Beth Smyth is a financial advisor at MWS Capital Consultants LLC in Chicago, holding a Series 65 designation. She began her career at MWS Capital Consultants in 2024 following a year at DePaul University. MWS Capital Consultants LLC provides personalized investment management, wealth-planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm’s Classic Portfolio Management strategy focuses on direct ownership of equities, fixed income, and funds with an emphasis on long-term economic returns, using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis rather than automated systems.

James Jacobson is a financial advisor at Capital Ideas in Naperville, IL, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JP Morgan Securities and RiverNorth Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with a franchised bakery and acts as a partner in a business consulting firm. Capital Ideas serves a range of clients including individuals, families, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $336 million in assets through a team-based approach that uses fundamental and technical analysis, proprietary models, and outside research.

Eduardo Caldera is a financial advisor at Retirement Systems LLC with under one year of industry experience. He previously worked with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC and Regency Capital, and has a background in mortgage banking. He is also involved in life insurance and annuity sales through Regency Capital. Retirement Systems LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning primarily to individual clients, offering tailored portfolios and 3(21) fiduciary services to qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis with quarterly reviews and allows clients to set written investment restrictions.

John Crawford is a financial advisor at Copperwood Financial with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Horizon Wealth Management. Copperwood Financial provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses, with a specialty practice for athletes under the Pro Athlete Wealth brand. The firm manages client portfolios on a discretionary, tactical allocation basis and offers qualified retirement plan consulting, including ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary services.

Charles McKenna is a financial advisor with McKenna Capital, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Heart Capital, LLC since 2018 and has provided consulting for GModelo USA, LLC. McKenna serves as a principal and advisor for a commodity fund at Heart Capital. McKenna Capital is a small, supported advisory firm managing approximately $83 million for fewer than 40 clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, pension plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a combination of charting, fundamental and technical analysis and manages accounts with a focus on long-term strategies, options trading, and traditional instruments.

David Gosnell is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of experience at New England Research & Management, Inc. He is based in Chicago, IL and has been with the firm since 2008. New England Research & Management provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, managing a range of account types including trusts, retirement plans, and estates. The firm customizes portfolios to individual client objectives, managing each account separately and employing diverse instruments such as exchange-listed securities, ETFs, and derivatives.

Luke Van De Loo is a financial advisor at Sullivan Mermel, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Orgel Wealth Management and held roles at St John's Catholic Newman Center and the University of Illinois. Sullivan Mermel, Inc. is a fee-only, holistic financial planning firm serving individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a retainer-based fee model and focuses on customized investment strategies emphasizing low-cost mutual funds, U.S. government bonds, and cash equivalents.

Michael Lannan is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Lakewood Asset Management, LLC since 2018 and previously spent 12 years at Securus Investment Management, LLC. He serves on the investment committee for a not-for-profit family foundation and volunteers with the LaGrange Police Pension Board. Lakewood Asset Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as trusts, estates, pension, and charitable entities, managing approximately $249 million across about 155 client relationships. The firm employs a bottom-up, fundamental, long-term value investment approach across various securities and offers both discretionary portfolio management and stand-alone financial planning services.

Robert Jersey is a financial advisor with GW Asset Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include tenures at GW Capital Services, LLC, GW Capital Management, LLC, and Gar Wood Securities, LLC. GW Asset Management LLC provides fee-based portfolio management and model portfolios to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a quantitative approach using ETFs, equities, corporate debt, and mutual funds, incorporating technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis to guide portfolio allocations.

Steven Goodman is a financial advisor with The Nestegg Group, Inc. in Lincolnwood, IL, holding a Series 65 credential and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with The Nestegg Group since 1993, spanning 33 years at the firm. The Nestegg Group, Inc. provides discretionary, fee-only investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $331 million across about 187 client relationships, using a combination of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and access to alternative investments, with approaches guided by asset allocation, qualitative manager analysis, and varied trading strategies.

Justin Mccormack is a financial advisor with First Choice Financial Services LLC in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 65 license and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with First Choice Financial Services since 2013 and is also involved with First Choice Insurance Agency, where he has served in various roles since 2005. First Choice Financial Services LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing financial advice primarily through referrals to third-party money managers and estate-planning support. The firm acts as a liaison, assisting clients with third-party paperwork and ongoing oversight, while drawing on fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its recommendations.

Melissa Osika is an investment advisor with Herr Capital Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. She has worked at Herr Capital Management since 2017 and previously held positions at American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., SSN Advisory, Inc., and Securities Service Network. In addition to her advisory role, she is a licensed insurance agent offering life, health, disability, long-term care, and fixed annuities. Herr Capital Management LLC is a private wealth advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a disciplined investment process with strategic and tactical allocation adjustments and offers financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement-plan consulting.

Lamont Change is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience, practicing at The Change Advisory Group, LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds the Series 66 designation and serves as a managing director at the firm. The Change Advisory Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and related entities, providing discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and consulting for trusts, IRAs, retirement accounts, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm constructs customized portfolios using asset allocation and security selection across multiple asset classes and serves a diverse client base that includes institutional and governmental entities.

Catriona Duncan is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with four years of industry experience. She is currently with Sankota Capital LLC and previously worked at William Blair Investment Management, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Advisory Research, Inc., and Cupps Capital Management, LLC. She serves as CIO/Treasurer of the Judy Family Foundation, focusing on long-term asset allocation and evaluation of private investments. Sankota Capital LLC provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, pension and profit-sharing plans, endowments, foundations, and corporations. The firm emphasizes fundamentally driven investment processes targeting small- and mid-cap companies, with concentrated portfolios managed under discretionary authority and a long-term horizon.

Mark Zelenika is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Leslie Global Wealth, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Leslie Global Wealth since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he participates in investment-related research surveys. Leslie Global Wealth serves individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a disciplined investment approach focused on asset allocation and fixed income, offering access to LPL Financial–sponsored managed strategies and supplemental services such as tax planning and real estate analysis.

Sara Freer is a financial advisor at New England Research & Management, Inc. She holds a Series 65 credential and has been with the firm since 2006. Sara operates out of Chicago, IL, and has 20 years of industry experience. New England Research & Management provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, managing a range of account types including trusts, retirement accounts, and estates. The firm customizes portfolios to individual client objectives and manages accounts separately, employing a variety of securities and strategies with full discretionary trading authority.

Gianni Perkovic is a financial advisor at Retirement Systems LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at several firms, including AE Wealth Management, EV Federal, FEFA Asset Management, and Citizens Bank. In addition to his advisory role, Perkovic is a licensed insurance agent and dedicates a significant portion of his time to insurance product sales. Retirement Systems LLC provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) fiduciary services to individuals and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored investment programs and ongoing portfolio management, combining fundamental, technical, and charting analysis with regular account reviews.

Dillon Hoover is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Significance Capital Management LLC and previously worked at CastleArk Management and Spot Trading L.L.C. Significance Capital Management LLC is an independent investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an Enhanced Alpha Strategy that combines fundamental, quantitative, factor, and technical analysis to manage large-cap equity allocations, and also serves as a sub-adviser to the Significance Capital Enhanced Alpha ETF.

Theodore Augustyniak is a financial advisor with Creative Resources Investment Advisors LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Creative Resources Investment Advisors since 2015 and is also involved with Advance Legend Funding and Augustyniak Insurance Agency, where he works as an insurance agent offering various insurance products. Creative Resources Investment Advisors primarily serves individual and high-income clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs a long-term, value-oriented investment approach with a blend of strategic and tactical asset allocation, utilizing equities, mutual funds, bonds, and alternative instruments tailored to client needs.

Jeremiah Boynton is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Laureate Wealth Management, LLC since 2014. He holds securities licenses Series 63 and Series 66. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Boynton is the majority owner of Laureate Capital Management, LLC and Laureate Capital Real Estate Investments, LLC, which manage various private equity, hedge fund, and real estate projects. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Still Austin, a bourbon distillery in Austin, Texas. Laureate Wealth Management provides investment advisory, portfolio management, financial planning, estate planning, and family office coordination for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process that includes individual securities, mutual funds, ETFs, separate account managers, and alternative investments, and is notable for its involvement with pooled investment vehicles and affiliated fund activities.