Personal Capital, Moneta, and Facet Wealth, helping individuals and families navigate complex financial decisions. He earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Based in Southern Illinois, Max works virtually with clients nationwide. Advisory services offered through Core Planning LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Zach is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™ who helps clients align their money with their values so that they can live more intentionally now and in the future. With a background in psychology and a deep belief in access and equity, he brings both heart and strategy to every plan. Zach’s approach is collaborative, thorough, and solution-oriented. He’s worked with hundreds of families over his 10+ year career, and he’s especially passionate about demystifying complex topics so clients feel confident making decisions that reflect what they care about most. Prior to Novak Financial Partners, Zach spent over a decade at nationally recognized Registered Investment Advisors, where he became increasingly focused on delivering planning in a way that’s transparent, approachable, and deeply human. Outside of work, Zach enjoys reading, exercising, traveling with family, and cheering on Chicago’s sports teams. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Mary Swearingen is a financial advisor with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, Illinois. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with the firm since 2016. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individual clients and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm develops individualized investment policies using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and routinely exercises discretionary authority to implement trades.

John Alongi II is a financial advisor with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Alliance Wealth Management LLC since 2019 and has also worked with LPL Financial since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in a family-owned Italian restaurant. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to establish individualized investment policies and routinely exercises discretionary authority to implement client trades.

Bradley Wills is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, IL, where he has worked since 2019, and has also been affiliated with LPL Financial since 2008. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individual clients and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis to develop individualized investment policies and routinely exercises discretionary authority in managing client portfolios.

Sheila Lautenbacher is a financial advisor at KCPAG Financial Advisors LLC with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at KCPAG Financial Advisors since 2015. Her prior experience includes roles at Securities America Inc. and Kemper Capital Management LLC. KCPAG Financial Advisors LLC serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $22.5 million in discretionary assets and operates through a team of 13 advisors across 27 offices, employing fundamental analysis and a combination of long- and short-term strategies.