Michael Lamke is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at Lamke Financial LLC in Wheaton, IL. In addition to his advisory role, he has been a manager at AT&T since 1984. Lamke Financial provides financial planning and investment guidance to individuals, families, and small businesses, focusing on tailored advice for retirement, estate, and tax planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, safety-oriented investment approach using passive equity exposures, dividend stocks, and fixed-income instruments, and operates on an hourly or project-based fee model without discretionary trading authority.

Alka Oberoi is a financial advisor with Leading Edge Wealth Management, LLC in Rolling Meadows, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 33 years of industry experience. She has been with Leading Edge Wealth Management since 2008 and also has experience with Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC and Copley Alternative Investments Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in retirement income and comprehensive planning through fixed life insurance products. Leading Edge Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients and their related trusts and estates, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, written financial planning, and educational seminars. The firm applies a client-specific investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing a range of institutional mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party models, and incorporates quantitative methods and third-party research in its analysis and implementation.

Rolando Intia is a financial advisor at ITaxAndInvestments, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lakeshore Capital Group, J.W. Cole Advisors, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. ITaxAndInvestments, Inc. offers tax preparation, financial planning, and discretionary portfolio management services to a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm combines investment advisory with tax and accounting services, using model portfolios and maintaining client accounts on a discretionary basis through the Altruist Financial custodial platform.

Gary Byrne is a financial advisor at Carlisle Financial Management, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Great Northern Financial since 2006. Carlisle Financial Management provides portfolio management and investment supervisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis. The firm employs a range of strategies including options writing and short-term trading, managing approximately $38.2 million for about 25 clients without account minimums.

At Wysopal Wealth, we specialize in helping high-income professionals and former athletes manage the complexities of equity compensation and variable income. Our goal is to make sure your money works for you—today and for the future. We focus on creating personalized, values-driven financial plans that allow you to live fully now while planning for what’s next. I’m Brett Wysopal, a proud girl dad of two and a former minor pro hockey player. My experience in sports taught me discipline, focus, and resilience, all of which I apply to financial planning. After spending years navigating the world of equity compensation, I’ve made it my mission to help families simplify their finances, reduce tax burdens, and achieve their life goals. Our approach at Wysopal Wealth is rooted in personalized attention. We keep our client list small, ensuring every client receives the time and care they deserve. We dive deep into your financial situation, understanding your numbers, values, and what matters most to you. This allows us to tailor your financial strategy to your unique goals, whether that’s managing your equity, preparing for retirement, or planning a family legacy. Equity compensation is often the largest part of our clients' wealth, but it comes with complexities—ISOs, RSUs, stock options, and significant tax implications. Many people wait too long to make decisions about their equity, resulting in missed opportunities or unexpected tax bills. At Wysopal Wealth, we take a proactive approach, creating a strategy for when and how to execute your equity plans, minimize tax liability, and diversify your holdings. At Wysopal Wealth, financial happiness is the goal. We believe that money should support the life you want, and we’re here to help you make that happen.

Robert Salzman is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at RB Salzman Wealth Management, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2015. The firm provides wealth and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutions. RB Salzman Wealth Management emphasizes a goal-focused wealth analysis and strategic planning approach, incorporating diversified portfolios, scenario analyses, and regular reviews to manage approximately $35.6 million in assets across 29 client relationships.

Brenda Knox is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Financial Elements, Inc. since 2008. Financial Elements, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using globally diversified portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, and operates as a small, fee-only advisory practice with multiple professional fiduciary credentials.

Dennis Karstens is a financial advisor at Karstens Wealth in Oak Brook, IL, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Interactive Financial Advisors for eight years. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner-member of Karstens Financial LLC. Karstens Wealth serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses, and retirement plans, offering comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. The firm employs a primarily passive, cost- and tax-efficient investment approach, with flexibility to use active management when appropriate, and integrates digital planning tools alongside discretionary account management.

Christopher Jones is a CFP® certificant and Series 66 license holder with 14 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 10 years before founding Azalea Wealth Management LLC, where he has been the sole advisor since 2020. Azalea Wealth Management LLC is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, using tailored strategies that include option writing and structured products alongside conventional investments, combining technical, fundamental, and modern portfolio theory analyses.

Shawn Roberts is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with three years of experience in the financial industry. He is the principal of SMR Strategic Investments, LLC and has prior experience managing trading-related businesses, including SMR Crescent LLC and Shawn M. Roberts Trading Company. Outside of financial advisory, he serves as Assistant Treasurer for the Glen Ellyn Library Foundation, where he assists with investment decisions and financial reporting. SMR Strategic Investments, LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individual clients, focusing on ongoing portfolio management and financial planning. The firm manages approximately $8.6 million in assets across 16 client relationships.

Daniel Short is the sole advisor at Directional Asset Management, LLC in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Directional Asset Management since 2010 and previously worked at JVM Securities LLC and JVM Realty Corp. Outside of advising, he owns the commercial property leased to his firm. Directional Asset Management, LLC is an independent, single-advisor registered investment adviser serving individual, high-net-worth, and charitable clients. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to construct customized investment portfolios and employs strategies including discretionary management, options, margin, and third-party managers where authorized.

Nancy Doyle is a CFA® charterholder with one year of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Manage Your Financial Life in Northfield, IL. She has been associated with The Doyle Group, LLC since 2003. Manage Your Financial Life is an independent, fee-only advisory firm that provides financial consulting and planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers collaborative, hourly-based planning engagements, blending traditional investment analysis with financial therapy, and does not provide discretionary portfolio management or custody of client assets.

Eeshan Ahuja is a financial advisor at Baker Street Investment Partners LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked as an independent private equity investor and at Woodlawn Partners. Baker Street Investment Partners provides discretionary investment management primarily to pooled vehicles and institutional-type clients, serving a broad mix of entities including banks, sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach focuses on fundamental analysis and concentrated, long-term equity ownership, with flexibility to invest across various asset classes and employ derivatives, margin, and short-selling as appropriate.

William Ake is a financial advisor at Van Ake Capital LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Van Ake Capital since 2017, following positions at Western International Securities, Inc. and Fort Sheridan Advisors. Van Ake Capital LLC provides fee-based portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and small business entities. The firm manages approximately $23 million across a limited number of client relationships, offering personalized asset management and employing a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside option strategies when appropriate.

Charles Horonzy is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Focused Up Financial, LLC, where he has worked since 2017. Prior to that, he was employed at Sullivan Mermel, Inc. and Accountemps. Outside of his advisory role, Horonzy is employed as a Tax Pro for Intuit and has worked as an independent contractor for Bluestem Financial Advisors, LLC. Focused Up Financial serves individual and family clients as well as businesses and plan sponsors, offering comprehensive financial planning, investment advisory, and tax preparation services. The firm emphasizes integrated planning that coordinates investment allocation with tax, risk management, and business-planning considerations, primarily employing passive, asset-class-based investment strategies with discretionary portfolio management delegated to a third-party sub-adviser.

I'm Linda Rapisardo, CFP® and founder of Canela Wealth, a flat-fee, advice-only financial planning firm for first-generation wealth builders. My clients are first-gen professionals in their 30s and 40s who have worked hard to build successful careers, but never got a roadmap for what comes next. They're often the person their family turns to with money questions, even while quietly asking themselves: Am I saving enough? Am I spending too much? What should I even be prioritizing right now? That mental load is real. And it can feel heavier when you've spent most of your life figuring things out on your own. I know that feeling. I grew up in a working-class, immigrant family where my parents navigated an unfamiliar financial system without anyone trustworthy to guide them. The 2008 financial crisis hit us hard. My parents were smart, resourceful, and hardworking, but the system wasn't designed with them in mind. I watched what it costs a family to go it alone, and it shaped everything about how I show up for clients today. My goal is to be the person my parents never had: someone who cuts through the noise, explains how things actually work, and makes sure you never feel alone navigating the financial system. I believe transparency and education are everything. As an advice-only planner, I never manage assets or earn commissions. My flat-fee structure means my only incentive is to give you excellent, unconflicted advice. I help with comprehensive financial planning, including cash flow, debt strategy, retirement projections, tax planning, insurance review, home-buying decisions, and investment guidance for those managing their own portfolios. My favorite moments are when the weight lifts. When a client stops stressing about money and starts focusing on the things they actually care about. That's why I do this work. When I'm not helping clients, I'm chasing my two kiddos, Luca (4) and Camila (1), and dreaming up our next big family trip.

Peter Skoufis is the sole advisor at Skoufis Capital Management in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience, including 15 years leading his independent firm since 2011. Skoufis Capital Management provides discretionary investment management to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm applies a CAN SLIM-based investment process focused on growth-oriented stocks, managing concentrated and actively traded portfolios with the ability to adjust cash allocations and take short positions during market downturns.

Michael Willman is the sole advisor at Blue Sky Investment Partners, Inc., an independent firm based in Evanston, IL. He holds a Series 65 credential and has 18 years of industry experience, having been with Blue Sky Investment Partners since 2007. Blue Sky Investment Partners serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, and retirement plan sponsors with discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive wealth management, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm constructs diversified portfolios using mutual funds and ETFs, providing regular account monitoring and rebalancing, and also works with plan sponsors on participant education and plan-level services.

Michael Cope is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in financial advising. He has been the sole advisor at Pinnacle Planning Advisors, LLC since 2010, operating an independent firm in Evanston, IL. Pinnacle Planning Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients with ongoing portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, covering areas such as retirement, education, insurance, and estate planning. The firm emphasizes client education through seminars and workshops, manages assets directly without third-party managers, and typically operates with written discretionary authority to implement customized investment plans.

Dustin Javier is a financial advisor at Defined Capital LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Defined Capital, he worked at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. and operates a sole proprietorship focused on fixed insurance sales. Defined Capital provides discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes customized portfolio construction with regular reviews and offers a specialized limited-scope ERISA 3(21) fiduciary service for retirement plans.