Robert Karstenson is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Palatine, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2014 and concurrently operates Karstenson Financial Services. Additionally, he works as an insurance sales agent, specializing in life, health, and accident insurance. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm provides a range of services, including advisor-managed accounts, separately managed accounts, unified managed accounts, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning, tailoring investment strategies to client objectives and risk tolerance.

June Dinardo is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wayne Hummer Investments since 2008 and Arkadios Capital since 2024. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, businesses, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment plans that incorporate fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, using a range of internally managed and third-party solutions.

John Fisher is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding the CFP® and Series 66 designations and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at OSAIC, Triad Advisors, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, and Securian Financial Services. He is also involved with GCG Financial, providing fixed insurance products to clients. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers to construct portfolios focused on mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income with a long-term approach.

David Bossov is a financial advisor at Quartz Partners Investment Management with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and Fifth Third Bank. Quartz Partners serves individual investors, retirement plans, institutions, and financial intermediaries through model-based investment management, combining top-down macro analysis with bottom-up stock selection across distinct portfolio series. The firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis and delivers models via multiple channels, supported by ongoing committee oversight.

Erik Olson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Arete Wealth Advisors and Arete Wealth Management since 2010. Olson serves as a board member and investment committee chair for the Converge Foundation and owns Olson Analytics, a data analysis and consulting business. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based model allocations, utilizes third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Andrew Mitchell is a financial advisor at Sound Income Strategies, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Wipfli. Mitchell serves clients at Crystal Lake Tax and Financial, where he provides investment advisory services and fixed insurance sales. Sound Income Strategies is a fee-based investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, corporate and pension clients, and other registered advisors. The firm focuses on fixed-income and income-oriented strategies, combining fundamental and technical analysis, and offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and co- and sub-advisory arrangements.

Matthew Reinhardt is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with Merit Financial Advisors and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Biggs Mansion and CIBC Private Wealth, as well as experience with DePaul University Athletics. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation approach supported by an internal investment management team and offers a range of account arrangements and financial-wellness programs.

Ryan Birch is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience. He joined Kingsview Wealth Management, LLC in 2025 after spending 23 years at Edward Jones. His other business activities include managing a rental property in Barrington, Illinois. Kingsview Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, retirement plans, endowments, trusts, and state or municipal clients. It offers financial planning and asset management through a combination of in-house strategies, third-party managers, and alternative investments across various portfolio types.

Daniel Smyczynski is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, and has 43 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is also involved in the sale of insurance products. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of 152 advisors. The firm serves individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and brokerage services that include investment management, retirement planning, and insurance products.

Chris Morgan is a financial advisor with Harbour Investments, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Harbour in 2023, he worked at Beacon Wealth Advisors, LLC and Gradient Securities, LLC, among others. Outside of his advisory role, Morgan is involved in tax preparation services as a partner at Beacon Advisors LLC dba Beacon Tax Advisors. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning and access to various investment platforms and strategies.

Benjamin Carlson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Brighthouse Securities, LLC and METLIFE Investors Distribution Company. Outside of his advisory role, Carlson serves as an alpine ski coach during the winter months. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm manages assets primarily on a discretionary basis, using both advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based model allocations, and integrates its services with affiliated financial businesses and product channels.

Eric Mesko is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and with 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Triad Advisors, LPL Financial, and Waddell & Reed among others. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the Board of Directors for Bartlett Learning Centers, a school for mentally challenged children. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction utilizing third-party managers and home office investment strategies.

Jaime Herrera is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities LLC and B. Riley Wealth Management. Herrera currently serves as a senior investment service coordinator within the Alera Group. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and ERISA-focused plan services, utilizing a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers with a long-term investment orientation.

Erich Fischer is a financial advisor at Harbour Investments, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at The Tranel Financial Group and 818 Capital Group, LLC. Fischer also has experience with a customer service and payroll company where he worked part-time. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and various investment platforms with approaches that range from fundamental and technical analysis to modeling and macroeconomic strategies.

Alex Schoenbrun is a financial advisor with Lifemark Securities Corp. and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 2 years of industry experience and has been with Lifemark Securities since 2013. In addition to his advisory role, he is also involved with Midwest Benefit Consultants, Ltd., where he works as an independent insurance agent and pension administrator, focusing on life, disability, long-term care, and group insurance, as well as fixed annuities and 401(k) profit-sharing plan design and servicing. Lifemark Securities Corp. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual investors and retirement plan sponsors. The firm offers customized investment solutions including Unified Managed Accounts, Separately Managed Accounts, and other portfolio management programs, with a suitability-driven approach and accounts managed on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.

Stanley Nieminski is a CFP® and PFS™ with over 35 years of experience in financial advisory and accounting. He is currently with Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC and has held prior roles at Clearpath Financial LLC, Nieminski Robbins & Associates, and Cetera. In addition to his advisory work, he is president of a mortgage brokerage firm and owns a tax and accounting services business. Fortis Capital Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management and planning services with a flexible approach that incorporates passive, active, tactical, and ESG-aware strategies, supported by sub-advisors and specialist strategies.

Michael Gregory is a financial advisor with Advisory Solutions Group and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. He has 40 years of industry experience, including prior roles at J.P. Morgan Securities, Gladstone Wealth Partners, and LPL Financial. Outside of advisory services, he serves as a FINRA arbitrator. Advisory Solutions Group serves retail clients through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and provides turnkey business and back-office services to other registered investment advisory firms. The firm constructs broadly diversified portfolios using quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis while offering both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies with regular rebalancing and client reviews.

Robert Yarosz is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 36 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with World Equity Group, Inc. since 1997. Prior to and alongside his tenure at World Equity Group, he has also worked with World Lending Group and the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved in occasional sales of long-term care and life insurance products. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional entities. The firm offers managed portfolios primarily through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money managers to implement asset allocation and investment strategies.

Mary Heil is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 license and has previously worked at Ehlert Financial Group and Protected Tomorrows. Heil is also the Corporate Operations Manager at Protected Tomorrows and holds a Notary Public commission. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing, as well as technology and operational support for advisers through a turn-key asset management platform.

Karoline O'Connor is a financial advisor with Gladstone Wealth Partners in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nearly three decades of industry experience. Her prior roles include 14 years at UBS Financial Services and five years at LPL Financial. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of investment approaches and is notable for its integration of retirement plan services and institutional manager relationships.