Meredith Sims is a financial advisor with CL Wealth Management LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. She has 22 years of industry experience and has worked with multiple firms, including Heart Strong Wealth Planning and Onsystex. Outside of financial services, she owns Meredith Sims Creative LLC, a non-investment-related business. CL Wealth Management LLC offers portfolio advisory and financial planning services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

William Bringham is a financial advisor at KCD Financial, Inc. with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at KCD Financial since 2017, following a five-year tenure at Freedom Investors Corp. Outside of advising, he serves as president of WTB Associates, Inc., a tax preparation and accounting business. KCD Financial, Inc. is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporate pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and investment strategies, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services alongside third-party managed account options.

David Lehenbauer is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at OSAIC, Triad Advisors, and Charles Schwab, among others. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and institutions. The firm utilizes a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers to construct portfolios primarily focused on mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income with a long-term investment approach.

Mitchell Hamer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Kovitz Securities, and Asset Management Group LTD. Outside of his advisory work, he is a managing member of Intersectling Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisory firm. Stratos Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and financial institutions, offering investment management, financial planning, and insurance consulting through a network of mostly independent investment advisory representatives. The firm employs a range of advisory programs and leverages both affiliated and third-party subadvisers to deliver tailored investment solutions.

David Rogers is a financial advisor with M Holdings Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial and Greenbridge Strategies LLC. Outside of his advisory practice, he is involved with Jamieson Financial Services, where he assists investment advisors at Wells Fargo in designing and implementing life insurance solutions. M Holdings Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a nationwide network of independent firms and financial professionals. The firm offers a broad range of advisory and brokerage services, combining discretionary investment management with financial planning and insurance advisory, supported by multiple platform providers and model portfolios.

Joseph Emme is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work includes positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, The Pinnacle Financial Group, and Commonwealth Financial Network. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving approximately 20,000 clients across 66 offices, managing about $23.9 billion in assets. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services with a focus on long-term, diversified portfolios supported by an internal Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Anne Morrissy is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Gamco Asset Management Inc. and has been associated with Gabelli & Company, Inc. since 1999 and G.distributors, LLC since 2012. Gamco Asset Management Inc. provides discretionary investment management and sub‑advisory services to a diverse client base, including institutional investors, private clients, and less common categories such as sovereign wealth funds and banking institutions. The firm employs a value-driven investment process supported by fundamental research and offers a range of customized institutional and separate-account strategies.

Sherwin Shenfeld is a financial advisor with WORLD EQUITY GROUP, Inc. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 63 license and has 39 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is president of Shenfeld & Co, Ltd, a CPA firm, and president of Mervana, Inc., an art dealing business. WORLD EQUITY GROUP provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business entities, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs a mix of model-based and customized investment approaches and offers a range of portfolio management and retirement plan advisory services.

Christopher Burke is a financial advisor with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Apollon Wealth since 2020 and previously held roles at Podesta Capital Advisors, LLC, Podesta & Co., and J.P. Morgan Securities. Burke is also the managing partner at Podesta Capital Advisors, an Illinois-registered investment advisory firm. Apollon Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and charitable organizations, offering comprehensive advisory services such as portfolio management and financial planning. The firm combines centrally managed strategies with local portfolio oversight, utilizing fundamental and tactical approaches along with tax-aware tools and engaging independent sub-managers for certain mandates.

Stephen Meskan is a financial advisor with CL Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Meskan Capital, Cabot Lodge Securities LLC, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc., FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC, and Feltl & Company. He is president of Meskan Capital, where he focuses on evaluating and educating clients about 1031 exchanges. CL Wealth Management LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio advisory services, financial planning, third-party manager referrals, and client education, using tailored investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis.

Philip Telpner is a financial advisor at Lifeworks Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley. Philip is also dually registered with Breakout Private Wealth LLC. Lifeworks Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and businesses, offering discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm combines a planning-based tranche approach with risk-based models and employs factor-based and smart-beta equity strategies, ETFs, and third-party managers, while integrating tax and accounting capabilities within its corporate group.

Brian Kearns is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mutual Advisors, LLC since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Twombly Asset Management LLC, Emberhouse, LLC, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with the Illinois CPA Society as Co-Chair of the Personal Financial Planning Forum and serves as Treasurer for the Sons of the American Legion Post 42. Mutual Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $6.75 billion through a network of 123 advisors. The firm serves individuals, institutions, trusts, and retirement plans by providing asset management, financial consulting, ERISA plan advisory, and other services, utilizing a combination of passive and active investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Annirose Womack is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Capital Analysts. Her prior work includes roles at Lincoln Investment, Astraios Financial-East, LLC, and Horace Mann Investors, Inc. She is also the owner of Womack Enterprises LLC, a tax and accounting entity. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs. The firm’s investment decisions are supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and a proprietary mutual-fund screening process, with advisory services tailored to client needs.

Braden Monahan is a financial advisor with Simplicity Wealth in Lincolnshire, IL, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ehlert Financial Group and several engagements with the University of Illinois. In addition to his advisory work, he presents and explains life insurance policies as a registered insurance agent. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios monitored and rebalanced regularly, along with optional overlays like tax optimization and customized screening.

Christa Madison is a CFP® and Series 63 licensed advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Curi RMB Capital, Sebold Capital Management, Americana Financial Group, MML Investors Services, Inc., and MassMutual Financial Group. Outside of advising, she is involved as a soccer referee and partners with family members in a craft show business called Loom Designs. Ascentis Independent Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services including asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing portfolios constructed from diverse public and private securities that are actively monitored and rebalanced.

Michael Kreusch is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with First Advisors National, LLC and previously worked at Asylum Trading LLC, TD Ameritrade, Marquette Partners, and Celtic Trading LLC. First Advisors National provides investment management, asset allocation advice, and retirement plan consulting primarily to individual clients, including ERISA plan participants. The firm oversees third-party money managers and supplements portfolios with advice on equities, ETFs, and mutual funds, typically managing accounts on a discretionary basis through tactical and strategic asset allocation.

Clay Hessel is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. He is also involved in providing life insurance and protection solutions to clients. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach and serves both retail investors and plan sponsors with discretionary portfolio management and ERISA-focused plan services.

Mary Ehlert is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at Simplicity Wealth. She previously worked at Forum Financial Management, LP and operated Ehlert Financial Group. Outside of financial advising, she is involved in multiple nonprofit organizations focused on special needs advocacy and disability services, including serving as CEO of Protected Tomorrows Inc and as a board member for several related charities. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a fund-of-funds investment approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, combined with model portfolios and third-party manager oversight, alongside technology-driven services for advisers.

Stephen Dudas is a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Insigneo Advisory Services, Securities America Advisors, and Triad Advisors. World Equity Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers, utilizing a combination of model-based and customized investment approaches.

Nicholas Rossetti is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Merit Financial Advisors in Deerfield, IL. His prior experience includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, The Pinnacle Financial Group, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Northern Trust Corporation. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving more than 20,000 clients across 66 offices. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services utilizing a long-term, diversified investment approach supported by an internal Investment Management team and customizable portfolio models.