Jeffry Cook is a financial advisor at MissionSquare Retirement with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including ICMA Retirement Corporation, Fifth Third Securities, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and Harrisdirect LLC. He has been with ICMA Retirement Corporation since 2007. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, their employees, and certain nonprofit entities by administering deferred compensation and qualified retirement plans. The firm offers plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services, with investment advice and model portfolios developed by Morningstar Investment Management and delivered through multiple channels within MissionSquare-administered accounts.

Francesco Vitale is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Cetera, and VOYA Financial Advisors. He also serves as a trustee on a family trust. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors serving individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and customizable sleeves, overseen by an Investment Committee and central management team.

James Schmidt is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Management, LLC with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Cornerstone since 2014, following a long tenure at LPL Financial dating back to 1995. Outside of his advisory work, he sells a baseball card collection on eBay. Cornerstone Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs advisor-led discretionary management and various LPL-sponsored programs, combining fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to tailor investment advice to client goals.

Andrew Lewis is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in McHenry, Illinois, and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LaSalle St. Securities, LLC, he worked at Dry Dock for nine years. He is also involved in a fixed insurance business outside his advisory role. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary portfolio management programs and utilizes a range of investment vehicles and third-party manager oversight in its asset management approach.

Robert Bieniek is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Port Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2005 and has also been involved with Individual Financial Practitioners, Inc. since 1983, where he is engaged in the sale of individual life and long-term care insurance. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers.

David Robbins is a financial advisor with Archer Investment Corporation in South Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Archer since 2015 and is also an owner of Nieminski Robbins & Associates CPAs, where he has worked since 2005, providing tax, accounting, and wealth management services. Additionally, he is involved with Barrington Advisors Group LLC, a marketing venture connected to Nieminski Robbins & Associates. Archer Investment Corporation offers investment management primarily to individual clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, through separately managed accounts and proprietary mutual funds. The firm employs a multi-branch, independent-contractor model and manages roughly $1.01 billion in discretionary assets with a range of advisory services from comprehensive financial planning to limited-scope model portfolios.

Kyle Janas is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Wealth, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also operates the Law Offices of Craig A Janas, where he is involved in estate planning and life insurance sales. His work history includes roles at Safe Money Concepts, INC and Family Defined Benefits. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC provides fee-based asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and sub-advisory services to individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and other RIAs. The firm uses a combination of proprietary ETF-based models, third-party managers, and option strategies, supporting tailored suitability assessments and regular portfolio rebalancing.

Ryan Linenger is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2016 and previously operated Linenger Wealth Management. Linenger serves as a board member of Wheaton Christian Grammar School, volunteering time to assist with school governance. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside proprietary market valuation tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Sanjay Asija is a financial advisor at Archer Investment Corporation with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Archer since 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he is a certified public accountant managing tax preparation and payroll services through his CPA firms. Archer Investment Corporation provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and investment companies, managing approximately $900 million on a primarily discretionary basis. The firm offers customized portfolio management and model-based strategies, emphasizing diversified allocations across various asset classes and regular account reviews.

Cecil Means is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Interactive Financial Advisors with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Interactive Financial Advisors, he worked at Charles Schwab and held positions outside the financial sector. Interactive Financial Advisors offers financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to construct diversified model portfolios and operates a large multi-advisor network with multiple branch offices.

Andrew Krei is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2015. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with integrated wealth management, family office services, outsourced chief investment officer solutions, and portfolio advisory. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets using a customized investment policy framework that combines strategic and tactical asset allocation, supported by an investment committee overseeing manager due diligence and monitoring.

Gary Gawryleski is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2015 and holds the Series 63 designation. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, providing integrated wealth management, family office services, and outsourced chief investment officer solutions. The firm’s investment approach combines customized policy statements with strategic and tactical asset allocation, supported by an investment committee that oversees manager due diligence and monitoring.

Thomas Mc Guire is a financial advisor at Silver Oak Securities, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Sentinus-Halo Securities, LLC and Morningstar Investment Services LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in a fitness equipment repair business, DMC Fitness Solutions. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, and estates. The firm manages approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets through various advisory programs that focus on tailored, primarily discretionary investment management aligned with client objectives and risk tolerances.

Theodore Buckley is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, Sequoia Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author and motivational speaker, conducting seminars and coaching sessions unrelated to investments. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for over 9,400 individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a combination of analytical methods and third-party managers to tailor portfolios to client goals.

Samuel Sadkhin is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Osaic Wealth, Hard Hat Hub, and PreScouter. Alera Investment Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, fundamental-analysis approach and integrates its services with insurance and pension-consulting platforms.

Eric Talbott is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 registrations and has previously worked at Piershale Financial Group, Envestnet Asset Management, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and Portfolio Brokerage Services. Apollon Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and various institutional investors, providing financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan advisory, and sub-advisory services. The firm uses a combination of centrally managed model strategies and locally managed portfolios, investing across multiple asset classes and offering specialized services including ESG models and tax-managed Direct Indexing.

Chad Tuneberg is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Tuneberg serves as an alderman for the 3rd Ward of the City of Rockford and acts as a city council liaison to the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, utilizing third-party money managers to oversee asset allocation and account management.

Daniel Peltier is a financial advisor at CL Wealth Management LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Cabot Lodge Securities, SB Advisory, and Raymond James & Associates. CL Wealth Management LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio advisory services, financial planning, and access to the Envestnet platform, tailoring investment strategies through fundamental and technical analysis combined with custom model portfolios and ongoing monitoring.

Ralph Backe Jr. is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 33 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he co-owns a vacation home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and third-party platforms.

Joseph Orsolini is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2002 and also serves as President and Owner of College Aid Planners, Inc., a firm specializing in college financial aid consulting and tax preparation. Outside of his advisory roles, Orsolini is involved in youth wrestling as an assistant coach and serves as Treasurer and Board Member for Rising Tide Wrestling, a nonprofit supporting economically challenged youth in the sport. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its Adhesion Money Management wrap-fee program, utilizing third-party money managers and risk-tolerance assessments to guide investment strategies.