Matthew Michel is a financial advisor at Vital Wealth Management, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Vital Wealth Management in 2024, he worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. for eight years. Vital Wealth Management provides investment management and integrated financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm uses portfolio optimization and efficient-frontier analysis to create diversified allocations and offers fiduciary retirement plan services along with account aggregation and performance monitoring tools.

Ian Dillow is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Dillow Wealth Management LLC with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining his current firm in 2025, he worked at Dexian and attended High Point University. Dillow Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis to construct customized portfolios using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs along with individual securities and alternative investments.

Yoo Chung Chang is a financial advisor at Upstart Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Upstart Wealth Management, he worked at yooVIN and has a background that includes roles in the restaurant industry. He serves as a board member for the nonprofit CHAAD, where he assists with tax-related issues. Upstart Wealth Management provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs discretionary, asset-allocation strategies using model portfolios and implements them through various vehicles, including separately managed accounts and ETFs, with a notable use of derivatives and margin.

Charles Campbell is a financial advisor at BlackWatch Financial Group, LLC with 37 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining BlackWatch Financial Group, he worked at U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. for eight years. BlackWatch Financial Group serves ultra‑high‑net‑worth families and charitable organizations, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and multi‑family office services. The firm uses a customized investment approach that includes mean‑variance optimization across a range of traditional and alternative asset classes, along with ongoing portfolio monitoring and consolidated reporting.

Jennifer Johnson is a financial advisor at Pinelight Financial PLLC in Riverside, Illinois, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning her advisory career in 2025. She previously worked for 16 years at the Social Security Administration. Pinelight Financial serves individual clients, retirement and pension plans, and business clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach combining active management, core+satellite strategies, and modern portfolio theory, and operates an affiliated accounting practice offering tax and accounting services under separate agreements.

Thomas Laughlin is a Series 65 licensed advisor with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Signet Private Wealth, LLC since 2019 and is also involved with Andiamo Vento LLC and Twende Investment Group. He previously worked at Halliard Soap Company, LLC from 2016 to 2018. Signet Private Wealth LLC provides investment advice and wealth management primarily to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a value-oriented, long-term investment approach using fundamental and technical analysis, strategic asset allocation, and offers services including portfolio management, financial planning, and assistance with IRA rollovers and IPO participation.

Bahdan Yakavenka is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of experience at BMO Capital Markets and prior experience at CDW and Y???venka Capital Management, totaling four years in the financial industry. He is based in Chicago, IL, and is affiliated with Lestna Retirement, LLC. Lestna Retirement is a fee-only wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and various institutional clients. The firm focuses on a long-term, strategic asset allocation approach using diversified, low-cost vehicles, with services that include fiduciary consulting and discretionary investment management.

Mark Doyle is a financial advisor at Clement Street Capital LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been managing his own advisory firm, Mark J Doyle Advisors LLC, since 2011. Additionally, he serves as Managing Director of Entrust Services, a non-investment business providing bill payment and financial reporting services, where he consults on operations. Clement Street Capital provides discretionary asset management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for high-net-worth individuals, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, and other legal entities. The firm builds tailored investment portfolios using a mix of equities, fixed income, ETFs, REITs, alternatives, private placements, and options, with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing.

Brendan Moody is a financial advisor with Watershed Private Wealth LLC in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Spotlight Asset Group and Fidelity Investments. Moody serves as treasurer for the Fisher Falcon Education Foundation in a volunteer capacity. Watershed Private Wealth provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, and pension plans, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various investment strategies including direct indexing and cryptocurrency-linked ETFs. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and modern portfolio theory analyses to create customized investment programs aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerance.

Nicholas Kalivas is a financial advisor at Fortune Financial Group, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at Invesco Distributors, Inc. for 13 years before joining Fortune Financial Group in 2026. Fortune Financial Group provides financial planning and discretionary investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs long-term investment strategies using active and passive mutual funds and ETFs, offering comprehensive planning across multiple financial areas and managing approximately $141 million in client assets.

Thomas Theodore is a financial advisor with Wealth Strategies Counselors, Inc. in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has worked at FSC Securities Corporation and Tax & Investment Services Inc. and serves as president of Wealth Strategies Counselors. Outside of advisory work, he owns a tax preparation and bookkeeping firm and participates as vice president on the board of his office condominium association. Wealth Strategies Counselors, Inc. offers personalized financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and business entities. The firm emphasizes written, tailored plans with a combination of fundamental and technical investment analysis, generally favoring long-term purchase strategies, and operates primarily on fixed fees or retainers without discretionary portfolio management.

Nicole Kustok is a financial advisor at Evansbrook Capital Management with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Romano Brothers and Company, Madison Capital Funding, and Sharmac Capital Funding. Kustok has been with Evansbrook Capital Management since 2023. Evansbrook Capital Management serves individual clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, charities, and retirement plans, providing discretionary investment management, custom portfolio construction, and qualified plan consulting. The firm uses a strategic, diversified asset-allocation framework supported by various analytical approaches and manages over $225 million with a small advisory team.

David Thompson is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is a principal at Thompson Capital Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2019, and also serves as a portfolio manager and trader at Little Harbor Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Kaizen Advisory, LLC and Typhon Capital. Thompson Capital Management provides investment management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as sub-advisory services to other investment advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach across multiple strategies, utilizing equities, fixed income, options, and exchange-traded products, including derivatives and VIX-linked instruments, to implement tactical risk-management and quantitative elements.

Pamela Lambert is a financial advisor at Ziv Investment Company in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Ziv Investment Company since 2000. Ziv Investment Company provides discretionary portfolio management and securities and retirement-planning advice to individuals, businesses, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $22.9 million, focusing on tailored investment strategies that incorporate both fundamental and technical analysis, generally favoring long-term equity holdings and cash-equivalent instruments.

Daniel Mauro is a financial advisor at Patrick Mauro Investment Advisor, Inc. with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Patrick Mauro Investment Advisor, Inc. since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chief Investment Officer for Army Capital, LLC, a proprietary equity trading and investment entity, in a non-compensated capacity. Patrick Mauro Investment Advisor, Inc. is an SEC-registered firm that manages discretionary portfolios for individuals, pension plans, trusts, and various entities. The firm employs tailored investment strategies including laddered bonds and growth-and-income equities, and integrates coordinated tax and estate planning through third-party providers.

Freddy Garcia is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with firms including Fidelity and MetLife Investment Fund Services LLC, and currently serves at Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC, alongside roles at Capitas Financial Midwest LLC and The Leaders Group, Inc. Left Brain Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, and tax-exempt entities, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consultative reviews. The firm employs a proprietary platform combining fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis to tailor investment advice across various asset classes, including individual equities, fixed income, and options strategies.

Prakhar Bansal is a CFA® charterholder with one year of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at V2 Financial Group, LLC. Prior to joining V2 Financial Group, he spent eleven years at The University of Chicago and took a year for extended travel. V2 Financial Group provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals and small businesses, managing approximately $350 million in client assets. The firm’s investment approach combines modern portfolio theory with macroeconomic and behavioral analysis, using strategic allocations along with tactical adjustments informed by fundamental and technical research.

Alice Brown is a financial advisor at CB3 Financial Group, Inc. in Glen Ellyn, IL, with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with CB3 Financial Group since 2006. CB3 Financial Group provides investment management and wealth-planning services to individuals, families, business entities, and non-profit organizations. The firm offers actively managed equity and bond strategies, derivatives, and alternative investments through discretionary portfolio management programs that utilize fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis.

John Davis is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and has been with Mentor Capital Management Inc. since 1992. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory work, he is part owner and treasurer of Elmhurst Tailgate Inc., a dog daycare and boarding business. Mentor Capital Management Inc. provides fee-only wealth management and financial planning services primarily for individual clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis within a broad asset-allocation framework, favoring passive, low-expense, index-based strategies for long-term holdings.

Daniel Alberth is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently with Athena Advisor Services, LLC, where he has worked for 15 years. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the Schaumburg High School Band Boosters and co-hosts the Fierce Fiduciary Podcast, which focuses on financial education. Athena Advisor Services, LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, managing approximately $82.2 million for about 187 clients. The firm offers discretionary asset management and financial planning, employing a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various investment strategies with regular portfolio supervision and rebalancing.