Kathleen Valleau is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with six years of industry experience. She has worked at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2019 and previously held roles at Becton, Dickinson and Company and Vyaire. Outside of advisory work, she serves as an accountant with ShankerValleau Accountants, Inc. and is a board member of The Kaufherr Resource Center. ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors is a team-based SEC-registered firm that manages approximately $645 million for over 200 clients, offering wrap-fee portfolio management, individualized investment supervision, and integrated financial planning. The firm employs evidence-based, structured investment strategies with broad diversification and incorporates financial planning into its advisory services.

William Vellon is a financial advisor with Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors LLC since 2008 and previously worked with Kingsbury Capital, Inc. and Cabot Lodge Securities LLC. Outside the investment industry, he is involved as President and Financial Advisor at Ten31 Farms, focusing on potential 1031/DST transactions, and also works as a health insurance sales representative for Medicare Advantage products through Insurance by the Sea/Tangram LLC. Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors is an SEC-registered independent adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm delivers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and institutional retirement plan advisory services, using diversified portfolios supplemented by quantitative optimization and third-party due diligence.

Colin Schwerin is a financial advisor at North Star Investment Management Corporation with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at Burns and McDonnell, Sargent and Lundy, and Kentucky Utilities. Schwerin is also associated with CAPS Financial Group, where he provides financial planning services. North Star Investment Management Corporation serves a range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm manages approximately $2.5 billion in client assets and employs strategies such as equity positions, fixed income, option strategies, and direct indexing, often allocating client assets into its own mutual funds.

Nick Demopoulos is a CFP® with over 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Nomura Securities International since 2008 and has been with Embree Financial Group since 2021. Prior to that, he spent seven years at Bank of Brazil. Embree Financial Group provides holistic financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting to individuals and institutions. The firm serves high net worth clients, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and corporations, managing assets with a fiduciary approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Joshua Bretl is a financial advisor with Wellment Financial in Elmhurst, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked with FSR Insurance Planning, Ltd. since 2017 and FSR Wealth Management, LTD. since 2013, and has been involved with FSR Certified Public Accountants, Ltd. since 2005. He serves on the Board of Directors for Community Bank of Elmhurst. Wellment Financial provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional sponsors. The firm uses vetted model portfolios and a sub-advisor platform focusing on tax-aware retirement planning, while also offering client-managed account options and modular or comprehensive financial plans.

Jeffry Livingston is a financial advisor at Regal Advisory Services, Inc. in Chicago, IL, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Regal Securities since 2012. Regal Advisory Services, Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and institutional clients through a team of 15 advisors, managing approximately $113.5 million in assets. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory, employing a blend of fundamental and quantitative research tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Marie Beckman is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 25 years of industry experience. She is a principal at A. Robert Taylor Financial Advisory Services, Ltd., where she has worked since 2000, and currently serves as an advisor at Financial Solutions Advisory Group. Financial Solutions Advisory Group advises high-net-worth individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and trusts, providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm uses a comprehensive investment process incorporating fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis and maintains a quarterly newsletter for clients and professionals.

Timothy Debruyne is a financial advisor at The Mosaic Financial Group, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 credential with 21 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 across about 125 client relationships. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and integrates accounting and tax services into its advisory platform, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with in-house tax preparation and bookkeeping.

Derek Kyler is a financial advisor at Coyle with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the DeKalb Park District and the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. Coyle serves individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities by providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial assessment, wealth advisory, project-based planning, and family legacy services. The firm combines tactical and strategic asset allocation with individualized portfolio construction and employs fundamental, quantitative, optimization, and technical research methods to align investments with client goals and risk tolerance.

William Pekin is a CFA® charterholder with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Pekin Singer Strauss Asset Management since 2001. Pekin Hardy Strauss, Inc. is a team-based firm that provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, pension plans, registered investment companies, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental analysis, asset allocation, and ESG factors, employing a variety of strategies including derivatives and short selling to tailor portfolios to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances.

Robert Tutela is a financial advisor at Essex, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Essex since 2016. Tutela serves as a SmartAsset Ambassador, consulting as an independent contractor to generate sales leads for his firm. Essex, LLC is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $649.3 million across about 576 client accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. Investment decisions are made by a multi-member committee using a blend of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis.

John Kosik is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc since 2009. He holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Downers Grove, Illinois. Capstone Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning in its investment process, managing approximately $2.44 billion in client assets through a multi-advisor team.

Robert Perkins is a financial advisor at Hunter Capital Management with 44 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Perkins Investment Management LLC, Janus Distributors LLC, and PWMCO, LLC prior to joining Hunter Capital Management in 2020. Perkins holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Hunter Capital Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, and institutional clients. The firm manages assets across separate accounts, a mutual fund, and privately offered pooled vehicles, with a value-oriented equity investment approach and a team of five advisors.

Terry Finkel is a financial advisor with Uhlmann Investment Management, L.L.C. in Skokie, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Uhlmann Investment Management and its affiliated firm Uhlmann Price Securities since 2012. Uhlmann Investment Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management services to individual, institutional, and trust clients, using fundamental analysis and long-term asset allocation to tailor portfolios. The firm employs a mix of stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and alternatives, utilizing both in-house and third-party managers to meet client objectives.

Kurt Newsom is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 15 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an advisor at XXI Wealth, LLC, a role he has held since 2024. Prior to that, he worked at CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. and CIBC World Markets Corp. for seven years, Atlantic Trust Investment Advisors for one year, and Geneva Investment Management of Chicago for six years. XXI Wealth, LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers customized portfolio construction using a mix of equities, fixed income, index funds, ETFs, direct indexing, alternative investments, and private placements, and employs active oversight of third-party money managers.

Ryan Kaysen is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Serenity Investment Advisors in Chicago. He joined Serenity in 2026 after five years at Integritas Financial, LLC. Outside of financial advising, Kaysen works as a consultant in operations and sales development for Sound Control Solutions, Inc., a wholesale distribution company. Serenity Wealth Management offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a tactical allocation approach using proprietary model portfolios and fundamental analysis, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies.

Joseph Stock is a CFP® with 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a managing partner and co-founder of Lake Street Private Wealth, where he has worked since 2018. Prior to this, he held roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Cantella & Co., Inc., Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. Lake Street Private Wealth provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and fiduciary services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business entities, and various types of plans and trusts. The firm emphasizes institutional cost structures, global diversification, and a focus on asset-class allocation, offering both discretionary trading authority and non-discretionary advisement.

Edward Keating is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at SAGE Private Wealth Group, LLC. Prior to joining SAGE, he worked at Calamos Wealth Management LLC and BMO Harris Bank. He is actively involved in the Waubonsee Community College Foundation, serving as board president and participating in finance, investment, and scholarship committees. SAGE Private Wealth Group provides wealth management and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm offers customized investment strategies and family office services, utilizing a variety of asset classes and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Igor Yukhvidin is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with a Series 65 designation and experience beginning in 2025. Prior to joining Vertex Partners, he worked at JP Morgan Chase Bank for seven years and Ernst & Young for four years. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolios based on risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, utilizing a variety of investment vehicles and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

William Henry is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with Willis Towers Watson Securities, LLC. He has been with Willis Towers Watson entities since 2010 and has one year of experience at his current firm in Chicago, IL. He is also associated with Towers Watson Retiree Insurance Services, Inc. Willis Towers Watson Securities, LLC provides retirement-focused investment advisory services primarily through its Via Retirement platform, which offers web-based financial planning, discretionary model portfolios, and access to investment adviser representatives. The firm’s approach emphasizes diversified model portfolios and asset-allocation modeling supported by affiliated sub-advisers and insurance brokerage activities within the broader Willis Towers Watson organization.