Jennifer Karch is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Carter Financial Group, Inc. She previously worked at Voya Financial Advisors for five years and has been with Carter Financial Group since 2011. Outside of her advisory role, she also works as a model under the name Jennifer Yune. Carter Financial Group is a five-advisor team managing approximately $382 million for individual and institutional clients. The firm utilizes proprietary model portfolios and a combination of quantitative, technical, and statistical analysis to guide investment decisions, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with financial planning services.

Kyle Bertsche is a financial advisor at Monere Wealth Management, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Carecraft Inc, Nexa Mortgage, and various academic positions. Monere Wealth Management, Inc. 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 primarily through non-discretionary advisory accounts.

Thomas Parker is a financial advisor at Pendulum Wealth Partners with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and is also a partner at Fates, Bodily, and Parker PLLC, a CPA firm in Itasca, Illinois. In addition to his advisory role, Parker is a licensed insurance agent involved in implementing insurance recommendations. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors managing approximately $254 million across over 200 client relationships. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans, employing a primarily long-term, diversified investment approach.

Christopher Vivian is a financial advisor at Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Vivian Financial Services, Inc. is a business entity he maintains for tax and investment purposes. Total Clarity Wealth Management provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and 401(k) plan sponsors. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management using various investment vehicles, employs third-party model portfolios, and supports specialized strategies for sophisticated investors.

Anne Marie Woodrich is a financial advisor with Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, CETERA Advisor Networks LLC, Pesch Law Office, P.C., and Wall Street Financial Advisors, Inc. Total Clarity Wealth Management provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and 401(k) plan sponsors. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management using a range of investment vehicles and employs both traditional and more active strategies tailored to client needs.

Maureen James is a financial advisor at Apollon Financial, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at LPL Financial since 2015 and at Highpoint Advisor Group from 2016 to 2022. Outside of her advisory work, she has experience as a bookkeeper on a home-based basis. Apollon Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm that 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, blending centrally managed model strategies with advisor-led portfolios and offering a range of investment options including ESG and tax-aware techniques, supported by third-party and AI technologies.

Matthew Hart is a CFP® professional at Feldman, Ingardona & Co with three years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since 2019 and previously worked at Aon from 2015 to 2019. Feldman, Ingardona & Co provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, focusing on long-term strategic asset allocation and manager selection. The firm employs a combination of active and passive mutual funds and ETFs, regularly reviews portfolios, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

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. in St. Charles, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Total Clarity Wealth Management, she worked five years at School District 308 Oswego. Total Clarity Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and employer 401(k) plan sponsors by offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and donor-advised fund support. The firm uses customized asset allocations and a range of investment strategies, including both passive and more active approaches.

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, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial and Highpoint Planning Partners. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a notary public. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm employs model-based and individualized allocations across various asset classes and utilizes multiple third-party technology platforms and service providers to support portfolio management.

Matthew De Stefano is a financial advisor with Capstone Financial Advisors Inc in Downers Grove, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Capstone, he worked at Chicago Partners Investment Group and Grant Thornton, LLP. Capstone Financial Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s approach focuses on asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax efficiency, managing portfolios with a generally multi-year outlook and offering private fund investments to qualifying investors.

Edward Connolly is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Essex LLC. He previously worked for IRON Financial LLC for 15 years. Essex LLC is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, pension, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a multi-member investment policy committee to construct and monitor portfolios using a combination of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis across various asset classes.

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 29 years of industry experience and has been with Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. since 1990. He is based in South Barrington, IL, and holds the Series 63 designation. Vermillion Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations with financial planning and investment advisory services. The firm emphasizes structured communication and education, offering both model and customized portfolio solutions primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Jeffrey Hansen is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. He has worked at various firms including Wells Fargo Advisors, RubinBrown Advisors LLC, and Bank of America. Capstone Financial Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax efficiency in its investment approach, managing portfolios with a multi-year outlook using a mix of investment vehicles and offering private fund access to qualified investors.

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 Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management, bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has been with JG Hendricks Financial Services LLC since 2017 and previously worked at Cetera Advisors LLC. Outside of finance, she also works as a basketball and volleyball referee. Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $536 million in assets across about 913 client relationships. The firm focuses on discretionary multi-asset portfolio management using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis combined with conservative cash management strategies.