Frederick Kort is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is currently with Cura Wealth Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Arete Wealth Advisors, IHT Wealth Management, Insight Securities, and UBS Financial Services. He is based in Chicago, IL. Cura Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing comprehensive portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis along with various asset-allocation strategies and manages over $527 million in assets across 172 client relationships.

Qin Zhang is a financial advisor at Sun Global LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also serves as owner and president of FISO Group LLC, an insurance agency, where he manages and markets the business. Sun Global LLC provides discretionary portfolio management primarily for high-net-worth individuals, using a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis to drive investment decisions. The firm employs a mix of long-term investing, short-term trading, and options strategies while typically holding discretionary trading authority.

Frank Kautzky is a financial advisor at Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to his current tenure beginning in 2024, he worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group from 2007 to 2024. Outside of advising, he is the owner and president of KPW Holdings, Inc., a private entity established for tax purposes and RIA ownership. Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses by providing customized wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm utilizes a broad range of securities and investment strategies and supports its advisory team with institutional resources, managing over $1.2 billion in client assets.

Thomas Shankland is a financial advisor with Harvest Investment Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His career includes long tenures at ProEquities, Inc. and extensive involvement with multiple insurance companies dating back over four decades. He is also the owner of Shankland Financial Services, an estate and financial planning firm where he serves as a Certified Estate Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant. Harvest Investment Services, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs an actively managed tactical strategy and serves clients through a multi-advisor team structure across several offices.

Matthew De Stefano is a financial advisor with Capstone Financial Advisors Inc in Downers Grove, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Capstone, he worked at Chicago Partners Investment Group and Grant Thornton, LLP. Capstone Financial Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s approach focuses on asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax efficiency, managing portfolios with a generally multi-year outlook and offering private fund investments to qualifying investors.

Megan Micek is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has worked at several firms including LPL Financial LLC and Professional Wealth Advisors. In addition to her advisory role, she 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 clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, utilizing a range of investment strategies and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Dennis Slott is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vestor Capital, LLC in Chicago, IL. He has been with Vestor Capital and its related entities since 2010 and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the Father Wasson Legacy Endowment Inc. Vestor Capital is a multi-team investment and wealth management firm serving individuals, families, not-for-profit organizations, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $2.08 billion in discretionary assets through a centralized Investment Committee that focuses on fundamental security analysis and a range of equity and fixed income strategies.

Randall Hughes is a financial advisor with Hunter Capital Management in Lombard, IL. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience, including a decade at Ballast Equity Management. Hunter Capital Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.09 billion in assets with a team of seven advisors. The firm serves a variety of clients including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporations, providing discretionary portfolio management through pooled vehicles, private funds, and a registered mutual fund.

Benjamin Cohen is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as part of the team at Cohen Capital in Chicago, IL. Prior to joining Cohen Capital, he worked for 12 years at Raymond James & Associates. Outside of his advisory role, he is a passive investor in businesses including Verlaine Restaurant and the Broadway production Once On This Island. Cohen Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides discretionary investment management, wealth management, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, businesses, pooled vehicles, and institutional accounts. The firm primarily constructs portfolios using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by individual securities and alternative investments, and employs a mostly long-term investment approach with flexibility for shorter-term adjustments.

Jeffrey Hansen is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. He has worked previously at Wells Fargo Advisors, RubinBrown Advisors LLC, and Bank of America, among others. Hansen holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. Capstone Financial Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax efficiency, utilizing a mix of securities and third-party sub-advisers with a generally multi-year outlook.

Derrick Allen is a financial advisor at The Mosaic Financial Group, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. He has been with The Mosaic Financial Group since 2003. The Mosaic Financial Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and various business entities, managing approximately $898 million in assets. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and integrates accounting and tax services into its advisory platform, offering customized portfolio construction and both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships.

Shawn Kennedy is a financial advisor with Pendulum Wealth Partners in Itasca, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Pendulum Wealth Partners in 2025, he spent 22 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. He is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales and implementation. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors managing approximately $254 million across 227 client relationships, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a fundamental, primarily long-term investment approach through diversified portfolios and operates under common control with an affiliated tax and accounting firm offering integrated services.

Richard Loria is a financial advisor with MPS-LORIA Financial Planners, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and offering 35 years of industry experience. He has been with MPS-LORIA Financial Planners and Loria Financial Group since 1999. Outside of advisory work, he is an independent licensed insurance agent and a managing member of Loria Financial Group, LLC. MPS-LORIA Financial Planners serves a varied client base including high-net-worth individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, estates, and trusts. The firm employs an open-architecture, predominantly discretionary investment approach, utilizing diversified allocations primarily composed of no-load mutual funds and ETFs and relies on quantitative screening and ongoing monitoring tools.

Ryan Vance is a CFA® charterholder with over 20 years of industry experience. He joined Pendulum Wealth Partners in 2025 after two decades at Northern Trust Investments, Inc. He is based in Itasca, IL. Pendulum Wealth Partners is a team of nine advisors managing approximately $254 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a fundamental, primarily long-term investment approach across diversified portfolios and offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services.

Martin Buehler is a financial advisor with Vestor Capital, LLC in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 35 years of industry experience. He has been involved with VC Management, LLC and various Vestor Capital entities since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is a limited partner and passive investor in Aurora Sports Venture, LLC, a private real estate limited partnership. Vestor Capital provides investment and wealth management, portfolio management, and financial planning services to individuals, nonprofits, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a centralized Investment Committee that uses internal fundamental research to manage diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes and offers co-advisory and sub-advised strategies, supported by an affiliation with Focus Financial Partners.

James Varner is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at Financial Solutions Advisory Group in Chicago, where he has been since 2025. Prior to this, he spent seven years at HighTower Advisors LLC and over two decades at Leonetti & Associates, Inc. Financial Solutions Advisory Group serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and trusts through continuous investment advisory and portfolio management services. The firm employs a diversified investment approach combining fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis, and is notable for its pension plan consulting and quarterly newsletter publication.

Thomas Bono is a financial advisor with Monere Wealth Management, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with Monere Investments, Inc. since 2015. Monere Wealth Management is a team-based advisory firm managing approximately $312 million in client assets. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charities, and business accounts, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and pension consulting with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Jeffrey Witz is a CFP® professional with nine years of experience at MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, Inc., where he has worked since 2011. He is based in Chicago, IL, and coordinates life and disability insurance sales for the firm’s clients. MEDIQUS Asset Advisors serves individuals, retirement plans, and medical groups with investment advisory, financial planning, and ERISA plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes long-term asset allocation and uses a combination of third-party research and platform algorithms to manage discretionary assets.

Michael Corbett is a financial advisor with Perritt Capital Management Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 65 and Series 66 designations and possessing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Perritt Capital Management since 2010 and currently serves as President of the Perritt Funds, Inc., overseeing several microcap-focused mutual funds. Corbett also holds a leadership role at Rothschild Wealth, LLC. Perritt Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, institutions, trusts, retirement plans, and other entities. The firm specializes in micro- and small-cap equity strategies with a long-term, fundamental analysis approach and manages both separately managed accounts and registered investment companies.

Thomas Grooms is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Sierra Summit Advisors LLC since 2024 and previously held roles at Northern Trust and Premier Asset Management LLC. Sierra Summit Advisors primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various strategies and routinely uses third-party managers under its oversight.