Garland Kizer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Merit Financial Advisors. His prior roles include positions at VOYA Financial Advisors, Cetera, and leadership of his own firms, Kizer & Associates and Kizer Financial Services. He serves as a trustee for both the THSD 214 Foundation and MacMurray College and chairs the Bartlett 4th of July Festival committee, coordinating its fireworks presentation. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of advisers, employing a long-term, diversified investment approach overseen by internal committees and utilizing both internal and third-party managers.

Brendan Donlevy is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Triad Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital Forensics Inc. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and institutional entities. The firm combines advisor-level client relationship management with centralized portfolio construction and utilizes third-party managers and affiliated funds as part of its investment approach.

Matthew Krueger is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Simplicity Wealth since 2022. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in farming through Krueger Farms LLC and provides tax and business advisory services at Krueger & Associates Tax & Business Advisory, Inc. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a fund-of-funds approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, and offers model portfolios along with advisory technology and operational support for other advisers.

John Straley is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with World Equity Group and American General Securities Incorporated. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a partner in film production companies Caliwood Pictures and CineSecure Films, and serves on the Membership Committee for The Bridge Youth & Family Services, a charitable organization. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and institutional investors. The firm combines advisor-level client relationship work with centralized portfolio construction and uses third-party managers and proprietary funds as part of its investment offerings.

Jessica Nieminski is an Investment Advisor Representative with Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Network 1 Financial Securities, Cetera, and Clearpath Financial LLC, where she also serves as an advisor. Additionally, she is an insurance agent with ClearPath Financial Insurance, LLC, selling health, life, property, and casualty insurance. Fortis Capital Advisors is an SEC-registered multi-team investment adviser serving individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm provides customized portfolio management and financial planning, employing a mix of passive, active, tactical, and ESG-aware strategies, and offers access to specialist sub-advisors and a range of financial services.

Daniel Zarzynski is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robertson Stephens with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at CAFG Wealth Management, Camping World, and Brunswick Corporation. Robertson Stephens provides investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with comprehensive planning services, managing approximately $8.76 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

Carlos Coutinho Maia is a financial advisor with Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at firms such as JP Morgan Securities, Equitable Advisors, Prudential Insurance, Edward Jones, and Allstate Financial Services. Outside of financial services, he co-owned and operated Carambola Gelato and Coffee Shop LLC from 2017 to 2019. Navy Federal Investment Services serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union along with individual, trust, and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm uses managed advisory programs featuring third-party portfolio managers and provides both advisory and commission-based channels through its dual role as a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer affiliated with a credit union.

Allison Tregoning is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at LPL Financial, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to wrap programs and third-party manager solutions.

Robert Davit is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2009 to 2021 and has been with Gladstone and LPL Financial since 2021. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various investment solutions, with a focus on integrating retirement-plan services and institutional manager relationships.

Jonathan Miller is a financial advisor at Encompass More Asset Management LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Verity Asset Management and Appreciation Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with ERC Specialists, LLC, providing business consulting services to owners in Bartlett, IL. Encompass More Asset Management LLC offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement model services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs model-based strategies combining proprietary models and third-party sub-advisers, managing a range of investment options including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, private placements, and digital-asset related exposures.

Gregg Cummings is a financial advisor at Savvy with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for LPL Financial for 15 years. Cummings has been with Savvy since 2026. Savvy provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts and estates, businesses, ERISA plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily index-based, long-term approach supplemented by active equity portfolios and tax-aware direct indexing, using third-party sub-advisers and technology platforms to customize investment plans based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

Vivian Ding is a financial advisor at Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Coppell Advisory Solutions in 2026, she held positions at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Lilly Financial, and Combined Insurance. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm uses an open-architecture platform with internally developed and independently managed asset allocation models, employing a broad range of investment tools and continuous portfolio monitoring.

Michael Page is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Prospera since 2019. His prior experience includes tenures at Wells Fargo Financial Network, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in purchasing rental property for his son. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and platforms.

Shannon Cooper is a financial advisor with Vanderbilt Advisory Services and holds a Series 66 designation. She has five years of industry experience and has worked with Vanderbilt since 2021. In addition to her advisory role, she is also licensed as an insurance agent, involved in life insurance and annuity sales. Vanderbilt Advisory Services serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process combining fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, and is notable for its formal integration with retirement-plan and benefits firms, supporting advisory, pension consulting, and plan administration services.

Andrew Park is a financial advisor with Compound Planning, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Curi RMB Capital, LLC and Vennwell, LLC. Compound Planning serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries with discretionary portfolio management, turnkey asset management, sub-advisory programs, and institutional retirement-plan services. The firm employs a fiduciary, goals-based investment process and integrates a range of strategies from low-cost ETFs to professional options, supported by technology-driven portfolio oversight.

Austin Righeimer is a CFP® and CFA® with three years of industry experience. He is currently with NorthRock Partners, LLC, where he previously worked from 2023 to 2025 and returned in 2026. His work history also includes positions at Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC, Northern Trust, Anixter, and Duff & Phelps. NorthRock Partners provides wealth management and advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tailored investment approach centered on asset allocation, diversification, and periodic rebalancing, integrating private market allocations and using AI-driven tools alongside human oversight.

Robert Karstenson is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Palatine, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2014 and concurrently operates Karstenson Financial Services. Additionally, he works as an insurance sales agent, specializing in life, health, and accident insurance. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm provides a range of services, including advisor-managed accounts, separately managed accounts, unified managed accounts, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning, tailoring investment strategies to client objectives and risk tolerance.

June Dinardo is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wayne Hummer Investments since 2008 and Arkadios Capital since 2024. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, businesses, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment plans that incorporate fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, using a range of internally managed and third-party solutions.

Erik Olson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Arete Wealth Advisors and Arete Wealth Management since 2010. Olson serves as a board member and investment committee chair for the Converge Foundation and owns Olson Analytics, a data analysis and consulting business. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based model allocations, utilizes third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Andrew Mitchell is a financial advisor at Sound Income Strategies, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Wipfli. Mitchell serves clients at Crystal Lake Tax and Financial, where he provides investment advisory services and fixed insurance sales. Sound Income Strategies is a fee-based investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, corporate and pension clients, and other registered advisors. The firm focuses on fixed-income and income-oriented strategies, combining fundamental and technical analysis, and offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and co- and sub-advisory arrangements.