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.

Hi, I'm Larry Pershing, CFP® RMA®, a flat fee financial advisor. I focus on helping people age 55+ with their retirement planning and investment management needs for a FLAT fee. Having worked in various wealth management firms in my career, I was surprised to discover many firms try to service everyone, which leads them to being average for all. Some are more concerned with amassing client assets than providing customized recommendations. I started Optimum Retirement Planning because I saw a need for specialists to help clients navigate the complex and challenging financial aspects of retirement. Our offering is different. We don’t work with everyone. We specialize in helping those who are close to and in retirement. We apply the latest financial research for retirement to help answer your complex financial questions. Optimum Retirement Planning is a flat fee financial advisor. This means we charge differently than most financial advisors. We offer retirement planning and investment management for a flat fee. For too long retirees have been overpaying for financial advice due to large commissions and/or being charged a percentage of their assets. When I’m not in the office, I’m on a tennis court, reading a book (finance or science fiction), or spending time with family and friends. I also volunteer for AARP sponsored events that help seniors receive complimentary financial advice. While I live in Chicago, I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I return often, especially during winter. You can take the guy out of California, but you can’t take the California out of the guy!

Joshua Kortenkamp is a financial advisor at Kortenkamp, Joshua F, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Lawrence E Grandt and Powers & Moon, LLC, as well as experience outside the financial sector at Uline Shipping Supplies and The University of Alabama. Kortenkamp, Joshua F is an independent advisory firm providing discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as trusts and estates. The firm employs a top-down macroeconomic approach combined with growth, value, and momentum styles, incorporating market-timing and technical analysis, and often uses closed-end funds to address cost and liquidity considerations.

Peter Wright is the principal of Wright Benefit Advisors Inc. in Lake Bluff, IL, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors, Edwin C Blitz Investments, and Wright Benefit Strategies. He is also president of Wright Benefit Strategies, an insurance brokerage and consulting firm licensed for life, health, and property casualty insurance. Wright Benefit Advisors provides investment advisory and pension consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and education seminars, employing a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical analysis, and modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading orientation.

William Kaufmann is a financial advisor at Life's Sanctuary Financial Planning, LLC in Kenosha, WI, holding a Series 65 credential with five years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm, he worked at Genentech, Inc. for 16 years and served as a Senior Oncology Sales Specialist at Eisai, Inc. outside of his advisory role. Life’s Sanctuary Financial Planning is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios primarily composed of equities, mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, limited partnerships, bonds, and occasionally options, with a focus on discretionary management.

Michael Niemczyk is a financial advisor with Capital Advisor Network holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been associated with multiple firms, including Brookstone Capital Management and his own Michael Niemczyk Associates, Inc. Niemczyk is also involved with the Society of Financial Awareness as a volunteer educator, providing financial education through community classes and workshops. Capital Advisor Network is a six-advisor team offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs data-driven, algorithmic investment strategies and integrates third-party managers with technology tools to support portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Robert Stanley is a CFP® and ChFC® with 17 years of experience in financial advisory services at R. W. Stanley Investment Planning. He has operated the Stanley Agency since 1991, providing fire, casualty, and life insurance services. R.W. Stanley Investment Planning offers fee-only, project-based financial planning and investment advisory services primarily to individuals and families, emphasizing broad strategic asset allocation and the use of low-cost passive index funds. The firm does not take custody of client assets and provides advice on a per-project, hourly basis.

Michael Calzolano is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Encompass Wealth Management LLC since 2010 and also holds positions with Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and The Life Insurance Pro. Encompass Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and their related trusts and estates. The firm employs asset-allocation models based on modern portfolio theory and offers access to mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, third-party managers, and alternative investments, with a focus on personalized oversight and tailored investment strategies.

Michael Knight is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 22 years of experience, currently serving as the principal of Knight Investment Planning, LLC. He has led his independent firm since 2004 in Libertyville, IL. Michael also serves as a FINRA arbitrator in Chicago, a role he has held since 2011. Knight Investment Planning, LLC provides fee-only financial planning and investment consultation services to individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation using low-cost, passive investment vehicles and operates on an hourly billing basis without accepting commissions or performance-based fees.

Vj Arjan is a financial advisor at ConCap LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations, as well as a Series 66 license. His prior experience includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Torchmark Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, Arjan maintains a personal blog unrelated to finance. ConCap LLC serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, by providing asset management alongside financial and estate-planning services. The firm applies fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to build tailored portfolios, focusing on active management through ongoing monitoring and client communication.

As Director of Physician Services at Prism Planning Partners, a fee-only RIA led by CFP® professionals, I lead a dedicated division serving physicians and healthcare professionals nationwide. My team and I specialize in helping medical professionals navigate every stage of their financial journey—from residency and fellowship through practice, career transitions, and retirement. I oversee a team that includes interns, paraplanners, and operations professionals, and collaborate closely with Prism’s Director of Financial Planning and Director of Operations to deliver high-impact, client-centered planning. Focus Areas: • Comprehensive financial planning tailored to physicians and healthcare professionals • Student loan strategies, including PSLF, refinancing, and REPAYE/SAVE optimization • Contract review and benefit analysis • Investment, tax, and estate planning strategies • Risk management (disability, life, long-term care) with no product sales • Burnout prevention and work/life balance strategies • Retirement and career transition planning • Speaking engagements and financial education for medical professionals Select Speaking Engagements: Regular speaker for medical residency and fellowship programs at: Northwestern, Loyola, University of Chicago, Rush, UIC, Cook County, Barnes-Jewish/Wash U, Medical College of Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora, University of Colorado, and more. Also presented for the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists, Illinois Pharmacists Association, and multiple private practices and hospital systems.

Jaana Virta Gupta is a financial advisor at Winslow Financial LLC with a Series 65 designation and five years of professional experience, including roles at Redfin Corporation and self-employment. Her background spans various positions from 2015 to the present, involving work at multiple firms prior to joining Winslow Financial. Winslow Financial LLC advises individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, providing investment management and financial planning services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach, managing accounts on a non-discretionary basis with an emphasis on asset allocation and diversification.

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.

David Jordan is a CFP® and ChFC® with 22 years of industry experience. He is a partner at Jordan Financial Life Planning in Kenosha, WI, and has been involved with Independent Wealth Management LLC since 2008. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in a property management business that owns the building where his practice is located. Jordan Financial Life Planning serves individual clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and charitable entities, offering financial life planning and investment management through a fee-only advisory model. The firm applies a structured planning process and utilizes various platforms, including the Pontera system for managing held-away retirement accounts.

Patrick Sweeney is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience and has been principal at Patrick M. Sweeney & Associates, Inc. since 2001. The firm provides personalized investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. Patrick M. Sweeney & Associates manages accounts on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases, using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and employs a range of strategies including equity trading, options, short sales, and margin when appropriate.

Charles Lief is a financial advisor at Rudwall Wealth Management LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Rudwall Wealth Management since 2016, following a one-year tenure at Insight Securities Inc. Rudwall Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a client-tailored, fundamentally oriented, long-term investment approach and manages discretionary portfolios across cash, equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Daniel Winslow is a financial advisor at Winslow Financial LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and is also a Certified Public Accountant, providing tax preparation services on a project basis for some clients. Winslow is licensed as an insurance agent in Florida and Illinois and may offer certain fixed insurance products. Winslow Financial LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, offering investment management and financial planning. The firm’s approach emphasizes asset allocation and diversification consistent with Modern Portfolio Theory, managing accounts on a non-discretionary basis with a focus on low trading frequency and client-directed decisions.

Douglas Damrow is a financial advisor at Trust Investment Advisors Wealth Management, LLC with 45 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. for 14 years before joining his current firm in 2024. Trust Investment Advisors Wealth Management, LLC provides comprehensive investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, families, business owners, and charitable organizations. The firm typically manages client accounts on a non-discretionary basis, combining fundamental, technical, and qualitative analysis to develop tailored asset allocation and risk strategies.

Nicole Sullivan is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 13 years of industry experience. She has been with Prism Planning Partners since 2018 and previously worked at Alera Investment Advisors, GCG Financial, Securian Financial Services, and Minnesota Life Insurance Company. Prism Planning Partners provides discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing passive, asset-class exposure and using no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and model portfolios from Focus Partners Advisor Solutions.

Randolph Herzfeld is a financial advisor at Winslow Financial LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and is the principal and founder of ActualWise Consulting LLC, an actuarial consulting firm. His prior experience includes roles at PRM Consulting Group, Centene, and Optum. Winslow Financial LLC advises individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, providing investment management and financial planning services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach with a focus on asset allocation and diversification, managing accounts on a non-discretionary basis for approximately 170 clients.