Thomas Van Spankeren is a CFP® and CFA® with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at RISE Investment Management, LLC and previously held positions at Voyage Point Wealth Management, Bank of America Private Bank, and Duff & Phelps, LLC. RISE Investment Management serves individuals, families, trusts, businesses, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations by providing discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services. The firm emphasizes a long-term, owner-oriented equity selection process combined with tax efficiency and diversified exposure across multiple asset classes.

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, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials with one year of industry experience. Before founding his firm, he worked at several companies including Level EX and Chicago Capital Management. He is also 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 focuses on passive, long-term investment strategies using low-cost index funds and ETFs, and emphasizes education through newsletters and seminars offered at no 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.

Matthew Dale is a financial advisor at Kai Wealth LLC with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Gelber Group before joining Kai Wealth LLC. Kai Wealth LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and investment consulting primarily for high-net-worth and sophisticated investors, employing risk-managed portfolio construction with thematic equity strategies, alternative investments, and options-based overlays.

Jing Chen is a CFA® charterholder based in Chicago, IL, with two years of industry experience. She has worked at K2 Wealth Management LLC since 2024 and previously held roles at Forge Global and MSCI. K2 Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients and related trusts and estates, providing discretionary investment management alongside comprehensive financial counseling, including retirement, tax, and estate planning. The firm employs a goals- and risk-based approach to portfolio construction, integrating quantitative methods and various investment vehicles while coordinating with third-party professionals as part of its ongoing client service.

Jacob Bossert is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed advisor at Konza Global Wealth Group with four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Fortune Financial Advisors and has a background that includes seven years at USSSA. Konza Global Wealth Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting with an investment approach that incorporates modern portfolio theory, fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

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.

Paul Linzer is a financial advisor at Kenora Financial, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Invesco, LLC since 1990. Kenora Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, providing financial planning, investment counseling, retirement and estate planning, tax-related advice, and customized portfolio management. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized separately managed accounts with concentrated equity positions diversified across multiple industries, using Value Line research and tax-aware rebalancing.

Jonathan Spencer is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Signet Private Wealth, LLC since 2017. His prior roles include positions at Liccar Securities, LLC and Umbono Investments (US) LLC. Outside of advising, he is the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Medinah Road Development Co. LLC, a real estate development company, and manages financial modeling services as the sole member of Twende Investments, LLC. Signet Private Wealth 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 incorporates fundamental and technical analysis, strategic asset allocation, direct indexing, option-writing for income, and ESG considerations.

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.

Matthew Michel is a financial advisor at Vital Wealth Management, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Vital Wealth Management in 2024, he worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. for eight years. Vital Wealth Management provides investment management and integrated financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm uses portfolio optimization and efficient-frontier analysis to create diversified allocations and offers fiduciary retirement plan services along with account aggregation and performance monitoring tools.

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.

Keith Nyborg is a Series 65-licensed advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Invesco, LLC since 1990. Nyborg is based in Des Plaines, IL, and is affiliated with Kenora Financial, LLC. Kenora Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, offering financial planning, investment counseling, retirement and estate planning, tax-related advice, and customized portfolio management. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized separately managed accounts with concentrated equity positions diversified across multiple industries, using Value Line research and tax-aware rebalancing, while generally managing client accounts on a discretionary basis.