Andrew Grider is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leelyn Smith, LLC. His career includes roles at LPL Financial and National Planning Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in tax preparation and accounting through ownership of Leelyn Smith Tax, LLC. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, businesses, and trusts. The firm employs a range of investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs, utilizing both in-house and external managers, and supports clients with technology platforms for reporting, risk analysis, and tax-efficient asset management.

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 at Vertex Partners with over 24 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has worked at LPL Financial and HighPoint Advisor Group prior to joining Vertex Planning Partners. In addition to his advisory role, he is a partner at Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC, which provides tax preparation and accounting services. Vertex Partners offers advisory services to a diverse client base, including 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 mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and independent managers.

Martin Fogarty is a Series 66-licensed advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He currently serves at Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc and has prior experience at Capital Point Financial Group, Ltd. Additionally, he is the founding attorney of The Heartland Law Firm, where he has worked since 2000. Total Clarity Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and 401(k) plan sponsors, using a variety of investment vehicles and customized approaches.

Christopher Huston is a financial advisor with Vertex Partners in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Vertex Planning Partners since 2016 and worked with LPL Financial for nine years. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Reflexivity LLC, a business entity unrelated to investment activities. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable and corporate entities, offering financial planning, investment and wealth management, consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset allocation, diversification, and behavioral finance, utilizing both active and passive strategies through a variety of portfolios and third-party manager platforms.

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 serving as a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. in Libertyville, IL, where he has worked since 2007. His prior roles include positions at Midway Wealth Partners, LLC and Summit Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, Mr. Rollins is involved in managing a home-based service program that hires and approves personal service workers for his disabled brother. World Equity Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs both model-based and customized investment approaches and offers a range of portfolio management and retirement planning services.

William Boscow is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience, currently with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Downers Grove, IL. His career includes roles at several firms such as Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Arete Wealth Management LLC. Outside of advisory work, he serves on the board of the University of ND Alumni Club, leading its community service committee, and works as an insurance producer with limited hours devoted to that activity. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion across over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a wide range of services, including advisor-managed, separately managed, and unified managed accounts, and implements investment strategies tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances through a multi-custodian platform.

Janet Redding is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Lincoln Investment Planning and has been there since 2013. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizing in-house investment models and third-party managers, and provides services with varying levels of discretionary authority.

Sean Hughes is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Watch Advisors, INC, where he has worked since 2021, and previously worked at FOUNDATIONS INVESTMENT ADVISORS, LLC and Hughes & Dern Financial Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent involved in Medicare, life, and annuity sales. Wealth Watch Advisors serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party model portfolios. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach implemented through approved sub-advisors and offers services to a diverse client base including pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations.

Gerhard Axen is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal Financial Partners since 2008 and has also operated as a self-employed advisor since 1996. Outside of advisory services, he is a managing partner at Timberland Financial, an insurance sales business specializing in life, health, disability, and group insurance. 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 provides investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions.

Brian Callaghan is a financial advisor at First Advisors National, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at CIH Consulting since 2022, focusing on commodities consulting and client services outside of investment activities. Prior to that, he held roles at MHT Business Development and Datrium. First Advisors National manages discretionary assets for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering investment management, third-party portfolio recommendations, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes selecting and monitoring third-party money managers and uses fundamental analysis to support supplemental individual security recommendations.

Gilberto Arias Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts, holding a Series 66 license and over 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 2007. Outside of advisory work, he serves as Vice President and Secretary of a nonprofit condominium association and holds leadership roles in cooperative real estate management. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs and advisory services. The firm’s investment decisions are guided by an in-house research team using proprietary screening processes, with a business model that supports advisors in offering complementary outside activities alongside advisory services.

David Taylor III is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Practice Management Consultants, LLC. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Valerie Love Parker is a financial advisor at Capital Analysts with 22 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2017, following a two-year tenure at Legend Equities Corporation. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in community advocacy and health and wellness promotion, including volunteer work with local organizations and providing access to vitamin and mineral supplements. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management guided by an in-house investment team using proprietary screening tools, with a model that supports advisor-managed and third-party portfolios.

Benjamin Weinberger is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Capital Analysts, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Investment, Cetera, and self-employment ventures. Outside of advisory work, he provides insurance services related to life and long-term care products. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs and access to third-party managers. The firm employs an in-house investment research team and offers automated rebalancing, tax-aware options, and a range of client agreement structures.

William Karstenson Jr. is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2010 and has operated Karstenson Financial Services since 1997. Outside of his advisory work, Karstenson serves as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago, performing liturgical and ministerial duties. 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 a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across various asset classes.