Nancy Effert is a financial advisor at Essex LLC with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at ChangePath, LLC and Partnervest Advisory Services, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in life insurance and annuity sales through Effert Financial Solutions. Essex LLC is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consultation services, employing model portfolios and a range of analytical approaches to asset selection and monitoring.

John Valleau Jr. is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 1993 and is also involved with ShankerValleau Accountants, Inc., an accounting firm where he assists with tax preparation. ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a six-advisor team managing approximately $550 million for individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost, research-driven portfolio management primarily using structured strategies from Dimensional Fund Advisors, combined with ongoing financial planning and both discretionary and limited non-discretionary services.

Todd Needlman is a financial advisor at Parkside Investments, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Parkside Investments since 2018, following five years at Interactive Brokers LLC. Parkside Investments is an SEC-registered adviser serving high net worth individuals, families, foundations, and other institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental analysis-driven approach focused on large-cap core equity portfolios, supplemented by fixed income, ETFs, option-based strategies, and private investment allocations.

Hannah Carter is a financial advisor at Carter Financial Group, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at several firms, including LILA and Saint Julivert. In addition to her advisory role, she is licensed as an insurance agent specializing in life, accident, and health insurance. Carter Financial Group, Inc. is a team of five advisors managing approximately $382 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes proprietary model portfolios and a range of investment strategies, combining quantitative and technical analysis with third-party research.

Brett Larson is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Romano Brothers and Company since 2006. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience with Chase Investment Services Corp. for over two decades. Romano Brothers and Company serves individuals, employee benefit plans, non-profits, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services. The firm employs a generally conservative, fundamentals-based investment approach with both active and passive strategies, managed by an eight-advisor team.

Colin Hartwell is a financial advisor at Essex LLC with a Series 65 credential and is early in his career. His work history includes multiple roles at Essex LLC since 2023 and prior experience in education at various schools and Miami University. Essex LLC is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $649 million across individual and institutional clients. The firm uses a multi-member investment policy committee to develop model portfolios with a mix of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services.

Heather Wright is a CFP® professional with 22 years of experience, currently serving at BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC. She has been with BCU Wealth Advisors since 2017 and has prior experience at LPL Financial, CUSO Financial Services, Gem Financial Advisors, and Coldwell Banker. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach, utilizing third-party managers and model portfolios, and operates a significant wrap fee program that covers transaction costs for participating accounts.

Edward Horwitz is the president of E. A. Horwitz LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at LaSalle St. Securities, LLC, Westerm International Securities, Inc., and has led his own firms, including Horwitz & Associates since 1991. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as chair of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Investments, oversees scholarship awards as RMCC Scholarship Chair, and is treasurer on the board of The Lodge of Northbrook. E. A. Horwitz LLC provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual clients. The firm employs a conservative, principal-preservation investment approach tailored to client needs and integrates tools such as options and fixed-income trading to manage risk and generate income.

Joseph Romano is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience and has been with Romano Brothers And Company since 1995. He is a principal at Romano Ventures Partnership and a partner in Romano Research Fund, both of which invest in privately held startup and technology companies. He also serves on the advisory board of FinTech Ranger, LLC, a business strategy consulting firm. Romano Brothers & Company serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as employee benefit plans, non-profits, trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing a generally conservative, long-term, fundamentals-based investment approach with both active and passive strategies.

Sherene Meier is a financial advisor at Nadler Financial Group, Inc. in Deerfield, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her work history includes roles at Ausdal Financial Partners, Jeffrey Krol and Associates, ClearPath Financial CPAs, and Schneiderman, Kohn & Winston. Nadler Financial Group manages over $2.18 billion for more than 1,000 clients through a team of 15 advisors, serving individuals, charitable organizations, business entities, and retirement plans. The firm employs a tactical asset allocation approach using diversified mutual funds, ETFs, and other strategies, and offers discretionary investment management along with financial planning and retirement-plan consulting services.

Eva Hahn is a financial advisor at Azzad Asset Management, Inc. with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Raymond James & Associates. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs. Azzad Asset Management offers investment management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, charitable institutions, foundations, endowments, trusts, small businesses, and other institutions. The firm specializes in socially responsible Islamic investing, using proprietary screening tools to exclude certain industries, and manages assets through a combination of in-house and independent managers across multiple asset-allocation strategies.

Teresa Mitchell is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in financial advisory services. She is affiliated with Signature Financial Services, Ltd and has a background that includes a long-standing accounting practice under Teresa L. Henley CPA since 1996. Mitchell also maintains an accounting practice outside of her advisory work. Signature Financial Services provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach is asset-allocation driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, utilizing model portfolios, institutional strategists, and a range of mutual funds and ETFs, with a focus on periodic rebalancing rather than high-frequency trading.

Daniel Shapiro is a financial advisor with New Vernon Wealth Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at New Vernon Wealth Management since 2013 and has been with Sf Investments, Inc. since 1989. Shapiro is a minority owner of New Vernon Investment Management LLC, which acts as general partner for several private funds. New Vernon Wealth Management primarily advises high-net-worth families and individuals, providing discretionary portfolio management to trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a forward-looking, value-based investment approach with a mid- to long-term time horizon, incorporating global equities, fixed income, and thematic strategies such as an International Dividend Strategy and a NextGen Growth Portfolio.

Jennifer Wyton is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as an advisor at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. with three years at the firm and a total of seven years in the financial industry. Prior to joining ShankerValleau, she was self-employed and led Wyton Solutions Inc. She is also the owner of Blackcidr Corporation, a software consulting business, and works as an accountant providing tax preparation assistance at ShankerValleau Accountants, Inc. ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a six-advisor team managing approximately $550 million for a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, nonprofits, and corporations. The firm emphasizes a diversified, low-cost, research-driven investment approach, primarily using structured strategies from Dimensional Fund Advisors and offers portfolio management through a wrap-fee program combined with ongoing financial planning.

Rebecca Fragassi is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. She has been with Coyle Financial Counsel since 2007. Based in Glenview, IL, she works within a team of 11 advisors at Coyle. Coyle serves individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing asset management, wealth advisory, and financial assessment services. The firm combines tactical and strategic asset allocation with various analytical methods and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, including an automated sub-adviser program for smaller accounts.

Jingbo Pan is a financial advisor at Vestech Asset Management Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Coastal Investment Advisors and Axiom Capital Management. Outside of advising, he is president of J&Y CPA Consulting Company, P.C., an accounting and tax consulting business. Vestech Asset Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm employs a mix of technical, fundamental, and cyclical analysis to manage diversified portfolios and offers both discretionary management and project-based planning.

Kevin Rochford is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses, and has previously worked at Bernstein, Satter Management, and Bessemer Investor Services. Clearwater Capital Partners offers family office services, private wealth management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan advising. The firm serves individual, high-net-worth, and several institutional clients, employing a mix of asset-allocation, fundamental, technical, quantitative, and thematic investment strategies.

Daniel Bouska is a financial advisor with TSFG, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked with TSFG, LLC (doing business as Alchemy Advisors) since 2015 and has also been affiliated with LPL Financial, LLC since 2004. Outside of advisory services, he offers life and fixed annuities to clients through TS Financial Group, LLC. TSFG, LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and other entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis in security selection and manages client portfolios with a tailored approach, conducting regular reviews and offering financial planning at no additional charge to existing clients.

James Kozak is a financial advisor at Uhlmann Investment Management, L.L.C. with 34 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Uhlmann Price Securities, Robertson Stephens Advisors, and Roth Capital Partners. Outside of his advisory role, Kozak is a board member of Waverly AV Management, a travel nursing staffing company, and is involved with several investment-related ventures, including co-founding OnPoint Analytics Capital Partners. Uhlmann Investment Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management to individuals, institutions, and trusts, using fundamental analysis and long-term asset allocation to match portfolios with clients’ objectives and risk tolerance. The firm offers managed portfolios combining stocks, bonds, ETFs, and alternatives, and integrates third-party managers and custodial model programs within its advisory services.

Kevin Carter is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at Carter Financial Group, Inc. and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2019. His prior experience includes five years at VOYA Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory roles, he is an independent insurance agent focusing on life, health, and Medicare supplement insurance. Carter Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios and quantitative analysis combined with external platforms to manage client assets, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with specialized services such as retirement plan participant account management and cash management solutions.