Jason Telford is a CFP® and CFA® with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Capstone Financial Advisors, Inc. since 2004. Capstone Financial Advisors serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning, pension consulting, tax preparation, and access to private fund investments. Its investment approach emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party sub-advisers under an Investment Committee’s oversight.

Kevin Carter is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at Carter Financial Group, Inc. and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2019. His prior experience includes five years at VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory roles, he is an independent insurance agent focusing on life, health, and Medicare supplement insurance. Carter Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios and quantitative analysis combined with external platforms to manage client assets, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with specialized services such as retirement plan participant account management and cash management solutions.

Cynthia Mittlestaedt is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vertex Partners. Her prior roles include positions at Edward Jones, Aspire Planning Group, and Highpoint Planning Partners. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and consulting. The firm’s approach combines asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance principles, utilizing both active and passive strategies implemented through a range of investment vehicles and third-party platforms.

Justin Nolan is a financial advisor at Essex LLC with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has been with Essex LLC since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Nolan serves as a director for FPI Inc., a forging industry company, and participates on the finance committee of Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Illinois. Essex LLC is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, pension, and charitable organizations. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios using a multi-member investment policy committee and employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis across various asset classes.

Carter King is a financial advisor with Clearwater Capital Partners, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Ascensus and Royal Valet Tulsa, as well as educational positions at Oral Roberts University and Westminster Christian School. Clearwater Capital Partners offers family office services, private wealth management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan advising. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, sovereign wealth funds, and governmental entities, employing a range of investment strategies and offering access to alternative investments and private placements.

Tina Barrile is a CFP® and CFA® with 19 years of industry experience. She is currently with The Dala Group, LLC and has previously worked at Northern Trust Co., BDF LLC / Corient, and Hemsley & Associates, Ltd. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients through portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm combines fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies using a range of investment vehicles tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Andrew Grider is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Leelyn Smith, LLC since 2011 and has held roles at LPL Financial and National Planning Corporation. Grider is also involved with Leelyn Smith Tax, LLC, a firm providing tax preparation and accounting services. Leelyn Smith, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm employs model-based and individualized portfolio allocations across a range of investment vehicles and utilizes various technology platforms and third-party managers in its advisory process.

Edward Scoby is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC since 2015. He also has a tenure with LPL Financial dating back to 2010. Outside of his advisory roles, he collaborates with One Resource Group to provide life insurance, long-term care insurance, and fixed annuities. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and 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 to tailor portfolios, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Gregory Benner is a financial advisor with Vertex Partners in Downers Grove, IL, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 24 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Highpoint Advisor Group, LPL Financial, Chase Investment Services, and Banc One Securities. Benner is also involved in an accounting practice, Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC, which offers tax preparation and CPA services. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable and corporate entities. The firm’s investment approach focuses on asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance, utilizing a combination of active and passive strategies across various investment vehicles and third-party platforms.

Martin Fogarty is a financial advisor with Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Total Clarity in 2024, he was with Capital Point Financial Group, Ltd. for seven years. In addition to his advisory work, he is the founder and practicing attorney at The Heartland Law Firm since 2000. Total Clarity Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and 401(k) plan sponsors, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and donor-advised fund support. The firm employs customized asset allocations, utilizes multiple managed account programs, and incorporates third-party model portfolios while offering specialized strategies for sophisticated investors.

Sean Baloun is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license, with six years of industry experience. He is currently associated with Vertex Partners, where he has worked since 2022, and previously worked at The Mather Group and LPL Financial. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and corporate entities, offering financial planning, wealth management, and consulting. The firm emphasizes asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance, employing a blend of active and passive investments across various platforms and strategies.

Christopher Huston is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked with firms including LPL Financial and Highpoint Advisor Group, LLC, now operating as Vertex Planning Partners. Huston is also involved with Reflexivity LLC, a non-investment-related business entity used for tax and investment purposes. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and various entities through financial planning, investment and wealth management, and consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance using both active and passive strategies implemented via multiple platforms and tax-aware overlays.

Erik Miller is a financial advisor at Essex LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Essex, he worked at Safe Harbor Wealth Advisors and has a background including roles at Miami University and several golf and country clubs. Essex LLC is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $649 million across 576 client accounts. The firm employs a multi-member investment policy committee to guide portfolio construction using a combination of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis across various asset classes.

Marty Grzynkowicz is a financial advisor at Acrylic Financial, Inc. with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked at Acrylic Financial since 2020. Prior to this, he was affiliated with Interactive Financial Advisors, Brooklight Place Securities, and Cornerstone Financial Group, where he also serves as president of an insurance brokerage. Acrylic Financial, Inc. provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, other advisers, corporations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm manages approximately $58.4 million in discretionary assets, employing a combination of asset-allocation frameworks, momentum models, fundamental and technical analysis, and modern portfolio theory to tailor client programs to their goals and risk tolerance.

Chad Nolte is a financial advisor at Model Wealth with a Series 65 credential and no prior industry experience. His background includes roles at RSM US LLP and Walgreens, among other positions. Model Wealth, Inc. is a virtual, fee-only financial planning and wealth management firm serving individuals, families, estates, trusts, and small businesses. The firm follows a broadly passive investment approach emphasizing cost-effective, tax-aware implementation and integrates robo-managed strategies and direct indexing within a flat annual fee structure.

Michele Strauts is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Park Ridge, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Ausdal Financial Partners since 2010. Outside of her advisory work, Michele is an online influencer focusing on interior design, seasonal decor, and table setting. 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 both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across a wide range of investment products.

Todd Rollins is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL. He has previously worked at Summit Financial, LLC and Midway Wealth Partners, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing personal service workers who assist his disabled brother through a home-based service program. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

William Boscow is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. He holds the ChFC® designation and has 25 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Arete Wealth Management LLC, and Cabot Lodge Securities LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member and leads the community service committee for the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club. 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 broad range of services including advisor-managed and separately managed accounts, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning, with investment strategies tailored to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

Janet Redding is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013 and previously held positions at Legend Advisory, Oberweis Securities, and Ameritas Investment Company. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, custom and model portfolios, third-party manager access, and retirement-plan advice. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management approaches and supports its services through a nationwide network of independent advisors and firm-managed programs.

Sean Hughes is a Series 66-licensed advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Watch Advisors, Inc and has previously worked at FOUNDATIONS INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC and Hughes & Dern Financial Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is an independent insurance agent involved in Medicare, life, and annuity sales. Wealth Watch Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and financial institutions. The firm employs a mix of quantitative, qualitative, and technical methods, utilizing third-party model managers for portfolio management across a broad range of investment strategies.