Kristi Mertens is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She is affiliated with BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC and has worked with LPL Financial and Baxter Credit Union during her career. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets using a core-plus-satellite approach with third-party managers and model portfolios, including ESG options, serving around 870 clients with a team of 15 advisors.

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.

Jeffrey Feinendegen is a financial advisor at 15 Wealth Advisors LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at TSFG, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of advising, he is an author of a general book about rules of living and is involved in a garage epoxy flooring dealership. 15 Wealth Advisors serves individual, high-net-worth, pension, and corporate clients by offering investment advisory, financial planning, and employer planning services. The firm uses a multidisciplinary investment process focused on ETFs, model allocations, and customized strategies, and it provides employer-level financial planning and retirement consulting along with its wrap fee program sponsorship and affiliated insurance agency ownership.

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.

Cary Kornick is a financial advisor at Journey Advisory Group, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Herr Investment Group LLC and Monere Investments, Inc. Journey Advisory Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charities, corporations, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a long-term investment strategy with strategic asset allocation and uses a variety of analysis methods and instruments, managing approximately $1.47 billion in assets.

Gabriel Lewit is a financial advisor at SGL Financial, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and co-founded Wealth Financial Group, an insurance wholesaler and brokerage organization that supports and trains insurance agents. Lewit is also a licensed insurance agent. SGL Financial, LLC provides fee-based investment management, financial planning, and consulting to financially established individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard, emphasizes diversified asset allocation with long-term horizons, and commonly implements portfolios through third-party managers.

Valerie Hogan is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at National Christian Foundation and Orchard Ministry Development and spent a decade at Gibbs & Associates. Outside of advising, she manages several non-investment related LLCs involved in real estate oversight. Clearwater Capital Partners serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, offering family office and private wealth management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a disciplined investment approach based on written Investment Policy Statements and offers access to alternative investments and private placements.

Alec Riss is a financial advisor at SB Advisory, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for seven years and at Marco Technologies for two years. Alec holds the Series 66 designation. SB Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm with 34 advisors managing approximately $1.1 billion for over 2,600 clients. The firm serves individuals, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, various financial planning services, and access to third-party managers and model portfolios, primarily providing advice on a non-discretionary basis.

Kaleb Gandy is a financial advisor at SGL Financial, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Hantz Financial Services, Midland Brewing Company, Northwestern Mutual, and in roles at Genji Japanese Steakhouse and Northwood University. SGL Financial, LLC is a fee-based adviser serving financially established individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain retirement and profit-sharing plans. The firm focuses on diversified, long-term asset allocation and typically implements portfolios through third-party money managers and a contractually exclusive sub-advisory relationship with Savant Capital.

Jason Dhooghe is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. He previously worked at Wealth Enhancement Group and Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services from 2021 to 2025. 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, non-discretionary trade approvals, and educational workshops for plan participants.

Kevin Carani is a financial advisor with Clearwater Capital Partners, holding a Series 65 credential and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Clearwater Capital Partners since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a facility manager for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Elgin, Illinois. Clearwater Capital Partners advises high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services that include private wealth management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan strategies. The firm manages portfolios based on written Investment Policy Statements and employs a variety of analytical approaches, with a focus on discretionary management and access to alternative investments.

Mathew Manning is a financial advisor with Truvestments Capital LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Cetera, and Manning Silverman & Company over the course of his career. Manning is also a minority owner and partner of the CPA firm Manning Silverman & Company, which provides tax and accounting services. Truvestments Capital LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management alongside financial planning. The firm builds customized, primarily long-term portfolios that emphasize low-cost mutual funds and ETFs and manages a private Bitcoin fund through an affiliated general partner.

Kyle Hoskins is a financial advisor with American Community Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with the firm since 2024 and has experience working with Osaic Wealth, Inc. Outside of his advisory roles, he has worked in hospitality at Snuggery River Roadhouse and held positions at The University of Iowa and McHenry County College. American Community Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a multi-platform investment model combining third-party managed programs and advisor-managed portfolios, delivering services tailored to client objectives, risk tolerance, and asset allocation.

Dana Arvanites is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of industry experience. She has worked at The Dala Group, LLC since 2026 and previously spent six years at Bank of America and Merrill. Before entering financial services, she worked at Aramark and was involved with Misericordia, Heart of Mercy for six years. The Dala Group, LLC is a team of nine advisors that provides portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and limited financial consulting to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs multi-disciplinary analysis and asset-allocation strategies to manage client portfolios composed of stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Brett Dimas is a CFP® professional at Activ8 Family Office LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Raymond James & Associates and Octagon Financial Services, Inc. Dimas operates a separate accounting services business from his home. Activ8 Family Office serves primarily professional athletes and their related families and entities, providing a comprehensive client management program that includes financial planning, investment management, and tax services tailored to individual objectives.

John Sleeting is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Clearwater Capital Partners since 2009 in various roles. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of Cox Family Holdings, LLC and manages 1435 Partners, LLC, a consulting company. Clearwater Capital Partners advises high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services including family office management, private wealth management, and retirement plan advisory. The firm employs a disciplined investment approach based on written Investment Policy Statements and utilizes fundamental, technical, quantitative, and thematic analysis to manage discretionary accounts.

Michael Niemczyk is a financial advisor with Capital Advisor Network, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 26 years of industry experience. He has operated Michael Niemczyk Associates, Inc. since 2001 and is also involved with MLN Retirement Planning & Tax Planning, Inc. In addition to his advisory roles, Niemczyk participates as a member and educator with the nonprofit Society of Financial Awareness, providing financial education through community classes and workshops. Capital Advisor Network serves individual and high-net-worth investors, institutions, charitable organizations, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm applies a tactical investment approach utilizing data analytics and algorithmic signals, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management across various asset classes while accommodating client-specific restrictions.

Kevin Noonan is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a Vice President and Investment Advisor Representative at American Community Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2003. Prior to this, he held roles with Triad Advisors, Inc. and Northern Trust Securities, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, Noonan serves as a voting board member of the Family Health Partnership Clinic, a 501(c)(3) healthcare organization. American Community Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, corporations, charitable organizations, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm uses a multi-platform investment approach that includes third-party managed and advisor-managed portfolios tailored to client objectives, risk tolerance, and asset allocation.

Alexis Swaney is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with The Dala Group, LLC, where she has worked since 2026. Prior to joining the firm, she held roles related to human ecology and participated in various community and business activities. The Dala Group provides portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and limited consulting services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs multi-disciplinary analysis and asset allocation strategies across a range of securities, serving both discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.

Marilyn Bilyk is a financial advisor with Journey Financial Group, Inc. in Buffalo Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Journey Financial Group since 1997 and previously worked at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. for 26 years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a notary public, providing services to clients at no charge. Journey Financial Group serves individual clients across varying wealth levels, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning using firm-developed model portfolios that range from conservative to aggressive, incorporating both fundamental and technical analysis.