Joseph Kruse is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Kruse Asset Management, LLC since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with YCharts.com, contributing to research and the development of ranking and rating systems based on fundamental characteristics. Kruse Asset Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, and select institutional clients. The firm employs a blend of modern portfolio theory, proprietary quantitative equity models, and security-ranking systems, and offers a range of investment strategies including options and alternative exposures.

Timothy Reeves is the sole advisor at Tim Reeves & Associates in Midlothian, IL, holding a Series 63 designation with 51 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fortune Financial Services, Inc. since 2015 and has operated Tim Reeves & Associates since 1972. Tim Reeves & Associates provides portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles and institutional clients, alongside financial planning services. The firm uses hourly and flat fee arrangements rather than asset-based fees and often recommends mutual funds, variable annuities, and insurance products as part of its advisory approach.

Matthew Shapiro is a financial advisor at MWS Capital Consultants LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has been with MWS Capital Consultants since 2003. The firm provides personalized investment management, wealth-planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, personal trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. MWS Capital Consultants emphasizes a Classic Portfolio Management strategy focused on fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, managing mostly discretionary portfolios while allowing client-imposed restrictions and interactive financial planning through the eMoney Advisor platform.

Kirk Kreikemeier is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Pebble Valley Wealth Management since 2008, where he is one of two advisors. Pebble Valley Wealth Management serves individual, charitable, and corporate clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm’s investment approach focuses on asset allocation and mutual fund/ETF selection, with a notable use of derivative-based option strategies and selective digital-asset exposures within client portfolios.

Jessica Garner is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience. She has worked at Stevard LLC since 2016 and previously spent one year at Lakeshore Financial Services. Stevard LLC provides family office and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, family LLCs, partnerships, private foundations, and family businesses. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and expanded family office functions such as accounting, tax compliance, property management, insurance review, and estate planning, with an investment approach centered on multi-asset portfolios and manager selection.

John Russell is a financial advisor with Versatile Capital Management L.L.C. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Versatile Capital Management since 2014 and has been associated with Relative Value Partners, LLC since 2007. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as chairman of the board for Educational Choice Illinois and is a board member with Children Outreach and Community Empowerment. Versatile Capital Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional and private entities through discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm employs quantitative, model-driven investment strategies including a tactical global allocation and a strategic core asset allocation approach.

Danielle Woods is a Series 65 credentialed advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Propel Financial Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at Merriment Advisors, LLC, DW Lenski Law Group, DW Agosto Tax Planning LLC, and Mitchell, Vaught and Taylor Inc. Woods owns DW Agosto Tax Planning LLC, a tax planning and preparation business. Propel Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and financial planning services. The firm operates as a four-advisor team across three offices, managing approximately $38.84 million in assets for 111 clients, and integrates legal and tax considerations into client advice through formal affiliations and educational programs.

Stephanie Laude is a financial advisor at K2 Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials with nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Corient, Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC, and CIPW Service Company, LLC. Outside of financial advisory, she has worked as an Instacart driver on a limited basis. K2 Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial counseling that includes retirement, tax, and estate planning. The firm employs a goals- and risk-based investment approach using quantitative methods and third-party sub-advisers, while coordinating with attorneys and accountants as part of its service model.

Lingke Cheng is a financial advisor at Zephyr Capital LLC in Chicago, IL, holding the CFA® designation and Series 63 license with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Zephyr Capital, Cheng worked at Aicapital LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, and Dynamic Holding LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he holds interests in non-investment businesses including a financial data research company, a Pilates club management company, and a Hong Kong-based operational business. Zephyr Capital LLC provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services exclusively to qualified clients under performance-based fee arrangements. The firm uses a tactical, long-short investment approach that incorporates derivatives and active trading techniques, focusing on daily monitoring and weekly rebalancing within client-specific investment policies.

Joann May is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Forest Asset Management LLC since 2006. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a general partner in an investment club, Riverside Fund Money Club, since 1995. Forest Asset Management LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and small businesses. The firm follows a long-term, asset-allocation-driven investment approach using primarily passive and evidence-based funds, supported by written investment policy statements and portfolio modeling techniques.

Christopher Hurst is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 14 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Oak Mountain Advisors LLC since 2012, working as one of two advisors at the firm based in Chicago, IL. Oak Mountain Advisors serves high-net-worth and individual clients through separately managed accounts and a private pooled vehicle for accredited investors. The firm employs a value-conscious, research-driven investment approach focused on economic fundamentals and company analysis, managing portfolios on a discretionary basis with attention to tax implications and detailed governance practices.

Thomas Haugh is a financial advisor at Wells Street Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Street Advisors since 2019. Prior to this, he was with Najarian Family Office and PTI Securities & Futures L.P. He hosts a radio program called Stocks and Jocks focused on retirement topics and has served on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Wells Street Advisors, LLC is an independent investment management firm serving individuals, family offices, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of quantitative analysis, technical analysis, and third-party research, and offers a Protected Index Program aimed at downside protection.

Joseph Bianchi is a financial advisor at Stride Investments, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Fisher Investments for six years. His background also includes roles at DePaul University, Triton College, and the Village of Rosemont. Stride Investments, LLC provides fee-based investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate accounts, and retirement plans, emphasizing purpose-based investing and retirement-income planning through proprietary tools and regular portfolio reviews. The firm manages assets directly and may appoint sub-advisers, coordinating non-investment services through its affiliated insurance and planning business.

Ree Grossman is a financial advisor at North South Capital, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. and LaSalle St. Securities, L.L.C. for the past 14 years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on a local school council board in Chicago without compensation. North South Capital serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, estates, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, retirement plan advisory services, financial planning, securities advice, and insurance product recommendations, integrating brokerage, advisory, and insurance activities within its business model.

Timothy Schlindwein is a CIC and holds a Series 65 license with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Schlindwein Associates LLC since 1995. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services to individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, as well as offering investment guidance for corporate and not-for-profit groups. Schlindwein Associates uses a proprietary fund-ranking methodology and primarily implements portfolios with mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating alternative asset categories for diversification.

Kristin Sweis is a financial advisor at Paradigm Money Management, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at TD Ameritrade, Inc. and Spotlight Asset Group, Inc. before joining Paradigm in 2020. Paradigm Money Management provides financial planning and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals and business entities, focusing on tiered planning engagements and 3(21) ERISA plan support. The firm acts primarily as a planner and coordinator, recommending third-party managers and advisory platforms while monitoring their alignment with client objectives.

Aidan Herrick is a financial advisor at Stride Investments, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Stride Investments, he worked in education, including roles at Loras College, College of Lake County, Richmond-Burton Community High School, and Nippersink Middle School. He also has experience with Canlan Sports. Stride Investments, LLC manages approximately $200.9 million for about 524 clients, serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a purpose-based investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to align portfolios with clients’ cash flow, risk capacity, and goals, offering ongoing asset management and coordinated financial planning services.

Daniel Haugh is a financial advisor with Wells Street Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Street Advisors since 2014 and has been associated with PTI Securities & Futures L.P. since 1987. Wells Street Advisors, LLC is an independent investment management firm serving individuals, family offices, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and technical analysis, third-party research, and proprietary software in its discretionary asset management approach, including a Protected Index Program designed for downside protection.

Brian Padden is a financial advisor at Padden Financial Planning LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Padden Financial Planning, he held roles at LPL Enterprise, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he also spends time as a rideshare driver for Uber Technologies, Inc. Padden Financial Planning LLC is a fee-only firm serving individuals and families, including trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive financial and tax planning services with an investment approach that emphasizes disciplined asset allocation, global diversification, and the use of primarily mutual funds, ETFs, and passive index funds.

Thomas Van Spankeren is a CFP® and CFA® with one year of industry experience. He is affiliated with RISE Investment Management, LLC and previously worked at Voyage Point Wealth Management and Bank of America Private Bank. RISE Investment Management serves individuals, families, trusts, businesses, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations by providing discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services. The firm emphasizes long-term, owner-oriented equity selection, tax efficiency, and diversified exposure across multiple asset classes, including private placements and independent managers.