Christopher Mercer is a financial advisor at Lifeworks Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Mercer is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales and implementation. Lifeworks Advisors serves individuals, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and businesses, offering wealth management, financial planning, and portfolio management. The firm uses both planning-based and risk-based investment approaches, incorporating model strategies with low-cost funds, individual securities, options, and third-party managers, while maintaining integrated tax and accounting capabilities through affiliated entities.

Joshua Simon is a financial advisor with Thurston Springer Advisors in Lake Forest, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 29 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors from 2009 to 2021 and UBS Financial Services from 1998 to 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he is president of Java Culture, a family-owned integrated marketing agency. Thurston Springer Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporations, foundations, estates, and retirement plans, offering comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and fiduciary services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including tactical and earnings momentum models, and integrates its advisory services with affiliated broker-dealer and insurance operations.

Michael Portincaso is a financial advisor at Encompass More Asset Management LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previous experience at firms including Verity Asset Management, ED&F Man Capital Markets, Mizuho Securities, and BGC Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is an insurance producer at Appreciation Financial, LLC. Encompass More Asset Management primarily serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management through proprietary and third-party model portfolios, financial planning, and access to private placements. The firm uses a model-based approach combining quantitative, qualitative, and fundamental analysis, including exposure to digital-asset related vehicles, and manages approximately $582 million for around 4,000 clients.

Shanna Venne is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with six years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2018. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a member and accountant for Opal 53, LLC, performing accounting duties related to real estate. Crescent Grove Advisors provides integrated wealth management, family office, and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes a client-specific investment policy statement and asset allocation framework, utilizing independent managers and alternative strategies through an investment committee.

Paul Knier is a financial advisor with CL Wealth Management LLC in Big Lake, MN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with CL Wealth Management since 2011 and also works with Cabot Lodge Securities. Outside of his advisory roles, Knier serves as the mayor of Big Lake, MN. CL Wealth Management LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio advisory services, financial planning, and client education, tailoring investment strategies through fundamental and technical analysis with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Bradley Saurbaugh is a financial advisor at Harbour Investments, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. and various insurance carriers associated with W&R Insurance Agencies. He is also engaged in insurance sales through Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. as a financial associate. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individual clients, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and various managed account solutions. The firm utilizes a range of investment approaches through individual advisers and third-party managers, and provides multiple execution pathways for clients.

Richard Babjak Jr. is a financial advisor at Summit Financial, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Summit Financial in 2024, he worked at Midway Wealth Partners, LLC and World Equity Group, Inc. He is also involved in a separate business venture, Arlington Ventures. Summit Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for about 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs, combining discretionary and consultative services.

Christopher Dallas is a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with World Equity Group since 2011. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee programs, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Richard Levitz is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC in Deerfield, IL. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, and Triad Advisors. He is also involved in a coaching and facilitating business, The Glenmore Group, LLC, and serves as a part-time faculty member at the Lake Forest Center for Leadership. Alera Investment Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental-analysis driven approach and integrates insurance and pension-consulting platforms in its advisory services.

Frank Griseta is a financial advisor with Focus Financial Network in Elk Grove Village, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., and Ameriprise prior to joining Focus Financial Network and OSAIC in 2010. Outside of financial advising, he co-owns a medical billing services business with his wife and operates a photography sole proprietorship. Focus Financial Network serves a diverse clientele, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm offers personalized investment advice and comprehensive planning services, emphasizing coordination with other professionals for estate and tax planning needs.

Michael Fujii is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network in South Barrington, IL, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Advisory Services Network since 2022 and concurrently operates Fujii Partners Capital, LLC, which he founded in 2007. Advisory Services Network is an enterprise firm that serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of approximately 208 independent advisers. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, investment and retirement-plan consulting, and third-party manager selection, managing about $8.6 billion in client assets.

Randolph Rodriguez is a financial advisor with CL Wealth Management LLC in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cabot Lodge Securities LLC, B.B. Graham & Company, Inc., American Asset Advisory LLC, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. He also operates d/b/a Saber Wealth Management, providing financial advising and wealth management services. CL Wealth Management LLC offers portfolio advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies, utilizing fundamental and technical analysis, model portfolios, and various investment vehicles to tailor client strategies.

Francesco Fiore is a financial advisor with Wealth Management, LLC, holding the Series 65 designation and with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Wealth Management since 2014 and is also president of Accounting Freedom, Ltd, a CPA firm he has managed since 2005. Wealth Management Nebraska LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients, offering discretionary asset management, fiduciary services, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passively managed portfolios with a long-term, buy-and-hold approach and supports other advisers through backoffice and recordkeeping services.

Donald Cohen is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience, currently with World Equity Group, Inc., where he has worked since 2011. He has also operated his own CPA practice since 1982. Outside of his advisory role, Cohen serves as president of a condominium association in Hollywood, FL, and is a board member of the Boca Rio Golf Club. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a variety of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through wrap-fee programs and utilizes discretionary third-party managers, emphasizing asset allocation grounded in clients’ risk tolerance.

Kolton Rominski is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Larson Financial Group and Rock Harbor Capital LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a referral partner for a direct prescription service. 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 about 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 investment strategies and custodial services.

Bret Mooney is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. His career includes roles at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, LPL Financial LLC, and Sequoia Wealth Management. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction and offers wrap-fee programs, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and the use of third-party managers.

Michael Lange is a financial advisor at Redhawk Wealth Advisors, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at AE Wealth Management, Southport Capital, and Redhawk Wealth Advisors before returning in 2023. Lange is also president of Lange Financial Advisors, Inc., where he is involved in insurance sales and services. Redhawk Wealth Advisors provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, and various institutional clients. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation across multiple asset classes and incorporates input from a weekly investment committee.

Thomas Rendl Jr. is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he is also a licensed life insurance agent providing life insurance quotes and policies for clients. World Equity Group, Inc. offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers using a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation.

Jeffry Cook is a financial advisor at MissionSquare Retirement with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including ICMA Retirement Corporation, Fifth Third Securities, BMO Harris Financial Advisors, and Harrisdirect LLC. He has been with ICMA Retirement Corporation since 2007. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, their employees, and certain nonprofit entities by administering deferred compensation and qualified retirement plans. The firm offers plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services, with investment advice and model portfolios developed by Morningstar Investment Management and delivered through multiple channels within MissionSquare-administered accounts.

Jack Burk is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Arete Wealth Advisors and Arete Wealth Management LLC since 2008. Burk holds the Series 66 designation. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan advisory services, employing both advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.