Karmen Ritt is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Leelyn Smith, LLC. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at J.P. Morgan and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. her combined 11 years. Leelyn Smith, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm utilizes model-based and individualized allocations across various asset classes and employs third-party technology platforms and structured note strategies as part of its investment approach.

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® professional with six years of experience, currently affiliated with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC since 2020. Prior to this, he held various roles including positions at Walgreens and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of the BNI Referral Champions nonprofit and is a board member of the Chicago Illini Club nonprofit. He also tutors economics, math, and beginner finance courses online. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using a hybrid approach including quantitative optimization, technical analysis, and option strategies, serving clients through both wrap and non-wrap programs.

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 financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding the CFP® and CFA® designations and over 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial, ValMark Securities, and Executive Financial Group. Prendergast also works as a ghost writer for Wentworth Financial Communications. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts, offering financial planning and standalone consulting. The firm manages assets through a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, fixed income, and allocations to separately managed accounts or private investment funds, utilizing both model-based and individualized strategies.

Anthony Baxmann is a financial advisor at Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. He has been associated with Monere Investments Inc. since 2000. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based advisory firm managing approximately $312 million in assets, serving individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, pension consulting, and manager selection through various advisory account types, primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Ryan Lafler is a Wealth Advisor at USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC with credentials including the Series 66 designation. He has been in the financial advisory industry since 2025. Prior to entering the advisory field, he worked for nearly a decade in retail at The Golf Warehouse/Baseball Savings and was involved with Champro Sports. Outside of his advisory role, he provides business consulting focused on operations, leadership training, and profitability optimization through Advocate Consulting LLC. USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm with 14 investment professionals managing approximately $488 million in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering advisor-directed portfolio management, model-portfolio strategies, financial planning, and business succession and estate planning services. USAdvisors combines asset-allocation model portfolios with fundamental security selection and both long- and short-term strategies, sourcing solutions from multiple institutional providers.

Gene Hiser is a financial advisor with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management since 2018 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Hiser serves on the executive committee of Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities and is a trustee for Friends of HE Parks, Hoffman Estates Park District Foundation. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios and provides access to LPL-sponsored programs including algorithm-based Guided Wealth Portfolios.

James Borello is a financial advisor at James T. Borello & Co. with 42 years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since 1985. Borello holds a Series 63 designation. James T. Borello & Co. provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and other legal entities. The firm employs asset-allocation models and quantitative risk/return analysis to build diversified portfolios and conducts regular reviews of managed accounts.

Peter Vick is a financial advisor at Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Monere Investments Inc. since 2015. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based advisory firm managing approximately $312 million in client assets, serving individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting through advisory accounts on the Pershing platform, with a focus on predominantly non-discretionary management and offering various client-directed advisory options.

Mark Stephens is a CFP® and Series 66-registered advisor at Pendulum Wealth Partners with five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Pendulum, he worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of Bomark Cleaning Service Inc., a janitorial business. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a fundamental, primarily long-term investment approach using diversified portfolios and operates under common control with an affiliated tax and accounting firm.

Jeffrey Thrana is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He currently works at Pendulum Wealth Partners and has held prior roles at firms including Ameriprise and Wells Fargo Funds Management. Pendulum Wealth Partners provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $283 million and follows a fundamental, long-term investment approach tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

David Willeumier is a financial advisor at Strategic Asset Management LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC and RDA Financial Network, Inc. Willeumier is also involved with Junior Achievement. Strategic Asset Management LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, focusing on long-term strategies supplemented by shorter-term tactics as needed.

Mark Berg is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 25 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. since 2000. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm serving individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on project-based advice in areas such as retirement planning, tax strategies, and risk management, operating on a time-based billing model without custody of client funds or discretionary authority.

Xavier Brown is a financial advisor at Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining his current firm, he worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. He was also a full-time student athlete in 2017-2018. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail and high-net-worth clients through ongoing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and supports a high client-to-advisor ratio using a standardized service approach.

Michael Fulkerson is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with J.W. Cole Financial since 2011 and has worked with various insurance carriers through W & R Insurance Agencies since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a substitute teacher in local school districts on a part-time basis. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail investors, including both individual and high-net-worth clients, providing ongoing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm uses proprietary model portfolios and offers a scalable service model supported by a five-advisor team managing approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Stacy Bromann is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank. Bromann serves as an ambassador for the Huntley Chamber of Commerce. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients through 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 using ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, fixed income, and REITs.

Samuel Ogles is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with six years of industry experience, currently with Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. He has prior experience at Thrivent Financial and operates Formation Circle LLC, a spirituality-focused business offering speaking, writing, teaching, and facilitation on faith-related topics. 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 with a focus on diversified exposure through no-load mutual funds and ETFs, asset allocation, and periodic rebalancing.

Andrew Wykretowicz is a financial advisor at Monere Wealth Management, Inc. with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Monere Wealth Management since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he teaches English as a Second Language at the College of DuPage. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based firm with nine advisors managing approximately $312 million in client assets. The firm serves primarily individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charities, and business accounts, offering financial planning and portfolio management through both discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary advisory relationships.