Garland Kizer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and has held roles at Cetera, VOYA Financial Advisors, and his own firms, Kizer & Associates and Kizer Financial Services. Kizer serves as a trustee for the THSD 214 Foundation and MacMurray College, and he is chairman of the Bartlett 4th of July Festival committee. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, and institutions, emphasizing a long-term, diversified investment approach through model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central Investment Management team.

Paul Wehner is a financial advisor at Arax Advisory Partners with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at Kingswood Capital Partners, Schechter Investment Advisors, and Coe Capital Management, among others. Wehner is also involved in private equity investing through Schechter Private Capital. Arax Advisory Partners is a multi-team wealth manager overseeing approximately $26.5 billion in assets, serving individual, high-net-worth, family office, institutional, and retirement plan clients. The firm employs a combination of internal portfolio management, third-party models, and tailored asset allocation, with a notable use of performance-based fees and carried interest for certain investors and private funds.

Jeffrey Birch is a financial advisor at Kingsview Wealth Management, LLC with a Series 65 credential and over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. His prior roles include positions at American Express, Rain City Capital, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as running his own consulting firm, JBirch Consulting. Kingsview Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $6.7 billion and serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers wealth management, financial planning, and asset management services combining advisor-led planning with model-based and separately managed strategies, including internally sponsored ETFs and access to third-party managers.

Joseph Supina is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in Elmhurst, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 24 years of industry experience. He has been with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors and its affiliated broker-dealer since 2009. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, managing a large proportion of assets on a non-discretionary basis and utilizing a diverse mix of mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and options.

Mark Lishchynsky Jr. is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2013. 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 employs a combination of model-based and customized investment approaches and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services.

Bruce Vollrath is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 42 years of industry experience. He has worked with LaSalle St. Securities, Inc. since 1996. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and a variety of portfolio management services. The firm employs both passive and active investment strategies across multiple asset classes and manages a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Elizabeth Nanovic is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with LaSalle St. Securities since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she volunteers teaching PRE-CANA classes for couples preparing for marriage through the Archdiocese of Chicago and serves as Vice President of the Saint Peter and Paul Home and School. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies across multiple asset classes using both active and passive approaches, with a notable focus on non-discretionary asset management.

Jeffery Wille is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Pure Financial Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Gresham Partners, LLC for seven years. Pure Financial Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.05 billion in assets for several thousand individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes a financial-planning-centered approach using academic frameworks and offers comprehensive services including discretionary portfolio management, pension consulting, and donor-advised fund solutions.

Oliver Ernst is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Advisory Services Network since 2017. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and SAGE Private Wealth Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is the founder and CEO of GlassNebula, a website and app providing ESG data to individuals. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consulting, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets with tailored strategies across various asset classes.

Daniel Mayer is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at LaSalle St. Securities LLC since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Mayer Media Co., a freelance web and application development and digital marketing business. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies using both passive and active approaches, managing substantially more assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Brian Carlson is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as Senior Vice President at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, and Triad Advisors, Inc. He is also a board member and grade director for the Arlington Heights Youth Basketball Association, a local nonprofit organization. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers, and offers comprehensive ERISA-focused services for retirement plans.

Brendan Donlevy is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Triad Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital Forensics Inc. Brendan is based in Chicago, IL. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for about 9,453 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan services. Their approach integrates client-specific goal setting with various analytical methods and may include third-party managers or affiliate strategies.

Jessica Nieminski is an investment advisor representative at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She has held positions at multiple firms, including Cetera and Network 1 Financial Securities, and operates ClearPath Financial LLC, a financial services DBA. Nieminski also sells health, life, property, and casualty insurance through ClearPath Financial Insurance, LLC. Fortis Capital Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including discretionary management and ESG options, and manages over $1.6 billion in discretionary assets.

John Kwasigroch is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Securian Financial Services, Inc. and Triad Advisors, Inc. He is also involved with GCG Financial, providing fixed insurance products and investment advisory services. Alera Investment Advisors offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm combines internal management with affiliate and independent managers, focusing on long-term allocations to mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income, while providing ERISA-related services for retirement plans.

Daniel Zarzynski is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robertson Stephens. He has one year of industry experience, with prior roles at CAFG Wealth Management, Camping World, Brunswick Corporation, and CBS Radio. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines individualized advice with centrally developed model portfolios and oversight, managing over $7 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2024.

Carlos Coutinho Maia is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities, Equitable Advisors, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Edward Jones. Outside of finance, he was involved in operating Carambola Gelato and Coffee Shop LLC for two years. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union, individual investors, and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm utilizes model portfolios managed by third-party advisers on platforms such as Envestnet, providing account monitoring, rebalancing, and optional tax and impact overlay services.

Kevin Geiger is a financial advisor at Blackridge Asset Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with firms including Retirement Wealth Advisors, Alchemy Advisors, and LPL Financial. Geiger also operates Geiger Investments, a separate investment-related business. Blackridge Asset Management is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm provides financial planning and portfolio management services, employing a structured investment process that combines client input with third-party and advisor-created model portfolios, and offers sub-advisory services to unaffiliated registered investment advisers.

Allison Tregoning is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Prior to her advisory career, she was employed at Azzip Pizza and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm operates through a network of independent advisers who tailor strategies using discretionary management, third-party managers, and model portfolios, and also provides ERISA-related services for qualified plans.

Robert Peterson is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Crescent Grove Advisors since 2018, following a 17-year tenure at Ayco/Goldman Sachs. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, providing integrated wealth management, family office services, OCIO solutions, and portfolio advisory. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in assets and employs a customized investment process that combines long-term strategic allocations with tactical adjustments, supported by an investment committee and access to a broad range of investment options.

Paul Kaczmarczyk is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2010 and also worked at VestGen Advisors, LLC. Outside of advising, he serves as treasurer for the Schaumburg Athletic Association United Soccer Club, a nonprofit youth soccer organization. World Equity Group provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers managed portfolios through wrap-fee programs and uses a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation, with discretionary authority granted to third-party managers and investment adviser representatives.