Jessica Garner is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently advising at Stevard LLC since 2016. She is based in Chicago, IL, and is part of a two-advisor firm. Stevard LLC provides family office and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, family LLCs, private foundations, and family businesses. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and expanded family office functions such as accounting, tax compliance, property management, insurance review, and philanthropic and estate planning. Their investment approach emphasizes multi-asset portfolios implemented through independent investment managers and managed products, with ongoing manager monitoring and a cautious view on hedge funds.

John Russell is a financial advisor with Versatile Capital Management L.L.C. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Relative Value Partners, LLC and serves as managing director and advisor for Select Innovation Investments, LLC. He is chairman of the board for Educational Choice Illinois and a board member with Children Outreach and Community Empowerment. Versatile Capital Management provides fee-only, discretionary portfolio management and occasional financial planning to individuals, family offices, trusts, foundations, endowments, and small institutions. The firm manages roughly $130 million in discretionary and non-discretionary assets and offers two investment products: a tactical Systematic Global Alpha strategy using proprietary quantitative indicators and a Strategic Core Global Asset Allocation product focused on long-term diversified portfolios.

Danielle Woods is a Series 65 credentialed advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Propel Financial Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at Merriment Advisors, LLC, DW Lenski Law Group, DW Agosto Tax Planning LLC, and Mitchell, Vaught and Taylor Inc. Woods owns DW Agosto Tax Planning LLC, a tax planning and preparation business. Propel Financial Advisors, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and financial planning services. The firm operates as a four-advisor team across three offices, managing approximately $38.84 million in assets for 111 clients, and integrates legal and tax considerations into client advice through formal affiliations and educational programs.

Stephanie Laude is a financial advisor at K2 Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials with nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Corient, Balasa Dinverno Foltz LLC, and CIPW Service Company, LLC. Outside of financial advisory, she has worked as an Instacart driver on a limited basis. K2 Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial counseling that includes retirement, tax, and estate planning. The firm employs a goals- and risk-based investment approach using quantitative methods and third-party sub-advisers, while coordinating with attorneys and accountants as part of its service model.

Lingke Cheng is a financial advisor at Zephyr Capital LLC in Chicago, IL, holding the CFA® designation and Series 63 license with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Zephyr Capital, Cheng worked at Aicapital LLC, Citigroup Global Markets, and Dynamic Holding LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he holds interests in non-investment businesses including a financial data research company, a Pilates club management company, and a Hong Kong-based operational business. Zephyr Capital LLC provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services exclusively to qualified clients under performance-based fee arrangements. The firm uses a tactical, long-short investment approach that incorporates derivatives and active trading techniques, focusing on daily monitoring and weekly rebalancing within client-specific investment policies.

William Laipple is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently a partner at Stonebridge Wealth Management LLC in Oak Brook, IL. He has worked at Stonebridge since 2011 and has held roles at APW Capital, Inc. and Comprehensive Asset Management Serving Inc. since 2016. Stonebridge Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, corporations, partnerships, tax-exempt entities, and other legal entities, managing approximately $283 million for around 288 clients. The firm provides customized portfolio construction and offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family-office/business consulting services.

Joann May is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Forest Asset Management LLC since 2006. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a general partner in an investment club, Riverside Fund Money Club, since 1995. Forest Asset Management LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and small businesses. The firm follows a long-term, asset-allocation-driven investment approach using primarily passive and evidence-based funds, supported by written investment policy statements and portfolio modeling techniques.

Marc Pershan is a financial advisor at Valley Financial Management, Inc. with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Bank Leumi USA and Valley National Bank. He serves on the advisory committee of Chicago Neighborhood Housing Services, a nonprofit supporting low-income housing. Valley Financial Management operates as Valley Digital Investor, providing discretionary portfolio management through an online platform serving individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses model ETF portfolios based on client profiles and manages accounts electronically with automated implementation and rebalancing.

Norman Chiodras is a CFP® professional with 40 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been associated with Mack Investment Securities, Inc. for 36 years and owns Retirement Planners, Inc. (dba RPI, Inc.), where financial planning and fixed insurance products are offered. Outside of finance, he is a freelance trumpet player with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and serves as treasurer for Holy Spirit Ministries, a nonprofit organization, as well as a board member of the Briarwood Lakes HOA in Oak Brook, IL. Mack Investment Securities, Inc. advises individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and other custodial accounts through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager-of-managers programs, and financial planning. The firm’s investment approach combines oversight of independent sub-advisers with firm-run model strategies that employ technical, seasonal, and tactical indicators, allowing for tactical asset shifts and use of ETFs, including leveraged and inverse products.

Christopher Hurst is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 14 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Oak Mountain Advisors LLC since 2012, working as one of two advisors at the firm based in Chicago, IL. Oak Mountain Advisors serves high-net-worth and individual clients through separately managed accounts and a private pooled vehicle for accredited investors. The firm employs a value-conscious, research-driven investment approach focused on economic fundamentals and company analysis, managing portfolios on a discretionary basis with attention to tax implications and detailed governance practices.

Thomas Haugh is a financial advisor at Wells Street Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Street Advisors since 2019. Prior to this, he was with Najarian Family Office and PTI Securities & Futures L.P. He hosts a radio program called Stocks and Jocks focused on retirement topics and has served on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Board Options Exchange. 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 analysis, technical analysis, and third-party research, and offers a Protected Index Program aimed at downside protection.

Ree Grossman is a financial advisor at North South Capital, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Lasalle St. Securities, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Global Markets, and Merrill. Grossman serves on a local school council board in Chicago on a volunteer basis. North South Capital serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, estates, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, retirement plan advisory services, financial planning, and insurance product recommendations, with an investment approach that includes multiple analysis methods and tailored asset-class allocations.

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.

Daniel Haugh is a financial advisor at Wells Street Advisors, LLC with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has served in roles at Wells Street Advisors since 2014 and PTI Securities & Futures L.P. since 1987. Wells Street Advisors, LLC is an independent investment management firm providing discretionary asset management to individuals, family offices, trusts, retirement plans, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a combination of quantitative analysis, technical research, and external resources in its investment process and offers a Protected Index Program designed for downside protection.

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.

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.

Michael Cameron is a financial advisor at Savant Investment Advisers, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Savant & Associates, Inc. since 2013. His other business activities include insurance sales focused on fixed annuities and life insurance. Savant provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach centers on asset-allocation planning and risk tolerance, offering model and advisor-managed portfolios with continuous monitoring and periodic rebalancing.

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.