John Ferguson is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Patrick M. Sweeney & Associates, Inc. He has worked at the firm since 2017 and was previously employed at Illinois Wesleyan from 2013 to 2017. Patrick M. Sweeney & Associates provides personalized investment management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis and selective active strategies, tailoring client relationships through various advisory and planning engagements.

Terrence Burke is a financial advisor at Trader Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience and a Series 65 designation. He previously worked at Rothschild Financial Partners, LLC and has been with Trader Wealth Management since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he provides consulting services to a family-owned painting business and prepares daily Corn volume and open interest reports for a CME broker. Trader Wealth Management serves primarily individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and investment management with an emphasis on strategic and tactical asset allocation, global diversification, and personalized Investment Policy Statements.

Amy Barrett is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Barrett Wealth Connection LLC since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she volunteers as a pro-bono investment manager for Congregation Am Echod and serves on the board of the Illinois and Dressage Combined Training Association. Barrett Wealth Connection LLC provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as pension plans, foundations, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm emphasizes written Investment Policy Statements and a discretionary, buy-and-hold investment approach, and offers educational seminars at no charge as part of its client and participant outreach.

Kevin Mccloskey is a CFA® charterholder and an investment advisor at SCV Capital LLC with six years of industry experience. He has worked at SCV Capital since 2021 and previously spent 13 years at PPM America Inc. SCV Capital LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management primarily to pooled investment vehicles and institutional clients such as banks, pension funds, and nonprofit organizations. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis for public equities and thorough reviews of private securities, emphasizing long-term strategies while allowing for shorter-term adjustments based on client needs.

Brett Leahy is a financial advisor at Echelons Capital, LLC with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Phase Line Capital, LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. Outside of finance, he is the founder and COO of American Heartland Corporation dba Wild Hickory, an e-commerce retail apparel business. Echelons Capital, LLC manages discretionary portfolios for a small client base that includes high net worth individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs model portfolios and third-party managers with a focus on systematic long/short equity strategies and offers a range of investment options including alternatives and structured products.

Brian Atkins is a financial advisor with Significant Wealth Partners LLC in Cary, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked with firms including Heritage Strategic Wealth, LLC, Wealth Builder Funds LLC, Kingsview Asset Management, and has been managing Atkins & Associates since 2007, where he serves as CEO and operates exempt hedge funds. Atkins is also a licensed insurance agent and offers related advisory services through his firm. Significant Wealth Partners serves individual, high-net-worth, and corporate clients by providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses, offering diversified strategies including managed accounts, options, and selective use of leveraged ETFs.

Bahman Barzideh is a financial advisor at Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Apollon Wealth Management, Piershale Financial, and Triad Advisors Inc. Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and business entities, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers access to a broad range of strategies, including alternative investments, margin, and options.

Albert Von Holt is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience. He has been the principal of Von Holt Financial Advisors, Inc. since 1992. The firm is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual and trust clients. Von Holt Financial Advisors manages client assets using Modern Portfolio Theory, primarily investing in no-load mutual funds and ETFs, and coordinates with clients’ estate, tax, and insurance advisors.

Lindsay Guido is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. She has worked at Conifer Bay Capital LLC since 2021, following roles at ChangePath, LLC, Effert Financial Solutions, and Partnervest Advisory Services. Outside of financial advising, she is also a stock photographer with images licensed through iStock by Getty Images. Conifer Bay Capital LLC provides fee-based portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, and it incorporates margin trading and option strategies in its investment approach.

Michelle Smalenberger is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Financial Design Studio, Inc. since 2017 and previously spent 12 years at Kabarec Financial Advisors, Ltd. Financial Design Studio, Inc. serves individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations with portfolio management and financial planning. The firm provides additional services including personal tax preparation, business bookkeeping, and educational seminars, emphasizing long-term asset allocation and buy-and-hold strategies using mutual funds and ETFs.

Ryan Siepka is a financial advisor at Rudwall Wealth Management LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Videckis Financial Services, Inc. since 2019 and at Comprehensive Insurance Agency, LLC since 2009. Rudwall Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a client-tailored, fundamentally oriented, long-term investment approach and manages discretionary portfolios across various asset classes.

George Maroudas is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with PMG Wealth Management and has also worked with LPL Financial. His background includes roles at John Cabot University and Michigan State University. PMG Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business owners with discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis to manage customized portfolios and offers strategies such as the “Advance & Protect” approach, blending in-house management with outside managers to address diverse client needs.

Brett Detterbeck is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66-registered advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Detterbeck Wealth Management since 2000, where he is part of a three-advisor team based in Palatine, IL. Detterbeck Wealth Management is a small SEC-registered firm managing approximately $252 million for individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs a Core & Satellite investment approach combining low-cost passive core allocations with actively managed satellite exposures and offers discretionary investment management alongside comprehensive financial planning services.

Brian Dunn is a financial advisor at Black Elm Advisers, LLC in Skokie, IL, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has served as president of Epic Sky, Inc., a marketing company, since 2015. Dunn is also involved in hedge fund management through Black Prime, LLC, an affiliated entity. Black Elm Advisers provides discretionary investment management to individual and high-net-worth clients, employing a mix of fundamental and quantitative analysis. The firm utilizes a range of strategies, including long and short positions, margin trading, and options, with performance-based compensation and active use of derivatives distinguishing it from many peers.

Maria Graft is a financial advisor at Simplified Wealth Management, LLC in Barrington, IL, with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and is involved in several outside business activities, including serving as a marketing manager for MJG Construction, LLC and working as an insurance agent with Our Family Office, LLC. Simplified Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $23 million. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and offers strategies ranging from long-term holdings to options trading, along with ongoing portfolio monitoring and reporting.

Daniel Dame is a financial advisor at PMG Wealth Management with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has worked at PMG Wealth Management since 2016 and has been associated with LPL Financial since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he acts as a broker for various non-variable insurance products through Dame Financial Services. PMG Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business owners with discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm manages customized portfolios using a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, often blending in-house management with outside managers to address client-specific needs.

Matthew Nadeau is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He is a partner at Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management LLC, where he has worked since 2025. His previous experience includes roles at Apollon Wealth Management, Triad Advisors Inc, and Piershale Financial Group. Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management LLC provides comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $60 million in discretionary assets across about 90 clients, utilizing a broad mix of analytical techniques and various asset-allocation approaches to create and monitor portfolios.

Donald Monsen is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Woodfield Financial Advisors, Inc. in Deer Park, IL, and has prior experience with Independent Financial Group LLC and Woodfield Planning Corp. Woodfield Financial Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm provides financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management services, developing tailored asset-allocation models implemented through mutual funds and ETFs, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and periodic rebalancing.

Barbara Bridgman is a financial advisor at Succession Financial, Inc. with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at WealthStar Advisors, LLC, Mueller Financial Services, Inc., and operating her own advisory practice. Succession Financial, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax preparation services. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory with both passive and active strategies.

Elizabeth Schneider is a CFP® professional with 31 years of industry experience. She currently serves as an advisor at Whealthy Empowerment Network and is also involved with Infinity Wealth Company, LLC, where she provides investment advisory services. Her prior roles include positions at CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, and Adviceperiod, LLC. WHealthy Empowerment Network offers discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tactical allocation strategy across a broad investment universe and serves clients through a two-advisor team without imposing account minimums.