Troy Bute is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc since 1999. He is based in Downers Grove, IL, and has spent his entire advisory career at Capstone. Capstone Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm focuses on asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning, offering portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and specialized services such as tax preparation and private fund investments.

Michael Ingardona is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience at Feldman, Ingardona & Co. based in Downers Grove, IL. He has been with the firm since 2014, working as part of a six-advisor team. Feldman, Ingardona & Co. provides investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions, typically requiring a minimum account size of $5 million. The firm focuses on long-term strategic asset allocation combined with opportunistic tactical shifts, utilizing both active managers and low-cost passive funds.

Gregory Johnson is a financial advisor at Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Halo Securities, LLC and Sentinus, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a lacrosse coach and referee at Hinsdale Central. Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC serves individuals, including high net worth clients, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money manager referrals. The firm emphasizes tailored advisory strategies and manages held-away participant accounts through a third-party platform, providing regular account reviews and educational seminars.

Michael Bellis is a CFP® professional with over 32 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Vertex Partners and has previously worked with Highpoint Advisor Group and LPL Financial. Bellis also has involvement in an accounting and tax preparation partnership, Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm tailors portfolios based on clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, using a diversified approach that includes proprietary model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party program platforms.

Brian Niksa is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc since 2009. Based in Downers Grove, IL, he is part of a multi-advisor team at the firm. Capstone Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, tax preparation, and access to private fund investments. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, tax positioning, and employs both fundamental and cyclical analysis within a multi-year horizon framework.

Tammy Billadeau is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vertex Partners. Her prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, LLC and Churchill Management Group. She also provides administrative support to Vertex Partners. Vertex Partners offers advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolios based on risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, utilizing a variety of investment strategies and platforms.

Bradley Morris is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at PCG Wealth Management in Oak Brook, IL. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Good Life Advisors, and Waddell & Reed Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Morris is involved in tax preparation and accounting services through multiple related business activities. PCG Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a primarily long-term, customized investment approach that utilizes low-cost diversified funds and other securities tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

John Dorn is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC in Geneva, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 21 years of industry experience. His prior career includes roles at National Planning Corporation and LPL Financial. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm employs model-based and individualized asset allocations across various investment vehicles and utilizes multiple third-party technology platforms and service providers, distinguishing itself through its affiliation with an accounting practice and the incorporation of structured notes and AI tools in its processes.

Hunter Sims is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has held roles at the University of Cambridge Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance since 2019, where he serves as Associate Director of Business & Operations. He is also involved with Financial Innovation Commons Ltd. and Regulatory Genome Development Ltd., which focus on financial technology and regulatory applications. Clearwater Capital Partners serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services including private wealth and family office management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan strategies. The firm emphasizes portfolio construction based on written Investment Policy Statements and uses a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, and thematic analysis.

Michelle Pezzulo is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Bentley Financial Group. She has been with Bentley Financial Group and affiliated with LPL Financial since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is a notary public for the state of Illinois. Bentley Financial Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $393 million in discretionary client assets and typically implements client-directed investment policies using fundamental analysis, options hedging, and third-party independent managers.

Nickolas Brait is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently serving at SAGE Private Wealth Group, LLC. He has held roles at SAGE Private Wealth Group since 2013 and has been involved with the Oechsli Institute since 2017, where he coaches financial advisors on business development. SAGE Private Wealth Group is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, high-net-worth families, and employer retirement plans with wealth management, financial planning, and fiduciary retirement-plan services. The firm employs a multi-advisor team that delivers discretionary portfolio management and coordinated planning tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Andrew Kristofic is a financial advisor at Vantage Point Financial, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC and American Income Life. He is also a licensed insurance agent offering life and health insurance products. Vantage Point Financial serves individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, and business owners with investment management, financial planning, and wealth consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary, customized approach emphasizing long-term portfolio construction with low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while also utilizing alternative investments and coordinated tax and estate planning services.

Travis Buoy is a financial advisor with River Street Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. He also works as an investment research analyst for Old Second National Bank’s wealth management department. Prior to his advisory role, Buoy was employed at St. Charles Country Club for eight years. River Street Advisors, LLC is an independent asset management and financial planning firm serving individual clients, high-net-worth individuals, institutional, and charitable entities. The firm uses written investment policy statements, model portfolios, and a combination of quantitative and fundamental analysis to manage diversified portfolios, including the use of derivatives and option strategies.

Lisa Bussenger is a financial advisor with Rothschild Wealth LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. She has 15 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Kinetic Investment Management, Inc. and Global Financial Private Capital. Bussenger also owns Bussenger Insurance & Financial Services, LLC. Rothschild Wealth LLC advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate executives, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional and tax-exempt entities. The firm uses asset-allocation models tailored to client goals and employs quantitative methods and third-party software to manage diversified portfolios.

Charles Carey is a financial advisor at Wellment Financial with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at FSR Insurance Planning, Ltd. and FSR Wealth Management Ltd. since 2020. Carey is also a licensed insurance agent assisting with life insurance and fixed annuity products. Wellment Financial provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional sponsors. The firm uses vetted model portfolios and a sub-advisor platform focused on tax-aware retirement planning, managing approximately $237 million in discretionary assets.

Steven Franzen is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 66 license. Franzen has held roles at LPL Financial since 2009 and operates his own CPA firm, Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PC, providing tax preparation and accounting services. He also acts as a trustee for family trusts. Vertex Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement consulting. The firm customizes portfolios based on clients’ risk tolerance and goals, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and third-party platforms, and maintains an affiliation with an accounting firm that provides additional tax and consulting services.

Luke Baumgarten is a financial advisor at Harvest Investment Services, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Harvest since 2014. Harvest Investment Services, LLC manages approximately $534 million in client assets and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and sub-advisory services. The firm serves a diverse client base through a multi-advisor team structure and employs an actively managed tactical investment approach tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Ryan Kahlenberg is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2022 and was previously with Kahlenberg Wealth Partners/Berthel Fisher & Co. and Dunham & Associates Investment Counsel, Inc. Since 2022, he provides investment advisory services through Leelyn Smith, LLC. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing multiple technology platforms and investment strategies that include equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and private investment funds for qualified clients.

Linda Foltos Mahler is a financial advisor with Signature Financial Services, Ltd, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. She has been associated with Signature Financial Services since 1999 and First Heartland Capital, Inc. since 2001. In addition to her advisory roles, Mahler operates Mahler Financial Services and provides tax and accounting services through Linda F. Mahler, CPA. Signature Financial Services offers investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing model portfolios and institutional strategists across various asset classes while emphasizing periodic rebalancing and risk-based guidelines.

Steven Mc Gowan is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Rothschild Wealth LLC and has prior experience at Wealth Enhancement Group, LPL Financial, and CLA Financial Advisors. Mc Gowan also provides investment brokerage services through Rothschild Investment, LLC. Rothschild Wealth LLC advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate executives, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional and tax-exempt entities. The firm utilizes asset-allocation models tailored to client objectives and employs a range of investment vehicles and tools, including third-party software and sub-advisers, to implement and monitor portfolio strategies.