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.

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.

James Pattie is the sole advisor at Horizon Capital Management, LLC in Lake Forest, Illinois. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 21 years of industry experience, including 22 years with Horizon Capital Management. Horizon Capital Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension or profit-sharing plans, and also offers sub-advisory asset management to other registered investment advisers. The firm’s approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing diversified allocations, a buy-and-hold strategy, and regular portfolio reviews.

Kevin Hebson is the principal and sole advisor at Kevin Hebson & Company, an independent firm based in Winnetka, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 46 years of industry experience. Since 1991, he has also owned New Cumnock Consulting Inc., providing tax planning and bookkeeping services. Kevin Hebson & Company offers investment advisory and standalone financial planning services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis, technical/charting methods, and Modern Portfolio Theory to construct and manage tailored portfolios, while also providing business-oriented planning services not commonly found at similarly sized firms.

Mark Kollar is the principal of Kollar Wealth Advisors, LLC in Northbrook, Illinois, with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked in estate planning and insurance services since 1995. Kollar is the founder and trustee of the Myositis Association Cup Golf Challenge Trust and serves on the board of Loyola Academy Sailing. Kollar Wealth Advisors provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a goal- and risk-based investment approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages approximately $12.4 million across about 40 client relationships.

Brian Rhoads is a CFA® charterholder and the principal of Checkpoint Financial Planning in Highland Park, IL, with two years of experience in financial advising. He previously worked for 18 years at Quantitative Risk Management. Checkpoint Financial Planning provides fee-only, advice-only financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses through project-based engagements, focusing on areas such as retirement strategies, estate planning, and business planning. The firm emphasizes risk-aware, tax-conscious planning and delivers written reports following video consultations, without managing client assets or charging fees based on assets under management.

Jeffrey Cohen is a financial advisor at US Advanced Computing Infrastructure, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2018, he worked at International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation for three years. US Advanced Computing Infrastructure provides non-discretionary stock analysis and quantitative research to institutional investors, accredited high-net-worth clients, and individual investors. The firm uses a proprietary quantitative algorithm called the Chicago Quantum Net Score to evaluate stocks and construct portfolios, delivering services primarily through written reports, client-directed research, and subscription-based content.

David Grant is a CFP® at Retirement Matters, Inc. in Barrington, IL, where he has worked since 2013. He has 15 years of industry experience and operates as the sole advisor at his independent firm. Retirement Matters, Inc. manages approximately $25 million for about 21 clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and ongoing wealth management services. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, and incorporates fundamental analysis and individualized investment policies in its approach.

Michael Vodicka is the principal of Vodicka Group, Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Highland Park, Illinois. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 17 years of experience in the financial industry, including 15 years with his current firm. Vodicka Group, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and small corporations. The firm manages discretionary accounts tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances, employing strategies such as asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading.

Nirmal Kartari is a financial advisor at Financial Solutions, Inc. in Skokie, IL, with eight years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Avantax Advisory Services and HD Vest Investment Services. Kartari is also the owner and sole proprietor of a tax preparation and accounting business. Financial Solutions, Inc. is a state-registered investment adviser providing investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analyses to build portfolios and emphasizes accounting and tax expertise in its advisory work.

Louis Orloff is a financial advisor with Reserve Fund Advisers, holding a Series 65 credential and four years of industry experience. He has been involved with several business ventures since 1988, including founding Orloff Advisers LLC and operating multiple companies over the past decades. His various companies require minimal time commitment. Reserve Fund Advisers specializes in financial planning, investment monitoring, and consulting for condominium and homeowner association reserve funds, offering educational seminars at no charge. The firm serves individuals, associations, trusts, estates, and business entities using an academic-based investment approach that incorporates fundamental and technical analysis across diverse strategies.

Matthew Nordman is a financial advisor with Crown Financial Group, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He operates as the sole advisor at an independent firm. Crown Financial Group provides investment supervisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as corporate pension plans, charitable institutions, and municipalities. The firm employs a multi-method investment process incorporating technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis and offers a range of strategies from long-term buy-and-hold to short-term trading.

Mark Johnson is a financial advisor with Dogwood Investment Advisors in Northbrook, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience, including a prior role at TransUnion, LLC. He has operated Dogwood Investment Advisors since 2014. Dogwood Investment Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing fee-based discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm employs a tactical allocation approach using fundamental, cyclical, and technical analysis, with portfolio decisions made on a discretionary basis and tailored to client goals. Its single-advisor structure and provision of written communications such as periodicals and newsletters distinguish it from similar independent firms.

I’m Matthew, the founder of Maplewood Wealth. I’m a financial planning nerd, hard stop. Standard financial advice is heavily geared toward retirees, leaving mid-career professionals with complex compensation without a clear place to turn. You don't need a generic roadmap, and you certainly don't need a cheerleader. You need a dedicated expert to take the heavy lifting of tax strategy, equity compensation, and investment management completely off your plate so you can protect your time and energy. I built Maplewood Wealth specifically for high-earning professionals, law firm partners, and dual-career parents. Whether you are dealing with a complex K-1 buy-in, navigating vesting RSUs, experiencing a sudden liquidity event, or managing the intense financial realities of chronic illness, I step in to handle the mechanics so you don't have to. Why work with me? The "Professor" Flex: I actually love the complex math of this stuff so much that I teach it to the next generation of advisors as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois (UIUC), and I help write official exam questions for the CFP® Board. Taxes, Minus the Stress: As an Enrolled Agent (EA) admitted to practice before the IRS, I don't just give high-level advice. I do in-house tax preparation and tax-smart investment management to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Transparent, Flat-Fee Pricing: I don't require a $1M portfolio to work together. I offer two clear paths: a one-time $495 Clarity Session to solve an immediate, painful financial headache, or a $500/month Principal Partnership (capped at roughly 30 clients) where I take wealth and tax management entirely off your hands. I live in the Chicagoland area with my wife, our two kids, and our dog, but I operate a completely virtual practice serving professionals across the country. If you are ready to offload the mental load of your finances, let's talk.

Patrick Crowley is a financial advisor at Crowley Capital Management LLC with 19 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his independent firm in 2024, he worked for 11 years at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. He holds a Series 66 designation. Outside of his advisory role, he is listed as treasurer and vice president of a family-owned real estate company. Crowley Capital Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, small businesses, and estates. The firm customizes portfolio management based on client objectives and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental and technical analysis, and may employ third-party sub-advisors.

Jon De Vries is a financial advisor at Kiddos Capital with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions in healthcare advisory, medical technology, publishing, and technology firms. Kiddos Capital is an independent advisory firm that serves parents saving for college through a membership-based model. The firm offers customized financial planning, portfolio management with tax-aware strategies like direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, socially responsible screening, and lender auctions to secure favorable student loan terms.

Jeffrey Smith is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He has been the sole advisor at North Shore Investment Consulting LLC since 2004. North Shore Investment Consulting LLC provides fee-only investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and consulting primarily to high-net-worth individuals, professionals, retirees, and select profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes Modern Portfolio Theory, diversification, indexing, and quantitative optimization, managing portfolios largely on a non-discretionary basis with client consent for trades.