Cristine Marik is a CFP® and CFA® with 26 years of experience in financial advising. She has worked at Modern Wealth Management, LLC since 2025 and previously held positions at OFM Wealth, Stevens Wealth Management LLC, Leonetti & Associates, and Successful Financial Solutions Inc. Marik holds an insurance license and oversees existing life insurance and variable annuities. Modern Wealth Management, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.9 billion in assets across about 94 advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and modular services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, supported by a centralized Investment Committee and an integrated operational structure.

Kim Suchy is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Optimum Investment Advisors. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing over $2 billion in assets. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations through a network of approximately 152 advisors.

Thomas Boggess is a financial advisor with First Advisors National, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cambridge Investment Research and ProEquities, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as chapter president of the Society for Financial Awareness and operates a legal practice as an attorney. First Advisors National manages discretionary assets for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on third-party money managers and combining tactical and strategic investment approaches. The firm provides investment management, retirement plan consulting, and advice on individual securities, ETFs, and mutual funds.

James Kim is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and Ohio National Financial Services. Kim serves as a board member and Treasurer for New Community Outreach, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting youth and the community in Bronzeville, Chicago. VestGen Advisors, LLC manages approximately $6.66 billion for over 22,000 clients across 53 advisors, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a client-specific approach using fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis and serves a broad client base including institutional investors.

Stephen Gaul is a CFP® professional with two years of experience at JMG Financial Group Ltd in Downers Grove, IL. His career includes various roles prior to joining the financial industry, including positions with FedEx and multiple minor league hockey teams. JMG Financial Group advises individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations, providing comprehensive wealth management and tax consulting services. The firm follows a planning-based, long-term investment approach featuring strategic asset allocation and utilizes a diverse range of investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, and private investments.

Daniel Lundquist is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2011. He is also involved as an education presenter providing 401(k) plan education services and serves as vice president of his local homeowners association. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and businesses with a broad range of advisory and financial planning services, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients through a large network of investment advisor representatives. The firm offers customized investment strategies and utilizes multiple custodians and third-party managers to meet client objectives.

Lori Barone is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Silver Oak Securities, Inc. She has previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Securities Service Network, Inc. Barone also operates Barone Financial Group, Inc., an independent financial professional firm offering investment advice and financial planning services. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities, managing approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs focusing on discretionary, customized investment management aligned with client objectives and risk tolerances.

Jenna O'Connell is a financial advisor at Highpoint Planning Partners with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at LPL Financial since 2016 before joining Highpoint Advisor Group. Highpoint Advisor Group serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and uses a variety of investment platforms to implement client portfolios.

Peter Kalamaras is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He has prior work experience at Howw MFG and Milwaukee County Parks, among other roles. Outside of advising, he is involved as a co-managing member of a self-storage rental business. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services with customized investment strategies developed at the advisor level.

Matthew Schaap is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Modern Wealth Management, LLC. He has worked previously at OFM Wealth, Heritage Planning Partners, and Busey Wealth Management. He also holds an insurance license, overseeing existing life insurance and variable annuities. Modern Wealth Management, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.9 billion in assets across 94 advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and modular services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Michael Corson is a financial advisor at United Advisor Group with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Outside of advising, he is an independent insurance agent, primarily selling disability insurance. United Advisor Group serves individuals, small businesses, trusts, and charities through a network of independent advisers, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm combines proprietary model portfolios, custom trading, and third-party money managers using a variety of analytical and asset-allocation strategies.

Brandon Hurckes is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. and Clarity Group Midwest, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Hurckes/Mccord and Carvey Painting. Hurckes is also involved in insurance sales in addition to his advisory duties. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing over $2 billion in client assets through a network of approximately 152 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, implementing strategies across a range of asset classes and account types.

Richard Ziemianski is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Kovack Advisors and Kovack Securities since 2006, following three years at Wrp Investments, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation. Outside of advisory work, Ziemianski is the managing partner of Integrity Insurance and Financial Services, where he spends part of his time on health and life insurance. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities, utilizing a combination of internally created models and third-party management within an Envestnet-supported workflow.

Haskel Weiss is a financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 credential and has served as president of TWG Benefits, Inc., a non-investment related business, since 1995. HighPoint Advisor Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities with discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and related services. The firm constructs client investment policies through personal consultations and implements diversified portfolios using fundamental analysis across various asset classes.

Brett Pawelkiewicz is a financial advisor with Highpoint Planning Partners in Downers Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Northwestern Mutual, Redwing Financial, and The Lighthouse Institute. He also provides administrative support to HighPoint Advisor Group, an independent investment advisor firm. Highpoint Advisor Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and uses fundamental analysis to construct diversified client portfolios across various investment vehicles.

Andrew Keppy is a financial advisor at Highpoint Planning Partners with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Level Four Advisory Services and LPL Financial. Highpoint Planning Partners serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and uses a variety of investment strategies and third-party platforms to implement client portfolios.

Timothy Stringer is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at JMG Financial Group Ltd since 2019, and prior to that, he was with Zuckerman Investment Group and Wells Fargo & Co. JMG Financial Group advises individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations, providing comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, and financial and retirement consulting. The firm employs a planning-based, long-term investment approach with strategic asset allocation and utilizes a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, fixed income, and private investments.

Brett Suchy is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Downers Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Sagepoint Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and Clune & Associates. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as president of the Franklin Avenue East Homeowners Association, managing governance and vendor payments. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion across more than 16,000 clients. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services with investment strategies tailored to client-specific objectives and risk profiles, utilizing multiple custodians and integrating third-party managers.

Nicholas Garth is a CFP® professional with one year of industry experience, currently serving at JMG Financial Group Ltd. His previous work includes roles at the University of Dayton and Saint Viator High School prior to joining JMG Financial Group. JMG Financial Group provides wealth management, portfolio management, and financial consulting services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a planning-based, long-term investment approach with strategic asset allocation and varied investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and alternative investments.

Gary Richied is a financial advisor at Highpoint Planning Partners with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has worked at LPL Financial and HighPoint Advisor Group, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in authoring and hosting the Hot Water History podcast and blog, which covers historical topics and film and book reviews. Highpoint Planning Partners serves individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and manages wrap-fee programs, using a blend of fundamental analysis and third-party platforms to implement diversified investment portfolios.