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.

Timothy Stearns is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Securities LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Cornerstone Securities since 2014. He also has prior experience with Crown Capital Securities, LP and LaSalle St. Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, Stearns sells term, fixed, and indexed universal life insurance as an independent contractor. Cornerstone Securities LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, private corporations, trusts, estates, and pension plans. The firm operates through a team of representatives who develop portfolio strategies, offer discretionary trading where authorized, and refer clients to third-party managers and REITs.

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.

Keaton Messerschmidt is a financial advisor with BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC in Vernon Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, NA. He is also involved with Baxter Credit Union as Senior Manager of Private Client Services. Additionally, Messerschmidt participates in a customer experience certificate program at Valparaiso University. 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 employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach using third-party managers and model portfolios, and it operates a significant wrap fee program with approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets under management.

Mantas Tautkus is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Origin Investment Advisory LLC since 2021. He previously worked at Edward Jones from 2014 to 2020 and owns MT Financial Planning, Inc., an investment advisory firm. Origin Investment Advisory primarily serves individual retail clients through a subscription model and employer-sponsored workplace programs, offering budgeting tools, access to CFP® professionals, thematic Stock Bundles, and an Automated Index Investing robo-style service. The firm’s investment approach uses Modern Portfolio Theory and behavioral finance principles, employing rules-based model portfolios and tax-aware implementation, and operates on a subscription fee structure rather than traditional AUM fees.

Steven Lewit is a financial advisor with SGL Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been associated with multiple firms, including KCD Financial, Tarkenton Financial, and Wealth Financial Group, with career history dating back more than three decades. Lewit is also CEO of Wealth-N, Inc. and serves as an agent for Tarkenton Financial LLC and J.G. Wentworth’s annuity purchase program. SGL Financial, LLC provides fee-based investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to financially established individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard, emphasizing diversified asset allocation and long-term investment horizons, often implementing strategies through third-party managers.

Chad Codak is a financial advisor at BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. His prior work includes positions at Northwestern Mutual and Bass Pro Shops. Outside of advising, he maintains a role at Bass Pro Shops. 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 employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach, utilizing third-party managers and model portfolios, and manages approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets through a team of 15 advisors.

Matthew Pitzulo is a financial advisor at Greenline Wealth Management in Vernon Hills, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Greenline Wealth Management in 2023, he worked at Converge Medical Technology, Best Dedicated Solutions, and Slammers LLC. Greenline Wealth Management is a six-advisor SEC-registered firm that provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm has a notable retirement plan practice alongside its retail asset management and utilizes a third-party manager network on the Envestnet platform.

Kristen Mc Cullough is a financial advisor at Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at RMB Capital Management, LLC and Vennwell, LLC. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses quantitative tools and model portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and circumstances, managing approximately $389 million in assets across 161 client relationships.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeffrey Feinendegen is a financial advisor at 15 Wealth Advisors LLC in Mundelein, IL, with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at TSFG, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is an author of a general book on good rules of living and is involved in a lead generation business connecting homeowners with contractors. 15 Wealth Advisors is a registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and employer-focused retirement plan consulting. The firm constructs customized portfolios based on clients’ goals and uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses, typically recommending ETFs with occasional use of options strategies and third-party managers.

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.