Travis Smyczynski is a CFP® certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2018 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in independent insurance sales on a limited basis. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services tailored to client objectives and uses multiple custodians while maintaining dual registration as both a registered investment adviser and a broker-dealer.

Pamela Davis is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 40 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life, and Triad Advisors, among others. She is also involved with GCG Financial, where she provides fixed business insurance products alongside her advisory work. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of internal and external managers focusing on mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income, and provides ERISA-focused services for retirement plans.

Robert Yastrow is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 designation and experience beginning in 2024. His prior roles include positions at Osaic Wealth, Ryan Specialty, and Northmoor Country Club, as well as work related to sports camps and educational institutions. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm utilizes a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers to construct portfolios with a focus on long-term fundamental analysis and offers a range of ERISA-related services for retirement plans.

Genevieve Mar is a financial advisor with Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. She has been with Berthel Fisher since 2010 and also serves as a board member for CTG Holdings, an import/export business. Additionally, she participates in the financial steering committee of North Suburban Ev Free Church. Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services provides investment advisory and financial planning mainly to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $906 million in client assets across a variety of advisory platforms and customized investment strategies.

Robert Janson is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Minnesota Life Insurance Company, Ascend Financial Services, GCG Financial, Triad Advisors, and currently OSAIC, in addition to his ongoing tenure with Alera Investment Advisors since 2018. Outside of finance, he co-owns a jewelry sale and design business with his wife and assists with her interior and exterior design business. Alera Investment Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, fundamental-analytical investment approach while offering integrated insurance and pension-consulting capabilities.

Mary Deutsch is a financial advisor at Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. She is also the owner and insurance agent of MTD Financial, Inc., and serves as president of Tess Marketing, Inc., a business marketing services company. Additionally, she is a managing member of Eight 22 Alpha, LLC, a real estate investment venture. Gibbs Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and related advisory services, utilizing third-party platforms and strategists. The firm employs a mix of analytical approaches to guide asset allocations and emphasizes risk management, tax efficiency, and guaranteed-income solutions where appropriate.

David Taylor III is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Practice Management Consultants, LLC. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

William Morrison Jr. is a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has worked at Forum Financial Management since 2015 and previously at APEX CPAs & Consultants, Inc., and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a rental property through Four Forty Forum LLC. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory and related services to individual, institutional, and charitable clients. The firm employs model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services, supporting other RIAs through its turn-key asset-management platform and back-office services.

Valerie Love Parker is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor with Capital Analysts, based in Lombard, IL, and has 22 years of industry experience. She has been associated with Lincoln Investment since 2017 and previously worked at Legend Equities Corporation and Waddell & Reed. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved with Broadway in Chicago as an usher and volunteers with community advocacy through ACT, while also promoting health and wellness as an associate with Youngevity. 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, model portfolios, third-party manager access, and retirement-plan advice, delivering investment management both through an in-house team and independent advisors nationwide.

Ethan Ogden is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience currently affiliated with Maia Wealth. He has held roles at firms including Foreside Fund Services, Innovator Capital Management, and Astor Investment Management. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as managing member of Odgen Ventures, LLC, a bookkeeping entity related to his financial planning services. Maia Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term investment strategy complemented by tactical adjustments and integrates technology and third-party platforms in portfolio implementation.

Richard London is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. He has held positions at multiple firms, including Securities America Advisors and Cooper McManus. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales as a financial advisor. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, with a notable focus on non-discretionary asset management.

John Kinsella is a financial advisor with IHT Wealth Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with IHT Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2015. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and corporate clients. The firm combines fundamental stock selection with quantitative tools and diversified model portfolios, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA fiduciary services through a network of approximately 153 advisors.

Jordan Layer is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 credentials. His previous roles include positions at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co, Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc, Equitable Advisors, Triad Advisors, and Resources Investment Advisors/OneDigital. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm emphasizes a combination of advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction and uses third-party managers alongside proprietary funds.

Jeannette Adcock is a financial advisor at Thurston Springer Advisors with 39 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at David A. Noyes & Company, Wayne Hummer Investments, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group. Thurston Springer Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, foundations, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, fee-based consulting, and fiduciary services, using a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment analysis to support both buy-and-hold and active strategies.

Conner Tilmon is a financial advisor with Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Epic Valet, We-Ko-Pa Golf Resort, and Rockford Country Club. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory services to individuals, corporations, and qualified retirement plans, offering financial planning, managed account programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm delivers managed solutions primarily through a platform relationship with Envestnet and supports a range of client-directed discretionary authority arrangements.

William Karstenson Jr. is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2010 and has operated Karstenson Financial Services since 1997. Outside of his advisory work, Karstenson serves as a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago, performing liturgical and ministerial duties. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of 152 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, utilizing a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across various asset classes.

Timothy Brennan is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. His career includes 26 years at Pinnacle Financial Group and Commonwealth Financial Network. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a notary public. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm uses a long-term, diversified investment approach overseen by an internal team and investment committee, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Christian Luna is a financial advisor at Maia Wealth with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked with firms including Simplicity Wealth, Phyxius Financial Group, Wealth Watch Advisors, Money Concepts Capital Corp., and Senior Solutions LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent for various carriers. Maia Wealth offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses, including high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, combining traditional advisory oversight with technology and third-party platforms to implement portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities.

George Clougher is a financial advisor with Virtue Capital Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at OneAmerica Securities, Red Oak Risk Management, Praxis Capital Management, Safe Money Concepts, and MPS-LORIA Financial Planners. He is also involved in non-variable insurance sales. Virtue Capital Management, LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, qualified retirement plans, and other advisers, offering portfolio management, financial planning, consulting, and sub-advisory services. The firm employs a multi-team model to tailor portfolios to client goals and risk tolerance through tactical, strategic, and dynamic investment approaches.

Bradley Underwood is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 66 credential and over 23 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Underwood is involved in several entrepreneurial and consulting activities, including providing payroll, benefits, and HR services through Professional Employer Organizations as an independent contractor and offering prepaid legal and identity protection services. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pensions, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs risk-tolerance questionnaires to guide asset allocation and offers managed portfolios with discretionary authority granted to third-party money managers and investment adviser representatives.