Howard Kite is a CFP® and ChFC® with 44 years of industry experience. He is currently with Forum Financial Management, LP, where he has worked since 2009, and previously held roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investment and PKS Advisory Services, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of several non-investment-related business entities, including real estate management ventures. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients. The firm also serves as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs, offering model portfolios managed primarily with DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs under a Modern Portfolio Theory approach.

James Niedermeier is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2009 and also owns Niedermeier Agency, through which he is involved in insurance sales. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations.

Emilija Ilic is a financial advisor at Mission Wealth Management, LP with one year of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Krd Ltd, Byline Bank, BG 011 LLC, and the Law Offices of Lee Steinberg. Emilija is based in Charles, Illinois. Mission Wealth Management is a multi-team advisory firm that provides wealth management, financial planning, and personalized portfolio management primarily for affluent and high-net-worth individuals and families. The firm employs tiered service models and customized, long-term investment strategies incorporating ETFs, institutional mutual funds, alternative investments, and tax-aware trading.

Anthony Lavarda is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and 40 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he founded St Raphael Lame Ducks, a prayer and social service group. World Equity Group provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee programs, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Jeffrey Menough is a CFP® professional with 34 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Highpoint Planning Partners since 2013 and also maintains a longstanding affiliation with LPL Financial beginning in 2010. Menough has established a home-based business entity for tax and investment purposes that he manages with limited monthly time commitment. Highpoint Planning Partners serves a diverse clientele including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and utilizes a range of investment vehicles and third-party platforms to deliver tailored advisory services.

Bradley Karkula is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Calamos Wealth Management LLC and Calamos Financial Services LLC, having previously worked at Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan in various capacities. Calamos Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary wealth management and institutional advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, private foundations, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment process involves rigorous idea sourcing, evaluation, and portfolio construction, often utilizing affiliated Calamos Funds and investment vehicles within a comprehensive governance framework.

Christopher Peterson is a financial advisor at Highpoint Planning Partners with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for St. Charles Bank & Trust Company N.A. for ten years before joining Highpoint Advisor Group and LPL Financial in 2024. Highpoint Advisor Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management and financial planning services, constructing client investment policies through personal consultations and implementing portfolios using fundamental analysis across a range of securities and third-party platforms.

Callie Just is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners and holds a Series 66 credential. She has nine years of industry experience, including prior roles at PPM America, Inc., Jackson National Life Distributors LLC, and Merrill. Outside of her advisory work, she owns Just Chic LLC, an event design and planning business. HighPoint Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and manages a wrap-fee program, constructing client portfolios through fundamental analysis across various investment vehicles.

Jignesh Jain is a financial advisor at Belpointe Asset Management LLC with securities licenses Series 63 and Series 65. He has held positions at AFIN Wealth Management and Amplified Planning and worked at NEC Corporation of America for 13 years. Jain serves as a board member for the Jain Society of Metro Chicago, a religious non-profit organization. Belpointe Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 160 advisors and manages more than $7.5 billion for individuals, corporations, trusts, and other advisers. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through customized portfolios, model strategies, and various affiliated funds and services.

Glenn Schwalje is a financial advisor at Financial Security Advisory, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held roles at firms including Milliman Investment Management Services and Jackson National Life Distributors. Schwalje is also involved in compliance consulting through Oyster Consulting, LLC. Financial Security Advisory, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans, focusing on asset allocation and long-term holdings. The firm uses quantitative and qualitative methods to select investments and manages accounts primarily on a limited discretionary basis.

Craig Wenger is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2009. Prior to that, he worked at Financial Planning Consultants from 2000 to 2017. He also serves as treasurer for the Hawthorne Place Condo Association in Chicago. Ausdal Financial Partners manages over $2 billion in client assets and offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of investment strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts and combines advisory, brokerage, and insurance services.

Eric Hrebic is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at 606 Wealth Management, LLC and Lowery Asset Consulting. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, qualified plan services, and educational workshops to individual and institutional clients. The firm also serves as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs, managing approximately $9 billion in assets with a focus on model portfolios grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory.

Chloe Fakhouri is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at JMG Financial Group Ltd in Downers Grove, IL. Prior to joining JMG Financial Group, she worked at Itasca Bank & Trust and was also employed by Depaul University. Outside of her financial advisory role, Chloe is a fitness instructor for Pike Lagree, a fitness center offering Lagree-style classes. JMG Financial Group provides comprehensive wealth management and consulting services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a planning-based, long-term investment approach focused on strategic asset allocation and offers services including portfolio management, tax consulting, and access to private investment opportunities.

Sherry Salamone is a financial advisor with CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors since 2016. CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and institutional clients, providing wealth advisory, asset management, financial and estate planning, and business succession consulting. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach through model portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee, integrating multidisciplinary planning in coordination with its parent firm, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.

Joseph Fortunato is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners in Downers Grove, IL, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and securities licenses Series 63 and 66. He has 21 years of industry experience and previously worked at firms including Vantage Financial Partners Limited, HighTower Advisors LLC, and Guardian Life. HighPoint Planning Partners serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and uses a diversified investment approach including mutual funds, ETFs, equities, debt securities, REITs, options, and third-party platforms.

Michael Smith is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with HighPoint Planning Partners since 2016 and has been affiliated with LPL Financial since 2015. HighPoint Planning Partners serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management and financial planning, implementing portfolios through personal consultations and fundamental analysis across various asset classes, while utilizing third-party and LPL-sponsored platforms to provide consolidated advisory services.

Christopher Genzler is a CFP® professional with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP since 2012. His prior experience includes work at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. from 2012 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare and medical education, holding leadership positions such as President of the Western Cook Chapter of the Illinois Continuity of Care Association and Treasurer and Director of the Board at BodyInsight. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients. The firm also serves as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs, employing a Modern Portfolio Theory approach primarily with DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs.

Shawn Wears is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Capital Analysts. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Investment, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Guggenheim Investments, and Rydex Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in community activities as the financial secretary of the McWhinney Benevolent Association. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing a proprietary mutual fund screening process and maintaining institutional relationships to support a wide range of investment and retirement-planning services.

Jaclyn Garcia is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience and has been with JMG Financial Group Ltd since 2015. She serves as a manager of Glass Pumpkin Vineyard, LLC, a vineyard business unrelated to investments. JMG Financial Group Ltd provides comprehensive wealth and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a planning-based, long-term approach with strategic asset allocation and offers tax consulting and access to private investment funds.

James Lapera is a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Forum Financial since 2012 and previously at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. and Pinnacle Financial Solutions, PC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and owns a holding company. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients, and serves as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs. The firm emphasizes model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and manages over $9 billion in assets.