Julia Zakarias is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience and serves as the sole advisor at Genfi LLC in Chicago, IL. She has worked at Generations Family & Fiduciary Services LLC since 2011. Zakarias is also a Certified Public Accountant and provides tax compliance and limited accounting services through her affiliated tax practice, Genfi Tax. Genfi LLC serves family groups, individuals including high-net-worth and corporate executives, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, and tax-exempt entities, offering integrated investment advisory and comprehensive wealth-planning services. The firm provides tailored investment advice and implements recommendations using a range of securities and managers, with additional family-office and investment consulting services.

Brian Wolf is the sole advisor at Bright Lantern Financial LLC in Chicago, IL, where he has worked since 2011. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. Bright Lantern Financial LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on broad diversification with low-cost index funds and ETFs, cost management, and tax-efficient strategies.

Michael Chrisler is a financial advisor with MJC Financial Fitness LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He founded MJC Financial Fitness, formerly known as Flex Financial Coaching, in 2019 after 14 years with Envestnet Asset Management. MJC Financial Fitness provides financial planning and investment management services to individual clients through a "Holistic Financial Fitness" approach. The firm offers comprehensive planning analyses and ongoing portfolio supervision tailored to client goals, utilizing fundamental analysis alongside third-party managers and digital platforms.

Lawrence Lewandowski is the principal of LRL Financial Planning Services, Inc. in Countryside, IL, with 11 years of experience at the firm and over 40 years as a CPA with a tax and accounting practice. He holds the CFP® and PFS™ designations. His tax and accounting practice operates separately from his investment advisory services. LRL Financial Planning Services provides financial planning and investment advisory services primarily to middle- and high-net-worth individuals, focusing on comprehensive and topic-specific engagements. The firm employs a non-discretionary, buy-and-hold investment approach using no-load and index funds, emphasizes client education, and offers separate tax services through the principal’s accounting practice.

Keesha Tyler is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, operating under her own firm, Keesha Tyler LLC, since 2018. She also co-manages Tyler Financial Group LLC, where she provides business accounting, tax preparation, and consulting services. Keesha Tyler LLC offers financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, focusing on retirement, tax and estate planning, cash-flow and debt management, business planning, and investment analysis. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs and provides various engagement options without taking custody of client assets.

Holistic financial planning for creatives, freelancers, small business owners, and independent thinkers. Indie Financial Planning is a woman-run, fee only financial planning firm with a background in arts and entertainment. We are licensed in Illinois and California. Before becoming a CFP® Professional, I spent over 20 years working in the independent music industry. I have a unique awareness of the challenges facing artists, creatives, or anyone looking to build a career or business not tied to a traditional 9-5 position. IFP caters to self-employed entrepreneurs or anyone looking to plan for a future on their own terms. I founded IFP as an alternative to a financial industry widely viewed as only serving the very wealthy. There are no investment minimums to work with IFP. We are an independent resource ready to partner with you when you are ready to take control of your financial life. Whatever your planning needs – from investments to budgeting – IFP will consider the many moving parts of your situation and work with you to build a plan based on trust. We focus on holistic planning and helping to educate you, so you are better positioned to achieve your goals. We treat planning as a partnership. We provide you with the tools and knowledge to take control of your finances. We offer advice and expertise to answer your questions and pursue your goals. Investment management and ongoing planning allows us to create a roadmap with clients and travel that path with them adjusting to changes along the way. After graduating from Pomona College with degrees in Economics and French, I moved from California to Boston for a change of scenery. There, I began working in a record store and eventually moved into sales and distribution for a small independent record label. I continued working in independent music when I moved to Chicago including 16 years as Head of Sales and Distribution for Touch and Go Records. When I left the music industry in 2009, I saw an opportunity to offer financial planning and investment advice to the many talented and creative folks in my circle of friends and others like them. Outside of work, I have a soft spot for animals including my 2 cats and 2 dogs all rescued from Chicago area rescues. The dogs arrived at the house as 2-week-old puppies along with their mama dog and 7 siblings during the 2020 Covid pandemic. If the pets give me the I still enjoy seeing live music and enjoy the many venues around Chicago.

Charles Horonzy is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Focused Up Financial, LLC, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to that, he was employed at Sullivan Mermel, Inc. and Accountemps. Outside of his advisory role, Horonzy is employed as a Tax Pro for Intuit and has worked as an independent contractor for Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC. Focused Up Financial serves individual and family clients as well as businesses and plan sponsors, offering comprehensive financial planning, investment advisory, and tax preparation services. The firm emphasizes integrated planning that coordinates investment allocation with tax, risk management, and business-planning considerations, primarily employing passive, asset-class-based investment strategies with discretionary portfolio management delegated to a third-party sub-adviser.

John Mayer is a financial advisor at Invest Capital LLC in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 35 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated for 10 years before founding his sole proprietorship and joining Invest Capital in 2018. Outside of finance, he provides transportation services through an affiliation with Uber Technologies, Inc. Invest Capital provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as ERISA-qualified plans. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and offers tailored strategies, including both discretionary and non-discretionary authority, alongside public educational seminars and workshops.

I'm Linda Rapisardo, CFP® and founder of Canela Wealth, a flat-fee, advice-only financial planning firm for first-generation wealth builders. My clients are first-gen professionals in their 30s and 40s who have worked hard to build successful careers, but never got a roadmap for what comes next. They're often the person their family turns to with money questions, even while quietly asking themselves: Am I saving enough? Am I spending too much? What should I even be prioritizing right now? That mental load is real. And it can feel heavier when you've spent most of your life figuring things out on your own. I know that feeling. I grew up in a working-class, immigrant family where my parents navigated an unfamiliar financial system without anyone trustworthy to guide them. The 2008 financial crisis hit us hard. My parents were smart, resourceful, and hardworking, but the system wasn't designed with them in mind. I watched what it costs a family to go it alone, and it shaped everything about how I show up for clients today. My goal is to be the person my parents never had: someone who cuts through the noise, explains how things actually work, and makes sure you never feel alone navigating the financial system. I believe transparency and education are everything. As an advice-only planner, I never manage assets or earn commissions. My flat-fee structure means my only incentive is to give you excellent, unconflicted advice. I help with comprehensive financial planning, including cash flow, debt strategy, retirement projections, tax planning, insurance review, home-buying decisions, and investment guidance for those managing their own portfolios. My favorite moments are when the weight lifts. When a client stops stressing about money and starts focusing on the things they actually care about. That's why I do this work. When I'm not helping clients, I'm chasing my two kiddos, Luca (4) and Camila (1), and dreaming up our next big family trip.

Michael Willman is a financial advisor at Blue Sky Investment Partners, Inc. based in Evanston, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. Blue Sky Investment Partners serves individuals, couples, families, and business and institutional clients, including retirement plan sponsors and charitable entities. The firm offers wealth management, portfolio management, retirement plan advisory, and project-based financial planning, operating as a fiduciary with a focus on diversified portfolios primarily using mutual funds and ETFs.

Michael Cope is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in financial advising. He has been the sole advisor at Pinnacle Planning Advisors, LLC since 2010, operating an independent firm in Evanston, IL. Pinnacle Planning Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients with ongoing portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, covering areas such as retirement, education, insurance, and estate planning. The firm emphasizes client education through seminars and workshops, manages assets directly without third-party managers, and typically operates with written discretionary authority to implement customized investment plans.

Amy Rosenow is the founder of Bold Vision Financial (formerly Fearless Financial Planning), an advice-only financial planning and education firm focused on women, families, and entrepreneurs. Prior to Bold Vision, Amy worked as a consultant providing strategic advisory and outsourced COO services to growing start-ups and small businesses. Amy also founded Jugl LLC, a software company focused on making it easier to be a working parent. Before Jugl, Amy served as Partner, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer of Sheffield Asset Management, L.L.C. for over a decade. In this role, she oversaw a variety of functions including operations, client service, investor relations, marketing, risk management, compliance, and technology for the Chicago-based investment management firm. She began her career on Wall Street, working for Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Bear Stearns. She also serves as President of both RUOK Management investment partnership and Kaplan Rosenow Family Foundation. Amy graduated from Cornell University. She lives in Chicago with her husband, two daughters, and their two Labrador retrievers. She is involved in a variety of community and non-profit initiatives, serving as Treasurer on the board of Temple Sholom of Chicago, as a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the Economic Club of Chicago, and as a mentor at 1871, Chicago’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. In addition, she is the co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of the Josephine Collective, a women-led group of angel investors co-investing small amounts in early-stage startups.

Andrew Baxley is a Certified Financial Planner® with 10 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Two Trails Financial Planning, an independent firm he joined in 2024. His prior experience includes roles at The Planning Center, Inc., TIAA, Strategic Advisers, Inc., and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Two Trails Financial Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm uses proprietary asset-allocation models tailored to client objectives and offers flexible fee arrangements rather than percentage-based advisory fees.

Larry Hightower is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Hightower & Boler, LLC since 2017. His prior experience includes roles at Protective Life Insurance and EverGreen Capital Management. He also serves on the board of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, a nonprofit organization focused on child and family development. Hightower & Boler, LLC provides fee-only investment advisory services, financial planning, and tax preparation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and state or municipal government entities. The firm manages approximately $5.9 million in discretionary assets and offers customized investment strategies primarily using individual bonds and exchange-traded funds, with services notable for including institutional and government clients.

Marc Farmer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Monroe Financial Inc. in Chicago, IL, where he has worked since 2019. He has 10 years of industry experience, including prior roles at HD Vest Investment Services and HD Vest Advisory Services. In addition to his advisory work, Farmer owns a CPA firm and serves on the board of directors for the Monroe Arts Center, where he reviews and presents financial statements. Monroe Financial Inc. provides financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm offers a range of investment options, primarily recommending ETFs alongside mutual funds, equities, fixed income, real estate funds, and non-U.S. securities, with client strategies tailored through Investment Policy Statements and managed on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Aditi Kapadia is a CFP® and CFA® with over 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Wealth IQ in Chicago, IL. Her prior experience includes roles at BMO Wealth Management and GE Capital. Wealth IQ offers financial planning and investment management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, providing both adviser-directed and do-it-yourself advisory models. The firm’s investment approach combines passive and active strategies with an emphasis on asset allocation and Modern Portfolio Theory, and it includes customized strategies such as Direct Indexing and documented reviews of private placements.

Michael Von Lunen is a financial advisor at Prospect Trading LLC in Chicago, IL, with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at T3 Trading Group, Ripple360 LLC, and Purchasing Platform. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and serves as President of Ripple360 LLC, a professional coaching business that supports entrepreneurs in starting and managing their businesses. Prospect Trading LLC provides investment management and planning services to individuals and corporate clients, utilizing both passive and active strategies. The firm employs fundamental and technical analysis, including the use of derivatives and short-selling, and offers performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

Gary Harris is the principal of GH Private Wealth Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ciel Bleu Private Wealth Management Inc. since 2014 and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2012. Outside of advisory services, Harris is involved in insurance brokerage and is a silent partner in a funeral home management business. GH Private Wealth Management provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tactical asset-allocation approach using fundamental and technical analysis and offers discretionary portfolio management, third-party money manager recommendations, and educational seminars.

Mary Deshong Kinkelaar is the sole advisor at Kinkelaar & Associates in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 21 years of industry experience. She has led Kinkelaar & Associates since 2004. Kinkelaar & Associates is an independent, fee-only firm providing tailored financial planning and investment advice to individuals, trusts, estates, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, offers educational workshops, and serves small-business and corporate plan clients without accepting commissions or managing client assets directly.

Henry Gorecki is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience and has led HG Wealth Management, LLC since 2012. Based in Chicago, IL, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and operates as the sole advisor at his independent firm. HG Wealth Management primarily serves individual clients through financial planning and portfolio management, employing a Core + Satellite investment approach that combines passive core holdings with selected active positions. The firm is notable for its boutique scale, managing approximately $29.9 million for about 20 clients, and offers educational workshops on financial and investment topics.