John Swift is a CFA® charterholder with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Benchmark Investment Advisors LLC since 2017. His prior experience includes roles at Gentry Private Wealth Management, Swift Wealth Management, Leonetti & Associates, Harrisdirect, and AllianceBernstein. He also works as a CFA review program instructor with Becker Professional Development Corp. Benchmark Investment Advisors LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm focuses on long-term strategic allocation between global equity and fixed-income model portfolios, employing proprietary valuation metrics and tactical overlays, and offers formal quarterly client communications along with specialized services such as retirement plan consulting and sub-advisory arrangements.

Joshi Koneru is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Watershed Private Wealth since 2022. Prior to this, he worked for 15 years at Creative Planning. Watershed Private Wealth provides investment advisory services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and pension plans, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm builds customized investment programs using a blend of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses, and integrates financial planning into ongoing portfolio management.

Samuel Feldman is a financial advisor at 755 Financial with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for a total of ten years. Outside of finance, Feldman is the owner of Sweetwater Meat and Seed Company, a food review and consulting business based in Chicago. 755 Financial is an SEC-registered adviser providing portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a client-driven approach tailored to objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, utilizing strategies such as asset allocation and dollar-cost averaging.

Sarah Bodach is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mentor Capital Management Inc. in Chicago, IL, with nine years at the firm and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Mentor Capital Management, she was a homemaker for six years. Mentor Capital Management Inc. is a fee-only advisory firm serving individual clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm focuses on long-term, low-cost index-based investing combined with fundamental analysis and a broad asset-allocation approach, offering services that include wealth management, financial planning, and tax-related advice.

Lawrence Gatz is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently a financial advisor at Copperwood Financial and has held prior roles at Significant Wealth Partners Inc., Capital Management Consultants, Kingsview Asset Management, Atkins and Associates, and Wealth Planning Network. Outside of advisory work, he is co-owner of KLG Management Inc., where he provides personal insurance and general business management consulting. Copperwood Financial offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tactical allocation approach for discretionary portfolio management and provides retirement plan consulting and fiduciary services, including a specialized division focused on financial literacy and coaching for professional athletes.

Timothy Obendorf is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Steward Advisors, LLC since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 25% minority owner and board member of McLennan Property Management Company, which manages commercial and industrial properties in the Chicago area. Steward Advisors serves individuals, businesses, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and family offices with fee-based financial planning and private portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $137 million in assets, integrating financial planning with investment strategies that include ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and privately placed investments, while employing options and derivatives for hedging and tactical purposes.

Brian Bullington is a financial advisor at First Choice Financial Services LLC with one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he was a professional athlete for nine years. First Choice Financial Services LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing financial advice primarily through referrals to third-party money managers and estate-planning support, acting as a liaison to facilitate documentation, disclosures, and reviews. The firm does not manage assets directly but selects external managers using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis while maintaining ongoing oversight and client communications.

Charles Marien III is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at CTS Financial Planning, Inc. since 1984 and has been associated with Certified Insurance Consultants, Inc. since 1989. CTS Financial Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, investment planning, and discretionary asset management, while also providing accounting and income tax preparation services. The firm employs an active, technically driven investment approach and integrates in-house tax and accounting capabilities alongside advisory services.

Brian Beasley is a financial advisor with Athena Advisor Services, LLC in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He worked at LPL Financial for 14 years before joining Athena Advisor Services in 2013. Beasley co-hosts the Fierce Fiduciary Podcast and serves as an uncompensated administrator for several financial education discussion groups. Athena Advisor Services provides asset management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, written financial plans, and ongoing subscription planning services, using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios and conduct quarterly reviews.

Nathan Gale is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with four years of industry experience. He is the founder and investment advisor representative of Fleur-De-Lis Financial and has prior experience with WellAcre Global Wealth Advisors and Peak Wealth Planning, LLC. Outside of financial advising, he is a partner and CFO of WanderWren, an apparel retailer. Fleur-De-Lis Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate plan sponsors. The firm offers fee-only investment management and financial planning, employing both passive and active strategies, and incorporates borrowing and margin use in its portfolio management.

Robert Kristof is a financial advisor at Casey Wealth Management, Inc. in Orland Park, Illinois, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Sammons Securities Company, LLC since 2009 while also maintaining his role at Casey Wealth Management since 2005. Casey Wealth Management, founded in 2002, provides customized financial planning, consulting, and investment management primarily to individual clients and occasionally to pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs fundamental security analysis and a buy-and-hold strategy with quarterly portfolio reviews, managing non-discretionary assets without focusing on high-net-worth households.

Andrew Farinelli is a financial advisor at Wavvest Wealth with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Embree Financial Group, McAdam LLC, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner and president of Farinelli Financial LLC, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management services. Wavvest Wealth serves individual clients directly and through sub-advisory arrangements, as well as managing employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses proprietary technology to support risk profiling and portfolio construction, offering discretionary management across a diversified range of securities with oversight from an Executive Investment Committee.

Sheila Padden is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed advisor with 13 years of experience at Padden Financial Planning LLC and over 27 years as a CPA. She has led her firm since 2013, providing financial planning services from Chicago, IL. Padden Financial Planning LLC is a fee-only advisory firm serving individuals and families, including trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive financial and tax planning with an investment approach focused on disciplined asset allocation, global diversification, and managing volatility through mutual funds, ETFs, and passive index funds.

John Van Ermen is a financial advisor at Exemplar Wealth Advisors, LLC with Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and over 9 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Cetera and JPM Consulting. Exemplar Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment approach that incorporates technical and fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and uses third-party managers, focusing on both traditional and alternative investments for accredited investors.

Michael Thompson is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He currently serves as a financial advisor at Thompson Capital Management, LLC and Little Harbor Advisors, LLC, where he holds the role of Portfolio Manager. His prior experience includes positions at Kaizen Advisory and Typhon Capital. Thompson Capital Management provides investment management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, and also serves other advisers through sub-advisory arrangements. 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.

Bobbie Helman is a financial advisor at Parkview Asset Management, Inc. with eight years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Her prior work includes roles at firms such as Cousins & Associates Inc., StrategyPoint Financial LLC, and Edward Jones. Parkview Asset Management, Inc. manages approximately $206 million for about 140 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, using a long-term, client-specific investment approach that typically incorporates low-cost diversified mutual funds and ETFs along with individual securities or unaffiliated money managers as appropriate.

Brian Tumpane is a financial advisor with Cedar Capital, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has experience working with Cedar Capital Advisors since 2025 and has prior experience at Upside Group, Inc and Second Sons Advisors, as well as seven years at Walgreens / Alliance Rx Walgreens Prime. Cedar Capital, LLC is a state-registered independent investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business clients. The firm emphasizes ETF-based model portfolios and offers both strategic and active asset allocation approaches while incorporating individual securities, options, and alternative instruments when aligned with client objectives.

Brittany Boma is a financial advisor at Joseph Wealth Management, LLC with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and also operates BOMA LLC, a law contract review firm where she works as an attorney. Prior to joining Joseph Wealth Management, she has held roles at Joseph Eden Capital, CTA, and the City of Chicago. Joseph Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $17.6 million in discretionary client assets and employs a mix of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and modern portfolio theory approaches, including more active strategies such as short-term options trading for suitable accounts.

Alexander Paris Jr. is a CFA® charterholder with 38 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Barrington Research Associates, Inc. since 1985 and currently serves at Barrington Asset Management, Inc., a firm with a four-advisor team based in Chicago, IL. Barrington Asset Management, Inc. provides portfolio management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines bottom-up fundamental research with top-down macroeconomic analysis and selective technical inputs to manage a variety of investment products, including equities, mutual funds, ETFs, options, limited partnerships, and fixed income.

Marcin Szczepaniak is a financial advisor at Kai Wealth LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and LPL Financial LLC. Kai Wealth LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily for high-net-worth and sophisticated investors. The firm’s investment approach focuses on risk-managed portfolio construction through thematic equity strategies, alternative investments, and options-based overlays, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.