Joseph Bianchi is a financial advisor at Stride Investments, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Fisher Investments for six years. His background also includes roles at DePaul University, Triton College, and the Village of Rosemont. Stride Investments, LLC provides fee-based investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate accounts, and retirement plans, emphasizing purpose-based investing and retirement-income planning through proprietary tools and regular portfolio reviews. The firm manages assets directly and may appoint sub-advisers, coordinating non-investment services through its affiliated insurance and planning business.

Ree Grossman is a financial advisor at North South Capital, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. and LaSalle St. Securities, L.L.C. for the past 14 years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on a local school council board in Chicago without compensation. North South Capital serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, estates, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, retirement plan advisory services, financial planning, securities advice, and insurance product recommendations, integrating brokerage, advisory, and insurance activities within its business model.

Timothy Schlindwein is a CIC and holds a Series 65 license with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Schlindwein Associates LLC since 1995. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services to individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, as well as offering investment guidance for corporate and not-for-profit groups. Schlindwein Associates uses a proprietary fund-ranking methodology and primarily implements portfolios with mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating alternative asset categories for diversification.

Kristin Sweis is a financial advisor at Paradigm Money Management, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at TD Ameritrade, Inc. and Spotlight Asset Group, Inc. before joining Paradigm in 2020. Paradigm Money Management provides financial planning and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals and business entities, focusing on tiered planning engagements and 3(21) ERISA plan support. The firm acts primarily as a planner and coordinator, recommending third-party managers and advisory platforms while monitoring their alignment with client objectives.

Aidan Herrick is a financial advisor at Stride Investments, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Stride Investments, he worked in education, including roles at Loras College, College of Lake County, Richmond-Burton Community High School, and Nippersink Middle School. He also has experience with Canlan Sports. Stride Investments, LLC manages approximately $200.9 million for about 524 clients, serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a purpose-based investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to align portfolios with clients’ cash flow, risk capacity, and goals, offering ongoing asset management and coordinated financial planning services.

Daniel Haugh is a financial advisor with Wells Street Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Street Advisors since 2014 and has been associated with PTI Securities & Futures L.P. since 1987. Wells Street Advisors, LLC is an independent investment management firm serving individuals, family offices, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and technical analysis, third-party research, and proprietary software in its discretionary asset management approach, including a Protected Index Program designed for downside protection.

Robert Pick is a financial advisor at RightWise Wealth with a Series 65 designation and 16 years of experience at Bain & Company. He has no prior industry experience in financial advising. RightWise Wealth is a small advisory firm serving individual clients through comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management, with additional tax preparation services facilitated by a third-party provider. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes low-cost ETFs, factor-based strategies, and incorporates third-party money managers and model portfolios.

Brian Padden is a financial advisor at Padden Financial Planning LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Padden Financial Planning, he held roles at LPL Enterprise, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he also spends time as a rideshare driver for Uber Technologies, Inc. Padden Financial Planning LLC is a fee-only firm serving individuals and families, including trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive financial and tax planning services with an investment approach that emphasizes disciplined asset allocation, global diversification, and the use of primarily mutual funds, ETFs, and passive index funds.

Thomas Van Spankeren is a CFP® and CFA® with one year of industry experience. He is affiliated with RISE Investment Management, LLC and previously worked at Voyage Point Wealth Management and Bank of America Private Bank. RISE Investment Management serves individuals, families, trusts, businesses, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations by providing discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services. The firm emphasizes long-term, owner-oriented equity selection, tax efficiency, and diversified exposure across multiple asset classes, including private placements and independent managers.

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.

Ian Dillow is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Dillow Wealth Management LLC with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining his current firm in 2025, he worked at Dexian and attended High Point University. Dillow Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis to construct customized portfolios using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs along with individual securities and alternative investments.