Kolton Rominski is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Larson Financial Group and Rock Harbor Capital LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a referral partner for a direct prescription service. 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 about 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 investment strategies and custodial services.

Bret Mooney is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. His career includes roles at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, LPL Financial LLC, and Sequoia Wealth Management. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction and offers wrap-fee programs, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and the use of third-party managers.

Jeffry Cook is a financial advisor at MissionSquare Retirement with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including ICMA Retirement Corporation, Fifth Third Securities, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and Harrisdirect LLC. He has been with ICMA Retirement Corporation since 2007. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, their employees, and certain nonprofit entities by administering deferred compensation and qualified retirement plans. The firm offers plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services, with investment advice and model portfolios developed by Morningstar Investment Management and delivered through multiple channels within MissionSquare-administered accounts.

Francesco Vitale is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including VOYA Financial Advisors, Cetera, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. He also serves as a trustee on a family trust. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual investors, retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation strategy managed through in-house and third-party resources, and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Andrew Lewis is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in McHenry, Illinois, and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LaSalle St. Securities, LLC, he worked at Dry Dock for nine years. He is also involved in a fixed insurance business outside his advisory role. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary portfolio management programs and utilizes a range of investment vehicles and third-party manager oversight in its asset management approach.

Robert Bieniek is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Port Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2005 and has also been involved with Individual Financial Practitioners, Inc. since 1983, where he is engaged in the sale of individual life and long-term care insurance. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers.

David Robbins is a financial advisor with Archer Investment Corporation in South Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Archer since 2015 and is also an owner of Nieminski Robbins & Associates CPAs, where he has worked since 2005, providing tax, accounting, and wealth management services. Additionally, he is involved with Barrington Advisors Group LLC, a marketing venture connected to Nieminski Robbins & Associates. Archer Investment Corporation offers investment management primarily to individual clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, through separately managed accounts and proprietary mutual funds. The firm employs a multi-branch, independent-contractor model and manages roughly $1.01 billion in discretionary assets with a range of advisory services from comprehensive financial planning to limited-scope model portfolios.

Kyle Janas is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Wealth, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also operates the Law Offices of Craig A Janas, where he is involved in estate planning and life insurance sales. His work history includes roles at Safe Money Concepts, INC and Family Defined Benefits. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC provides fee-based asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and sub-advisory services to individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and other RIAs. The firm uses a combination of proprietary ETF-based models, third-party managers, and option strategies, supporting tailored suitability assessments and regular portfolio rebalancing.

Ryan Linenger is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2016 and previously operated Linenger Wealth Management. Linenger serves as a board member of Wheaton Christian Grammar School, volunteering time to assist with school governance. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside proprietary market valuation tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Sanjay Asija is a financial advisor at Archer Investment Corporation with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Archer since 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he is a certified public accountant managing tax preparation and payroll services through his CPA firms. Archer Investment Corporation provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and investment companies, managing approximately $900 million on a primarily discretionary basis. The firm offers customized portfolio management and model-based strategies, emphasizing diversified allocations across various asset classes and regular account reviews.

Theodore Buckley is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and 11 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, Sequoia Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, Buckley is an author and motivational speaker, presenting seminars related to his book on retirement planning, and serves on the board of advisors for a social club in Lake in the Hills, IL. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction, utilizing third-party managers and home office strategies to serve a diverse client base including institutions and sovereign entities.

Eric Talbott is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including Piershale Financial Group and Envestnet Asset Management. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.56 billion in client assets through a network of 145 advisors across 67 offices. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, trusts, estates, businesses, retirement plans, and insurance company clients with services that include financial planning and portfolio management, utilizing a combination of centrally managed mandates and locally managed portfolios supported by advanced technology and risk models.

Ralph Backe Jr. is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 33 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he co-owns a vacation home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and third-party platforms.

Keith Mooney is a CFP® and ChFC® with 31 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with VestGen Advisors, LLC and has held positions at firms including Triad Advisors, Sequoia Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Outside of advising, he serves as president and organizer of Capital Financial Education Group, a nonprofit that provides educational seminars. VestGen Advisors, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and institutional entities. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction, employing third-party managers and proprietary strategies to serve a broad range of clients.

Alan Flota is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Elgin, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies and affiliated entities in 2025, he spent 32 years working for School District U-46. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Brandi Ruffalo is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns Valuation & Forensic Partners, LLC, which provides business valuation, litigation, and divorce consulting services. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate and pension plans. The firm employs a combination of firm- and third-party investment models and utilizes both passive and active management across multiple risk profiles.

Scott Farwell is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2022. Prior to that, he was with TD Ameritrade for five years and Edge Financial Advisors for one year. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, and is notable for its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Michael McKevitt is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and previously spent eight years with LPL Financial. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary advisory model and offers a range of managed account solutions, including its proprietary WealthSuite platform and third-party strategies.

Richard Kuzniar is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2017. Prior to that, he worked at BMO Harris Financial Advisors for over a decade. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing a range of discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Amanda Czosek is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She also holds ownership roles in Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Jager Financial Services. Amanda serves as a board member of the National Alliance on Student Loan Debt. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individual households, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to implement investment strategies.