Mark Burka is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Mendel Money Management Inc. since 2022, having previously worked at Ziegler Capital Management, LLC for 17 years. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of directors for Indian Peaks Brewing Company and participates on endowment committees for nonprofit music organizations. Mendel Money Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and consulting to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm manages approximately $317 million in client assets and uses a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis supported by third-party research, with a distinctive use of options and other derivatives primarily for income generation or protection.

Frank Iozzo is a financial advisor at FMI Financial, Ltd. with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Capital Strategies, Inc. Group since 2015, J.P. Morgan Securities since 2011, and Chase Investment Services Corp. from 2010 to 2011. FMI Financial, Ltd. provides investment advisory services to institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, corporate retirement plans, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and financial planning with a focus on long-term, diversified strategies.

Benjamin Armstrong is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Conifer Bay Capital LLC since 2017 and previously worked at RMB Capital Management, LLC from 2011 to 2017. Armstrong is a part owner and manager of Belgravia Partners LLC, a family-owned investment entity. Conifer Bay Capital LLC provides fee-based portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis along with modern portfolio theory, and includes unique practices such as margin trading and option strategies.

Dale Branda is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Steward Advisors, LLC since 2016. He holds a Series 65 license and is based in Chicago, IL. Steward Advisors serves individuals, businesses, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and family offices with fee-based financial planning and private portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $137 million in assets and integrates financial planning into its services, utilizing diversified portfolios and documented reporting practices.

Daniel Schlesser is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 37 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at Tilden Loucks Woodnorth LLC, LaSalle St. Financial, Inc., McDermott LaSalle St Inc, and related LaSalle St. entities. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies across multiple asset classes and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets.

Mark Vincent is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Stonebrook Capital Management, Inc. since 2001. Stonebrook Capital Management provides personalized, fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses, managing approximately $70.3 million for about 108 clients. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to create custom asset-allocation strategies with an emphasis on diversification and defensive tactics.

Martin Jankelowitz is a Series 65 licensed advisor at The Planning Group with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining The Planning Group, he worked at Willis Towers Watson for five years and operated an independent consulting business from 2021 to 2023. He continues to engage in independent consulting, dedicating part of his time to this activity. The Planning Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities through a multi-advisor team, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning tailored to client goals. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory to construct long-term, asset-allocation-driven portfolios, primarily using mutual funds and ETFs.

Daniel Carroll is a financial advisor at Stride Investments, LLC in Chicago, IL, with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for five years. Outside of advising, he is also licensed to sell insurance and spends a portion of his time on insurance sales and services. Stride Investments, LLC provides fee-based investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate accounts, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on purpose-based investing and retirement-income planning, using proprietary tools to document goals and asset allocation, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Michael Perna is a financial advisor at First Choice Financial Services LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been involved in the financial and insurance services industry since 1983, serving as president of Michael Perna and Associates, Inc. and First Choice Insurance Agency. First Choice Financial Services LLC provides financial advice to individual and high-net-worth clients primarily through referrals to third-party money managers and offers estate-planning support services. The firm focuses on client communication, oversight of third-party managers, and employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its recommendations.

Mark Murphy is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL. His career includes roles at JMC Wealth Management, Inc. and LPL Financial LLC, where he has been active since 2014. Murphy also provides financial planning and consulting services through JMC Wealth Management, Inc., an independent investment advisor firm. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection, serving clients through discretionary management and third-party strategist models.

Mary Mermel is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Sullivan Mermel, Inc., where she has worked since 1998. The firm provides fee-only, holistic financial planning and investment management for individuals and families, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients. Sullivan Mermel emphasizes a retainer-based fee model, non-discretionary trade implementation, and investment strategies tailored to clients’ tax situations, risk tolerance, and cash-flow needs.

Joshua Betancourt is a financial advisor with Quantum Capital Investments, Inc. in River Forest, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Quantum Capital since 2009 and Quantum Capital Investments since 2011. Betancourt also has a Master’s Degree in Accounting and provides accounting and tax planning services. Quantum Capital Investments, Inc. offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm uses a range of investment strategies tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, including fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and incorporates affiliated tax planning and insurance services.

Paul Mardoian is a CFP® with 37 years of industry experience, currently serving at Bayworth Capital since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Fairhaven Wealth Management and Triad Advisors. He also operates a sole proprietorship providing insurance and retirement plan services. Bayworth Capital offers financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $62.7 million in discretionary assets and tailors portfolios using a range of investment strategies while providing ongoing account monitoring.

Dane Rutstein is a financial advisor at I2I Analytics LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with I2I Analytics since 2013. I2I Analytics LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial consultation primarily to affluent and high-net-worth individuals and their families. The firm combines a long-term belief in market efficiency with tactical asset allocation, employing both fundamental and technical analysis, and places a strong emphasis on equity option strategies as a core risk-management and income tool.

Timothy Perryman is a CFP® with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with Mirretti Perryman Wealth Strategies, LLC and has prior experience at Pinnacle Insurance and Financial Services, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he works as an independent insurance agent. Mirretti Perryman Wealth Strategies, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services to individuals, trusts, and retirement plans, utilizing risk-based and tax-aware model portfolios alongside third-party sub-advisers.

Edward Gjertsen II is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Engage Wealth Group, LLC since 2020. Prior to this, he has worked at Mack Investment Securities since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates GJERTSEN IMAGES, selling prints of sports and wildlife photography online. Engage Wealth Group provides investment advisory and wealth management services to individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, foundations, and trusts. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis for portfolio construction and offers discretionary management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting.

Todd Schrade is a financial advisor at Midway Capital Research & Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Midway Capital Research & Management since 2014. Midway Capital Research & Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a bottom-up fundamental research investment process with a value-oriented approach and offers customized portfolios to address both long-term growth and short-term liquidity needs.

Joseph Kruse is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Kruse Asset Management, LLC since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with YCharts.com, contributing to research and the development of ranking and rating systems based on fundamental characteristics. Kruse Asset Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, and select institutional clients. The firm employs a blend of modern portfolio theory, proprietary quantitative equity models, and security-ranking systems, and offers a range of investment strategies including options and alternative exposures.

Javier De La Torre is a Series 65-credentialed advisor with 0 years of industry experience. He is currently with 103 Advisory Group and has prior experience at Hightower Advisors and several other firms. 103 Advisory Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, and business-development consulting for financial institutions. The firm combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with fundamental and technical analysis and manages a relatively large asset base for a limited number of clients.

Matthew Shapiro is a financial advisor at MWS Capital Consultants LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has been with MWS Capital Consultants since 2003. The firm provides personalized investment management, wealth-planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, personal trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. MWS Capital Consultants emphasizes a Classic Portfolio Management strategy focused on fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, managing mostly discretionary portfolios while allowing client-imposed restrictions and interactive financial planning through the eMoney Advisor platform.