Vinnie Maliakkal is a CFP® certificant with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wavvest Wealth. He previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank SSB and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. for over a decade, and was also associated with Vivacious Group. Outside of his advisory role, Maliakkal owns A Bunch of Randos, LLC, a business focused on photography, graphic design, and clothing. Wavvest Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individual clients and employer-sponsored retirement plans, using proprietary technology tools to support portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring. The firm manages diversified portfolios that include ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed-income securities, and select alternative investments.

Michael Demaray is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Bard Associates Inc in Chicago, IL, and previously worked at Elevated Capital LLC for 14 years and AEG Partners for one year. He is the owner and general partner of entities that are currently being wound down and does not devote time to these during the work week. Bard Associates provides discretionary portfolio management and monitoring services to individuals, retirement accounts, trusts, estates, and other entities, employing a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach with a focus on smaller-company stocks and defensive instruments tailored to client risk tolerance. The firm also manages the Bard Micro-Cap Value Fund L.P., a private pooled vehicle, and uses fundamental analysis alongside limited derivatives and margin strategies in certain accounts.

Jacob Swartz is a financial advisor at Swartz Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Level EX and Chicago Capital Management. Outside of advising, he is involved in selling life and health insurance on a part-time basis. Swartz Wealth Management LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and entities such as trusts and estates. The firm’s investment approach focuses on passive, long-term strategies using low-cost index funds and ETFs, guided by strategic asset allocation tailored to each client’s Investment Policy Statement, and offers educational content and seminars without additional charge.

John Mariscalco is a CFP® and CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at 103 Advisory Group since 2019 and previously held roles at Strategic Wealth Partners, Marquette Associates, Mainstreet Advisors, and Gunnallen Financial. 103 Advisory Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement rollover advice, and consulting. The firm combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with fundamental and technical analysis and offers specialized services such as fixed-fee institutional consulting and business-development support for financial institutions.

Jing Chen is a CFA® charterholder with one year of experience in the financial industry. Chen has worked at K2 Wealth Management LLC since 2024 and previously held positions at Forge Global and MSCI. K2 Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial counseling to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and related trusts and estates. The firm employs a range of investment strategies including fundamental analysis, factor investing, and quantitative optimization, and offers services such as retirement planning, advanced tax and estate planning, and coordination with third-party money managers.

David Pequet is a financial advisor with MPI Wealth Management LLC in Hinsdale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MPI Investment Management for 32 years before joining MPI Wealth Management in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Director and Treasurer of the Roger B. Chaffee Scholarship Fund and is an officer of Duck Lake Inn LLC, a cottage rental business. MPI Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and sub-advisory services to institutional and individual clients, including pension plans, investment advisers, banks, corporations, charitable organizations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a combination of quantitative techniques, technical and fundamental analysis, and macroeconomic research to tailor diversified portfolio strategies across fixed income, dividend equity, and total return equity investments.

Jacob Bossert is a CFP® and ChFC® professional with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Konza Global Wealth Group. He previously worked at Fortune Financial Advisors, LLC, and has a background spanning roles outside financial services prior to 2022. Konza Global Wealth Group serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, providing portfolio management and financial planning with an emphasis on documented client goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs a variety of strategies including long-term trading, options, and third-party separately managed accounts for tax-sensitive management and diversification.

Nicholas Leftakes is a financial advisor at VIA IV Investments, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with VIA IV since 2020. He is also a co-owner and principal of LT Group, LLC, a real estate investment company based in Chicago. VIA IV Investments provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as businesses, charities, estates, and trusts. The firm offers diversified, custom-indexed model portfolios alongside alternative private fund access and operates a digital advice program with a lower minimum investment threshold.

Jonathan Spencer is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Signet Private Wealth LLC since 2017 and previously served at Umbono Investments (US) LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he is the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Medinah Road Development Co. LLC, a real estate development firm, and serves as a trustee managing his wife's investment trust. Signet Private Wealth LLC provides investment advice and wealth management primarily to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a value-oriented, primarily long-term investment approach that includes fundamental and technical analysis, strategic asset allocation, and uses a wide range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, fixed income, and alternatives.

Joseph Shea IV is a financial advisor with Horizon Family Wealth, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and offering 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at Shea Financial Group since 2004 and held roles at Riverpoint Wealth Management Holdings and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Vice President of the J111 National Racing Class, a nonprofit sailboat racing organization. Horizon Family Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing portfolio management and financial planning. The firm combines fundamental, quantitative, technical, and sector analysis to build diversified portfolios and employs third-party managers as part of its investment approach.

Raymond Kozicki is a financial advisor with Midwest Financial Network, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including EverGreen Capital Management and Horter Investment Management, and has been self-employed since 2009. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent providing insurance sales and services. Midwest Financial Network serves individual clients, businesses, and retirement plan sponsors with financial planning, investment consultation, and portfolio management. The firm employs a Core + Satellite investment approach and offers educational seminars, outsourced portfolio management, and model-portfolio consulting.

Yoo Chung Chang is a financial advisor at Upstart Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Upstart Wealth Management, he worked at yooVIN and has a background that includes roles in the restaurant industry. He serves as a board member for the nonprofit CHAAD, where he assists with tax-related issues. Upstart Wealth Management provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs discretionary, asset-allocation strategies using model portfolios and implements them through various vehicles, including separately managed accounts and ETFs, with a notable use of derivatives and margin.

Jennifer Johnson is a financial advisor at Pinelight Financial PLLC in Riverside, Illinois, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning her advisory career in 2025. She previously worked for 16 years at the Social Security Administration. Pinelight Financial serves individual clients, retirement and pension plans, and business clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach combining active management, core+satellite strategies, and modern portfolio theory, and operates an affiliated accounting practice offering tax and accounting services under separate agreements.

Thomas Laughlin is a Series 65 licensed advisor with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Signet Private Wealth, LLC since 2019 and is also involved with Andiamo Vento LLC and Twende Investment Group. He previously worked at Halliard Soap Company, LLC from 2016 to 2018. Signet Private Wealth LLC provides investment advice and wealth management primarily to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a value-oriented, long-term investment approach using fundamental and technical analysis, strategic asset allocation, and offers services including portfolio management, financial planning, and assistance with IRA rollovers and IPO participation.

Bahdan Yakavenka is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of experience at BMO Capital Markets and prior experience at CDW and Y???venka Capital Management, totaling four years in the financial industry. He is based in Chicago, IL, and is affiliated with Lestna Retirement, LLC. Lestna Retirement is a fee-only wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and various institutional clients. The firm focuses on a long-term, strategic asset allocation approach using diversified, low-cost vehicles, with services that include fiduciary consulting and discretionary investment management.

Ara Bayindiryan is a financial advisor at Bayworth Capital with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. His career includes roles at Valyrian Financial, LLC, Xceed Planning, Inc., Bayworth Capital (dba XCEED CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC), and Denali Financial Services, LLC. He is also involved as a managing member and agent of a licensed insurance agency and acts as a general partner to an investment fund. Bayworth Capital provides financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored investment strategies across various asset classes and facilitates client access to alternative investments through a specialized portal, emphasizing pension consulting and pooled investment vehicles.

David Thompson is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is a principal at Thompson Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2019, and also serves as a portfolio manager and trader at Little Harbor Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Kaizen Advisory, LLC and Typhon Capital. Thompson Capital Management provides investment management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as sub-advisory services to other investment advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach across multiple strategies, utilizing equities, fixed income, options, and exchange-traded products, including derivatives and VIX-linked instruments, to implement tactical risk-management and quantitative elements.

Pamela Lambert is a financial advisor at Ziv Investment Company in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Ziv Investment Company since 2000. Ziv Investment Company provides discretionary portfolio management and securities and retirement-planning advice to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $22.9 million, focusing on tailored investment strategies that incorporate both fundamental and technical analysis, generally favoring long-term equity holdings and cash-equivalent instruments.

Karen Nordstrom is a financial advisor at Contour Financial with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and has been with Contour Financial since 2001. Contour Financial serves individual households primarily focused on retirement planning and investment management, emphasizing clients who are not high-net-worth. The firm offers diversified portfolios mainly composed of mutual funds and ETFs, alongside comprehensive financial planning services, and operates as a fee-only fiduciary under the NAPFA code.

John Davis is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and has been with Mentor Capital Management Inc. since 1992. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory work, he is part owner and treasurer of Elmhurst Tailgate Inc., a dog daycare and boarding business. Mentor Capital Management Inc. provides fee-only wealth management and financial planning services primarily for individual clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis within a broad asset-allocation framework, favoring passive, low-expense, index-based strategies for long-term holdings.