John Piershale is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Piershale Wealth Management, LLC in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and has held prior roles at Origin Financial, Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., Piershale Financial Group, Inc., and Triad Advisors, Inc. Piershale Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and a variety of financial planning services to individual clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, offering specialized tax and estate planning within a modest, single-advisor model.

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 worked with firms including Securities America, Inc. and Brookstreet Securities Corporation. Utes occasionally reviews insurance needs with clients in coordination with approved vendors. UTES Wealth Strategies provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a manager-selection process and combines strategic and tactical asset allocation using various investment vehicles, supplemented by client newsletters and educational seminars.

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!

Timothy McDonald is the sole advisor at Timothy J McDonald CPA CFP, an independent firm based in Lake Barrington, IL. He holds CFP® and Series 63 designations and has 27 years of industry experience. He is also a partner in the CPA firm McDonald Doherty & Co., where he has been active since 1988. The firm provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals and families, integrating tax planning with investment strategies. It employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and asset allocation tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and goals, managing approximately $65 million across about 60 client relationships.

Roy Brown is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Trueman Brown since 2007 and previously worked at Ameriprise for nine years. Outside of his advisory work, he is co-owner and vice president of RVTV Properties. Trueman Brown, LLC is an independent advisory firm managing approximately $196 million for about 128 clients, offering financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, business entities, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term growth investment approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, and it is notable for serving pension and profit-sharing plans and recommending private placements and hedge-style collective vehicles.

Gregory Smith is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience and has served as an independent consultant since 2009. He is the sole advisor at Long Run Investment Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Long Grove, IL. Long Run Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, corporations, and unaffiliated advisers. The firm emphasizes pension consulting and retirement-plan fiduciary services, implementing portfolios using a combination of fundamental, charting, and cyclical analysis within a Modern Portfolio Theory framework.

Anton specializes in retirement planning, business tax strategy, and personalized financial advice designed to reduce taxes and support long-term financial goals. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a growing practice, or planning for life after work, he delivers clear, actionable guidance tailored to your situation. Most advisors specialize in either taxes or investments. Anton holds the credentials and the responsibility for both — which is what lets Sansone coordinate the two sides of your financial life under a single strategy.

John Choi is the sole advisor at Epiphany Capital in Vernon Hills, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 25 years of industry experience. He has led Epiphany Capital since 2006. Choi is also licensed as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed, indexed annuities, and health insurance. Epiphany Capital offers financial planning, coaching, and investment management by coordinating with third-party portfolio managers to implement portfolio models. The firm serves individual investors, families, and small business owners, providing services across retirement, estate, tax, college, and insurance planning.

Jeffrey Kostis is a CFP®, PFS™, and Series 65 credentialed advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He has been the principal of JK Financial Planning, Inc. since 2007, providing financial planning and investment consultation from Vernon Hills, Illinois. JK Financial Planning, Inc. offers fee-only financial planning and investment services to individuals, trusts, estates, and small businesses, focusing on major life transitions such as marriage, divorce, career changes, college funding, and retirement. The firm employs a fundamental, long-term planning approach emphasizing asset allocation, passive/index strategies, written investment policy statements, and uses scenario analysis in retirement and settlement planning.

William Parsch is a financial advisor at Wellspring Capital Group, Ltd., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wellspring Capital Group since 2010, following prior roles at J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and Waterstone Financial Group, Inc. Wellspring Capital Group, Ltd. is a single-advisor independent firm providing fee-based portfolio management to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis combined with technical and cyclical methods to determine intrinsic value, managing discretionary assets for a small client base.

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.

Trevor Johnson is the sole advisor at Dream Weaver Financial Planning LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Richmond, Illinois. He holds a Series 65 credential and has two years of industry experience, including five years at Discover Financial Services and five years at I Am! I Can!. Dream Weaver Financial Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, full financial planning, and consulting engagements. The firm uses fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to create customized portfolios and manages accounts on a discretionary basis with quarterly reviews.

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.

James Malinowski is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience. He is the principal of The JM Financial Planning Group, Ltd. in Mundelein, IL, where he has worked since 1991. His background includes roles at United Planners' Financial Services and ownership of his own advisory and insurance businesses. The JM Financial Planning Group, Ltd. provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, written financial plans, and advice on employer-sponsored retirement accounts, using documented goals and risk-tolerance assessments to guide client strategies.

Richard Vandersande is the sole advisor at Smart Stewardship Advisors in Lake in the Hills, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 21 years of industry experience. He has operated his own practice since 2005 and has been involved with The Stewardship Alliance, LLC since 2001, which provides stewardship planning based on biblical principles. He also serves as Vice President of Benefit Alliance, Incorporated, a company offering group discounts and benefits. Smart Stewardship Advisors delivers financial planning, coaching, and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses, with a focus on donors and Christian ministries. The firm employs a diagnostic approach called the “BALTIC” gap analysis and works primarily in a non-discretionary advisory capacity, coordinating with third-party portfolio managers who manage ETF-based model portfolios.

Nicholas Daleiden is the sole advisor at Daleiden Wealth Advisors in McHenry, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Nations Financial Group, Inc. for 11 years before establishing his own practice. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in fixed insurance sales as an insurance agent. Daleiden Wealth Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a range of investment strategies tailored to client goals and risk tolerances, and routinely uses third-party sub-advisors while maintaining client relationship oversight.

Ryan Zentz is a financial advisor with PMG Wealth Management who holds the Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining PMG Wealth Management, he held roles at LPL Financial and has experience outside finance including work with DoorDash. PMG Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business owners, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm manages customized portfolios using fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, combining in-house management with outside managers to meet varied client needs.

Gery Sadzewicz is a financial advisor with Clearview Wealth Solutions, LLC in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has held roles with numerous firms including Ernst & Young Investment Advisers LLP and operates Gery Sadzewicz Consulting LLC, which provides outsourced Chief Compliance Officer and financial operations consulting services. Clearview Wealth Solutions offers discretionary investment management and related financial services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and other entities. The firm manages approximately $41.7 million in discretionary assets using five core strategies and combines top-down economic analysis with bottom-up security selection, tailoring portfolios to client objectives and tax circumstances.

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.