Sean Hughes is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Watch Advisors, INC, where he has worked since 2021, and previously worked at FOUNDATIONS INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC and Hughes & Dern Financial Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent involved in Medicare, life, and annuity sales. Wealth Watch Advisors serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party model portfolios. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach implemented through approved sub-advisors and offers services to a diverse client base including pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations.

Travis Smyczynski is a CFP® and Series 66 holder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent three years with Axa Advisors, LLC. Smyczynski is also involved in independent insurance sales on a part-time basis. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services, tailoring strategies to client objectives and utilizing multiple custodians and third-party managers.

Mary Deutsch is a financial advisor at Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. She is also the owner and insurance agent of MTD Financial, Inc., and serves as president of Tess Marketing, Inc., a business marketing services company. Additionally, she is a managing member of Eight 22 Alpha, LLC, a real estate investment venture. Gibbs Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and related advisory services, utilizing third-party platforms and strategists. The firm employs a mix of analytical approaches to guide asset allocations and emphasizes risk management, tax efficiency, and guaranteed-income solutions where appropriate.

Nancy Brunn is a financial advisor with Latitude Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 10 years of industry experience and has also operated Brunn & Associates, Inc., a CPA firm specializing in accounting and tax preparation, since 2001. In addition to her advisory work, she handles accounting duties for an online specialty sales business. Latitude Advisors serves individual and business clients, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting. The firm employs a combination of model-based strategies and fundamental/quantitative analysis, managing most client relationships on a discretionary basis.

David Taylor III is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Practice Management Consultants, LLC. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

William Karstenson Jr. is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2010 and has operated Karstenson Financial Services since 1997. Outside of his advisory work, Karstenson serves as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago, performing liturgical and ministerial duties. 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 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 discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across various asset classes.

Anthony Fiore is a financial advisor with Wealth Management, LLC in Mundelein, Illinois, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Wealth Management since 2014 and has also served as CEO of Accountants Solutions, Inc., an accounting software sales company, since 2002. Wealth Management Nebraska LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as to retirement plan sponsors and institutional clients. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory investment approach, primarily using passively managed mutual funds and ETFs, and offers integrated advisory and administrative services for retirement plans.

Bradley Underwood is a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Underwood is involved in providing prepaid legal services and offers payroll and employee benefits solutions through independent contractor roles. World Equity Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs a combination of model-based and customized investment approaches, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers.

Thomas Chernesky is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Robertson Stephens since 2024. Prior to this, he spent 11 years at CAFG Wealth Management, Inc., where he was also president of the company, a non-operating legal entity handling payments from the installment sale of a former RIA business to Robertson Stephens. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management provides advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines individualized advice with centrally developed model portfolios and oversight by an Investment Office and Committee, managing over $7 billion in client assets as of the end of 2024.

Garland Kizer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and has held roles at Cetera, VOYA Financial Advisors, and his own firms, Kizer & Associates and Kizer Financial Services. Kizer serves as a trustee for the THSD 214 Foundation and MacMurray College, and he is chairman of the Bartlett 4th of July Festival committee. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, and institutions, emphasizing a long-term, diversified investment approach through model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central Investment Management team.

Mark Lishchynsky Jr. is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2013. World Equity Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs a combination of model-based and customized investment approaches and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services.

Brendan Donlevy is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Triad Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital Forensics Inc. Brendan is based in Chicago, IL. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for about 9,453 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan services. Their approach integrates client-specific goal setting with various analytical methods and may include third-party managers or affiliate strategies.

Jessica Nieminski is an investment advisor representative at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She has held positions at multiple firms, including Cetera and Network 1 Financial Securities, and operates ClearPath Financial LLC, a financial services DBA. Nieminski also sells health, life, property, and casualty insurance through ClearPath Financial Insurance, LLC. Fortis Capital Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including discretionary management and ESG options, and manages over $1.6 billion in discretionary assets.

Daniel Zarzynski is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robertson Stephens. He has one year of industry experience, with prior roles at CAFG Wealth Management, Camping World, Brunswick Corporation, and CBS Radio. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines individualized advice with centrally developed model portfolios and oversight, managing over $7 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2024.

Carlos Coutinho Maia is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities, Equitable Advisors, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Edward Jones. Outside of finance, he was involved in operating Carambola Gelato and Coffee Shop LLC for two years. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union, individual investors, and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm utilizes model portfolios managed by third-party advisers on platforms such as Envestnet, providing account monitoring, rebalancing, and optional tax and impact overlay services.

Donna Adams is a financial advisor with Regal Investment Advisors LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at OneAmerica Securities and American United Life for 11 years. She is involved with several community organizations, serving as an owner and board member of DamYak Challenge LTD and Paradise Charitable Foundation, and as a board member of BREAK Crystal Lake Teen Center and the Chain-O-Lakes Chamber. Regal Investment Advisors, operating as LionShare, provides model portfolio implementation and discretionary investment management to unaffiliated advisers and their clients. The firm manages approximately $2.88 billion across proprietary and third-party strategies through a sub-advisory platform focused on institutional clients rather than direct relationships with end investors.

Allison Tregoning is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Prior to her advisory career, she was employed at Azzip Pizza and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm operates through a network of independent advisers who tailor strategies using discretionary management, third-party managers, and model portfolios, and also provides ERISA-related services for qualified plans.

Paul Kaczmarczyk is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2010 and also worked at VestGen Advisors, LLC. Outside of advising, he serves as treasurer for the Schaumburg Athletic Association United Soccer Club, a nonprofit youth soccer organization. World Equity Group provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers managed portfolios through wrap-fee programs and uses a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation, with discretionary authority granted to third-party managers and investment adviser representatives.

Michael Manno is a financial advisor with WORLD EQUITY GROUP, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2003. WORLD EQUITY GROUP, Inc. offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides managed portfolios through its Adhesion Money Management wrap-fee program and related advisory services, utilizing risk-tolerance questionnaires and third-party discretionary money managers.

Gary Richards is a CFP® professional with over 31 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with World Equity Group, Inc. since 1994. Outside of his advisory role, Richards is involved in the sale of fixed life insurance and annuities. World Equity Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions, offering a range of investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs both model-based and customized investment approaches and manages approximately $945 million in assets.