William Karstenson Jr. is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2010 and has operated Karstenson Financial Services since 1997. Outside of his advisory work, Karstenson serves as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago, performing liturgical and ministerial duties. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of 152 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, utilizing a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across various asset classes.

George Clougher is a financial advisor at Virtue Capital Management, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at OneAmerica Securities, Red Oak Risk Management, Praxis Capital Management, and Safe Money Concepts. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in non-variable insurance sales, including fixed life and fixed annuities. Virtue Capital Management, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise investment adviser managing approximately $1.2 billion in discretionary assets for over 4,000 clients through about 90 advisers. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, third-party manager selection, ERISA consulting, and a financial education course for pre-retirees, employing a model-driven investment approach that uses quantitative optimization and proprietary economic data inputs.

Bradley Underwood is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and over 23 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Underwood is involved in several entrepreneurial and consulting activities, including providing payroll, benefits, and HR services through Professional Employer Organizations as an independent contractor and offering prepaid legal and identity protection services. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pensions, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs risk-tolerance questionnaires to guide asset allocation and offers managed portfolios with discretionary authority granted to third-party money managers and investment adviser representatives.

Thomas Chernesky is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Robertson Stephens since 2024. Prior to this, he spent 11 years at CAFG Wealth Management, Inc., where he was also president of the company, a non-operating legal entity handling payments from the installment sale of a former RIA business to Robertson Stephens. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management provides advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines individualized advice with centrally developed model portfolios and oversight by an Investment Office and Committee, managing over $7 billion in client assets as of the end of 2024.

Garland Kizer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and has held roles at Cetera, VOYA Financial Advisors, and his own firms, Kizer & Associates and Kizer Financial Services. Kizer serves as a trustee for the THSD 214 Foundation and MacMurray College, and he is chairman of the Bartlett 4th of July Festival committee. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, and institutions, emphasizing a long-term, diversified investment approach through model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central Investment Management team.

Mark Lishchynsky Jr. is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2013. World Equity Group provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee programs, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money managers.

Brendan Donlevy is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Triad Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital Forensics Inc. Brendan is based in Chicago, IL. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for about 9,453 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan services. Their approach integrates client-specific goal setting with various analytical methods and may include third-party managers or affiliate strategies.

Matthew Krueger is a financial advisor with Simplicity Wealth, holding a Series 65 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Simplicity Wealth since 2022 and has a background in tax and business advisory through Krueger & Associates Tax & Business Advisory, Inc., where he has been involved since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he is engaged in farming activities with Krueger Farms LLC. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds investment approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, alongside model portfolios that are actively monitored and rebalanced, and offers technology and operational solutions for advisers through its managed account platform.

Jessica Nieminski is an investment advisor representative at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She has held positions at multiple firms, including Cetera and Network 1 Financial Securities, and operates ClearPath Financial LLC, a financial services DBA. Nieminski also sells health, life, property, and casualty insurance through ClearPath Financial Insurance, LLC. Fortis Capital Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including discretionary management and ESG options, and manages over $1.6 billion in discretionary assets.

Daniel Zarzynski is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robertson Stephens. He has one year of industry experience, with prior roles at CAFG Wealth Management, Camping World, Brunswick Corporation, and CBS Radio. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines individualized advice with centrally developed model portfolios and oversight, managing over $7 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2024.

Carlos Coutinho Maia is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities, Equitable Advisors, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Edward Jones. Outside of finance, he was involved in operating Carambola Gelato and Coffee Shop LLC for two years. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union, individual investors, and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm utilizes model portfolios managed by third-party advisers on platforms such as Envestnet, providing account monitoring, rebalancing, and optional tax and impact overlay services.

Kevin Geiger is a financial advisor with Blackridge Asset Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms, including The Retirement Guys Formula and Retirement Wealth Advisors. Geiger is also involved with Geiger Investments and Peak Brokerage Services, where he engages in brokerage and insurance-related activities. Blackridge Asset Management provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes model-based portfolio management, third-party money manager referrals, and estate-planning support delivered through an online platform.

Allison Tregoning is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at LPL Financial, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to wrap programs and third-party manager solutions.

Paul Kaczmarczyk is a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with World Equity Group since 2010, also working with VestGen Advisors, LLC since 2026. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Schaumburg Athletic Association United Soccer Club, a nonprofit youth soccer organization. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as various institutional clients. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee programs, utilizing discretionary portfolio management and third-party money managers guided by clients’ risk tolerance.

Michael Manno is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 42 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2003. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its Adhesion Money Management wrap-fee program and related advisory programs, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Gary Richards is a CFP® professional with 32 years of experience at World Equity Group, Inc., where he has worked since 1994. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Richards is also involved as a co-owner of B&R Financial, a financial planning and investment advisory practice. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program and discretionary third-party money management, utilizing risk-tolerance assessments to guide asset allocation.

Robert Davit is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2009 to 2021 and has been with Gladstone and LPL Financial since 2021. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various investment solutions, with a focus on integrating retirement-plan services and institutional manager relationships.

Lissette Strefner is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 23 years of industry experience. She has been with World Equity Group since 2015 and has previously been associated with AIG American General Life Insurance Company since 2002. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a small hobby business reselling used clothing online. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers and employs a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation.

Jonathan Miller is a financial advisor at Encompass More Asset Management LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Verity Asset Management and Appreciation Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with ERC Specialists, LLC, providing business consulting services to owners in Bartlett, IL. Encompass More Asset Management LLC offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement model services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs model-based strategies combining proprietary models and third-party sub-advisers, managing a range of investment options including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, private placements, and digital-asset related exposures.

Barry Link is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and 48 years of industry experience. He has worked at World Equity Group since 2001 and operates Link Diversified Services, which he started in 1982. Outside of advising, he is involved as an independent contractor with Abacus Life Settlements, assisting with policy evaluations and transactions for senior clients. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its Adhesion Money Management wrap-fee program and utilizes third-party managers to implement asset allocation models based on client risk tolerance.