Maureen James is a financial advisor with Apollon Financial, LLC in Downers Grove, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Highpoint Advisor Group and LPL Financial. In addition to her advisory role, she has provided bookkeeping services since 2001. Apollon Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.45 billion with a team of 16 advisors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to private and alternative investments through a combination of centrally managed models and advisor-led portfolios.

Matthew Hart is a CFP® professional with seven years at Feldman, Ingardona & Co and a total of three years in the financial industry. Prior to joining Feldman, Ingardona & Co, he worked at Aon for four years. Feldman, Ingardona & Co provides investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions, and business entities, generally requiring a $5 million minimum account size. The firm focuses on long-term strategic asset allocation combined with opportunistic tactical shifts, utilizing a blend of active and passive investment managers.

Haili Cochran is a financial advisor at Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Timothy Financial Counsel since 2024, following roles at First Trust and Centric Bank. Her background includes diverse work experience spanning education and retail. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm serving individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers project-based advice focused on comprehensive financial planning topics and favors diversified, no-load mutual funds and ETFs with an emphasis on asset allocation and rebalancing.

Katie Macek is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. She previously worked at Mac-Ord Management Group for seven years and has experience outside finance, including operating Arbica Cafe. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm that provides project-based advice and individual consultations for a range of clients, including individuals, families, businesses, and charities. The firm emphasizes a time-based billing model and offers guidance focused on diversified mutual funds and ETFs, with a primary focus on advisory and implementation coaching rather than ongoing portfolio management.

Kristina Tenney Gatto is a financial advisor at Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Total Clarity Wealth Management in 2020, she worked for School District 308 Oswego for five years. Total Clarity Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer 401(k) plan sponsors. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management using a variety of investment vehicles and approaches tailored to client needs.

Andrew Swierenga is a financial advisor at Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in various roles including positions at Wheaton College and Regions Bank. Outside of advising, he was involved with Trash Taxi of Georgia LLC. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm that serves individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes advisory and implementation coaching without managing client assets, focusing on diversified investment exposure through no-load mutual funds and ETFs and providing a structured multi-level planning menu.

Laura Chamness is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC in Geneva, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial, LLC for multiple periods since 2014 and has been with Leelyn Smith, LLC since 2017. Outside of advising, she serves as a notary public. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach integrating equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and multiple technology platforms, with access to private investment funds and structured products for qualified clients.

Edward Connolly is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 15 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at IRON Financial LLC since 2006. Connolly is part of Essex LLC, a team-based registered investment adviser located in Deer Park, IL. Essex manages approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs model portfolios and uses fundamental, technical, and sector analysis to guide asset selection and rebalancing, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning services.

Megan Micek is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has worked at several firms including LPL Financial LLC and Professional Wealth Advisors. In addition to her advisory role, she provides administrative support to Vertex Partners. Vertex Partners offers advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolios based on clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, utilizing a range of investment strategies and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Jeffrey Pearce is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. since 1990. He holds the Series 63 designation and is based in South Barrington, Illinois. Vermillion Financial Advisors provides financial planning, investment advisory, and employer-sponsored retirement plan services to individuals, trusts, business entities, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm offers both model and customized portfolios along with structured service tiers, educational seminars, and a non-discretionary investment approach.

Jeffrey Hansen is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. He has worked previously at Wells Fargo Advisors, RubinBrown Advisors LLC, and Bank of America, among others. Hansen holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. Capstone Financial Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax efficiency, utilizing a mix of securities and third-party sub-advisers with a generally multi-year outlook.

Shawn Kennedy is a financial advisor with Pendulum Wealth Partners in Itasca, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Pendulum Wealth Partners in 2025, he spent 22 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. He is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales and implementation. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors managing approximately $254 million across 227 client relationships, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a fundamental, primarily long-term investment approach through diversified portfolios and operates under common control with an affiliated tax and accounting firm offering integrated services.

Andrew Adler is a financial advisor at Global Brokerage Services, Inc. in Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 credential with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Global Brokerage Services since 2000. Outside of advisory work, Adler is an independent insurance agent specializing in non-variable life insurance, annuities, and disability products, and he performs bookkeeping and accounting services on a limited basis. Global Brokerage Services serves individual investors, retirement accounts, employee benefit plans, and trusts through advisor-led wrap-fee programs and separately managed account/UMA offerings. The firm operates with a six-advisor team and provides non-discretionary advice, utilizing a platform that combines third-party sub-managers and model portfolios with annual account reviews.

Nanette Kastner is a financial advisor at Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JG Hendricks Financial Services LLC since 2017 and Cetera Advisors LLC since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a basketball and volleyball referee. Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing a range of analytical approaches to tailor portfolios according to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Jaxon Bennett is a financial advisor at Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and under one year of industry experience. His prior roles include various positions at Wheaton College and local financial institutions. Timothy Financial Counsel, Inc. is a fee-only, hourly financial planning firm serving individuals, families, businesses, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm provides project-based advice on a range of financial topics and emphasizes diversified investment exposure through no-load mutual funds and ETFs, asset allocation, and periodic rebalancing.

Ryan Vance is a CFA® charterholder with over 20 years of industry experience. He joined Pendulum Wealth Partners in 2025 after two decades at Northern Trust Investments, Inc. He is based in Itasca, IL. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors managing approximately $254 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a fundamental, primarily long-term investment approach across diversified portfolios and offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services.

Thomas Bono is a financial advisor with Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 48 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. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Anthony Baldassano is a financial advisor with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC, holding the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license, and has 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Sequoia Wealth Management since 2019 and previously at Retirement Matters, Inc. and Wynstone Financial Services, Ltd. Additionally, he owns and manages Anthony & Associates, CPAs LLC, a certified public accounting firm providing tax, bookkeeping, and payroll services. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios, serving both discretionary and non-discretionary clients.

Brian Peterson is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc, where he has been working since 2009. He is based in Downers Grove, IL. Capstone Financial Advisors serves individuals including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning, offering portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and access to private fund investments under a multi-advisor team managing approximately $2.44 billion in assets.

Sharon Adams is a financial advisor at B.B. Graham & Company, Inc. with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at L.M. Kohn & Company and Crown Capital Securities, Lp. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and manages a financial planning firm, Fox Valley Financial Planning Inc. B.B. Graham & Company provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, corporations, and small businesses. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with regular account reviews and often manages assets on a non-discretionary basis, utilizing third-party asset managers and offering a range of financial planning and consulting services.