Kathleen Panek Rickerson is a financial advisor with Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked with Total Clarity Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2018. Outside of financial advising, she has been involved with BabySnApps since 2013. Total Clarity Wealth Management is a multi-advisor wealth management and financial planning firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, 401(k) advisory, and donor-advised fund services, utilizing a range of investment strategies from conservative wrap programs to more active approaches for qualified investors.

Terrence Cicero is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors and DigioVine, Hnilo, Jordan & Johnson, Ltd. since 2007. DHJJ Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $543.5 million across eight advisors, serving both individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm offers integrated tax preparation and accounting services through an affiliated CPA firm and typically manages accounts on a discretionary basis using a range of investment vehicles.

Francis Gutrich is a financial advisor at Apollon Financial, LLC with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial, Highpoint Advisor Group, and J.P. Morgan Securities. Gutrich also provides investment advisory services through Apollon Financial, an independent registered investment advisory firm. Apollon Financial serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, family offices, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.45 billion through a team of 16 advisors and offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and access to private and alternative investments using a blend of centrally managed models and advisor-led portfolios.

John Davis is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Chicago Investment Advisory Council and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since the late 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of the Sunset Harbour Yacht Club and is a racecar driving instructor at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail clients, including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops through a team of five advisors. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and manages approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Ronny Mark is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Uhlmann Price Securities since 2013 and has been involved with Perpetual Wealth Capital Management, LLC since 2012, as well as the Price Group since 1994. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as president of Price Futures Group, where he oversees all hedging activities. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail and high-net-worth investors through a five-advisor team, offering portfolio management via proprietary model portfolios and a range of financial planning and educational services.

Sean Poquette is a financial advisor at Leelyn Smith, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior work history at LPL Financial LLC and The State Bank of Geneva. Poquette is also a licensed notary in the state of Illinois. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diversified investment approach utilizing equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and multiple technology platforms for reporting, risk analysis, and account management.

Vicente Ereneta is a Series 65-credentialed financial advisor with one year of industry experience. He is currently with Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc., where he has worked since 2023. His background includes roles in financial services at Allgood Financial - LPL Financial and Legacy Wealth Advisors - Raymond James, as well as experience in education and community organizations. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm serving individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes advisory and implementation coaching through a time-based billing model, favoring diversified no-load mutual funds and ETFs with a focus on asset allocation and rebalancing rather than ongoing portfolio management.

Arthur Freedman is a financial advisor with Essex LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Essex LLC since 2000. Essex LLC is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using equities, fixed income, ETFs, and investment company shares, informed by fundamental, technical, and sector analysis.

Makinzie Stack is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial LLC since 2017 and has been with Leelyn Smith, LLC since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a notary public. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes in-house management, separate managers, and model portfolios, supplemented by multiple technology and service providers.

Suzanne Lockwoodfisher is a financial advisor at DHJJ Financial Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Total Clarity Wealth Management. Since 2020, she has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors, a team of eight advisors based in St. Charles, IL. DHJJ Financial Advisors manages approximately $543.5 million for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs client-specific investment policies and manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis, with a notable affiliation to a Certified Public Accounting firm that provides tax and accounting services under separate agreements.

Scott Sandee is a CFP® certificant with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently with Vertex Partners and has previously worked at Oxford Financial Group, Capital Group Private Client Services, Capital Bank & Trust Company, and BNY Mellon. Vertex Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable and corporate entities through financial planning, investment and wealth management, consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of active and passive investment strategies, emphasizing asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance.

Sean Hendricks is a financial advisor at Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management with 9 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and is also a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, practicing separately through Hendricks Law Office. His prior experience includes work at Hero Investment Planners LLC and Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers, LLC. Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $536 million in client assets. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a multi-asset allocation approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Anthony Falco II is a financial advisor with Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Monere Investments, Inc. since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a church secretary and is president of the Parent Advisory Board for Schaumburg Christian School, both on a volunteer basis. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based firm managing approximately $312 million in client assets, serving individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, pension consulting, and uses a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, employing third-party managers and quantitative tools as part of its portfolio construction.

Trey Roach is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at Kapco Futures and North Central College. Before entering the financial industry, he worked at Acquaviva Winery and in education. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm combines fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies using ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and REITs.

Peyton Brousseau is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining The Dala Group, Peyton held positions at Calisi Financial and the City of Tempe, and completed a four-year tenure at Arizona State University. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies across various investment vehicles.

Peter Babilla is a CFP® professional with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Vertex Partners and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and LPL Financial. Babilla is also involved with Avant Holistic Wealth Management and has experience in non-variable insurance through affiliations with Ohio National Life and Capitas Financial Midwest. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on tailored portfolio management based on clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, employing diversified strategies through various investment vehicles and third-party program platforms.

Cassandra Duehring is a financial advisor with Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and beginning her industry career in 2025. Prior to joining the firm, she held various roles including positions at Wells Vehicle Electronics and involvement with Wheaton College Arena Theater and Wheaton College. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm serving individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes diversified exposure through no-load mutual funds and ETFs, focuses on asset allocation and periodic rebalancing, and operates without discretionary authority or custody of client funds.

Patrick Lyman is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2020. Outside of financial advising, he serves as president of the BNI Referral Champions nonprofit board and is a board member of the Chicago Illini Club; he also works as an online tutor in economics, math, and beginner finance. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a hybrid advisory approach combining discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing quantitative optimization, technical analysis, and option strategies, and reported approximately $600 million in assets under management.

Teri Shaw is a financial advisor at Carter Financial Group, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has worked at Carter Financial Group since 2021 and previously at Voya Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the Chief School Business Official for Mokena Public Schools, managing multiple departments including business operations and transportation. Carter Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios and combines quantitative analysis with third-party managers to implement and rebalance client strategies.

Kevin Prendergast is a CFP®, CFA®, and holds a Series 66 license with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Leelyn Smith, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, where he has worked since 2019. Prior to that, he was with Valmark Securities, Inc. and Executive Financial Group. In addition to his advisory role, he works as a ghostwriter for Wentworth Financial Communications. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs diversified investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs, utilizing both in-house and external managers, supported by multiple technology platforms and service providers.