Julie Hupp is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 20 years of industry experience. She is currently with Vertex Partners and has held prior roles at Aspire Planning Group LLC, Highpoint Advisor Group, and LPL Financial among others. She is also a faculty member at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Vertex Partners provides comprehensive advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable and corporate entities. The firm emphasizes asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance through a combination of active and passive investment strategies.

James Marquez is a CFP® professional with 2 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc in Downers Grove, IL. He has been with Capstone since 2015. Capstone Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and tax preparation services, with an investment approach that emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning.

Alex Ingardona is a financial advisor at Feldman, Ingardona & Co with over 41 years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since 1997. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of a metal stamping company, holding a minority ownership interest. Feldman, Ingardona & Co provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. The firm focuses on long-term strategic asset allocation with discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs across active and passive strategies.

Timothy Olmstead is a financial advisor with Signature Financial Services, Ltd in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with multiple related entities within the Signature group since 2000, including First Heartland Capital, Inc. and Signature Brokerage Services Inc. Signature Financial Services provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach is asset-allocation driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, utilizing model portfolios, institutional strategists, and a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds and ETFs.

Charles Millington is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience. He is the president of Millington & Co and a manager at Millington Financial Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2000 and 2011, respectively. Prior to these roles, he spent 12 years at MacGregor Global Investments, LLC. Millington Financial Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, families, estates, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, providing discretionary investment management along with financial planning, pension consulting, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm incorporates tax planning and estate-planning facilitation into its offerings and manages portfolios using a mix of equities, fixed income, mutual funds/ETFs, alternative investments, and third-party managers.

Michael Leigh is a financial advisor at Wellment Financial with a Series 65 designation and one year of experience in advisory roles. He has over two decades of experience as a CPA through his own tax preparation business and has worked previously at firms including Jesser Ravid Jason Basso & Farber, LLC and Gilson, Labus & Silverman, LLC. Outside of advisory services, he continues to provide tax preparation on a part-time basis. Wellment Financial serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional sponsors by offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm utilizes vetted model portfolios and a sub-advisor platform emphasizing tax-aware retirement planning, managing approximately $237 million in discretionary assets.

Jared Winkers is a financial advisor at Rothschild Wealth LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. His prior experience includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and QCR Holdings. Rothschild Wealth LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate executives, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional and tax-exempt entities. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and coordinates tax and estate planning, utilizing asset-allocation models and quantitative tools to manage diversified investment portfolios.

Ryan Williamson is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Horizon Wealth Management since 2014 and has worked with LPL Financial for over two decades. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author of a financial planning book and plays guitar in a band. Horizon Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary investment management and financial planning with a long-term, fiduciary approach, managing diversified portfolios and offering ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Michael Sedlak is a CFP® and CFA® with 24 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Sikich Financial and also serves as a manager for Golden Trail Advisers, where he has worked since 2010. Sedlak holds a Series 63 license and is based in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Sikich Financial is an SEC-registered wealth management firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a diversified, asset-class-based investment approach emphasizing passive strategies and integrates investment management with financial planning and retirement plan consulting.

Kenneth Dow is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience and currently serves at SAGE Private Wealth Group, LLC. He is the owner and managing partner of The Dow Group, a support company. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Raymond James Financial Services. SAGE Private Wealth Group is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers wealth management and discretionary portfolio management using a client-specific process that incorporates equities, debt instruments, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and alternative investments.

Ryan Robinson is an advisor at XXI Wealth, LLC in Chicago, IL. He has no prior industry experience but has worked in roles at the University of Southern California, Arizona State University Foundation, and University of Michigan from 2016 to the present. XXI Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services. The firm constructs customized portfolios using equities, fixed income, index funds, ETFs, direct indexing, and alternative investments, and it employs active oversight of third-party money managers.

Steven Fletcher is a financial advisor at 1834 Investment Advisors Co. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Old National Bank and Raymond James Financial Services. Fletcher serves as a Retirement Plan Services Advisor for both 1834 Investment Advisors and Old National Bank, which are both owned by Old National Bancorp. 1834 Investment Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and customized portfolio strategies across multiple asset classes, with a primary focus on discretionary management, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Old National Bancorp.

Ethan Rowe is a financial advisor with Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual and Summit Global Investments. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based advisory firm managing approximately $312 million in client assets. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts through a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services, using both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Cole Vickrey is a financial advisor with IntentGen Financial Partners in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked with firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Thrivent Investment Management. IntentGen Financial Partners provides asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and profit sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs a multi-advisor team structure and uses a variety of investment methods to construct portfolios that incorporate equities, fixed income, options, REITs, private funds, and other alternatives.

John Ferrante is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group since 2007 and previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network. Ferrante is the owner of JAF Wealth Management, Inc., a private entity that facilitates securities, advisory, and insurance business. Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers customized wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning, utilizing a broad range of securities and investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Jack Ayotte is a financial advisor with IntentGen Financial Partners in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera and Thrivent Advisor Network, and he is also the managing member of Ayotte Decker LLC, a CPA firm he has operated since 1991. IntentGen Financial Partners provides asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm manages approximately $756 million in discretionary and non-discretionary accounts through a multi-advisor team and employs a diverse investment approach incorporating modern portfolio theory, fundamental and technical analysis, quantitative models, and third-party manager research.

Robert Bretl is a financial advisor with Wellment Financial in Elmhurst, IL, holding a Series 65 credential and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at FSR Wealth Management, Ltd. since 2017 and has been involved with FSR Certified Public Accountants, Ltd. since 2004, where he assists with tax return preparation. Wellment Financial provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional sponsors. The firm utilizes vetted model portfolios and a sub-advisor platform focused on tax-aware retirement planning, managing approximately $237 million in discretionary assets.

David Navarro is a CFP® and ChFC® with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group since 2007 and previously worked at CommonWealth Financial Network. Navarro is president and owner of Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group and serves as a 401(k) and brokerage cash balance plan trustee for the firm. Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers customized wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning, employing a wide range of investment strategies and securities tailored to client objectives.

Matthew Mc Wherter is a financial advisor with Pendulum Wealth Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. He serves as president of The Robert Michael Wood Foundation, a nonprofit supporting families of children affected by pediatric stroke and NICU. Pendulum Wealth Partners provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, diversified investment approach and operates alongside an affiliated tax and accounting firm, offering integrated services under common control.

Charles Millington is a financial advisor at Millington Financial Advisors, LLC in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 65 credential with two years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in the food service industry and has been a full-time student for several years. Millington Financial Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, families, estates, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, offering discretionary investment management along with financial planning, pension consulting, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm integrates tax planning and estate-planning facilitation into its services and manages portfolios using a diversified approach that includes equities, fixed income, mutual funds/ETFs, alternative investments, and third-party managers.