Arijan Arslani is a CFA® charterholder currently with Calamos Wealth Management LLC, where he has worked since 2025. Prior to joining Calamos, he spent eight years at Busey Wealth Management and five years at Rich's Family Restaurant. He serves as a Chapter Executive for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association’s Chicago Chapter, helping to plan networking and educational events. 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 sourcing ideas, quantitative and qualitative evaluation, portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring, with a notable affiliated ecosystem that includes multiple investment vehicles and trust services.

Scott Rosenquist is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Highpoint Planning Partners and previously worked for Vantage Financial Partners Limited from 2013 to 2024. Highpoint Planning Partners serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory services including discretionary asset management and financial planning, employing fundamental analysis to construct portfolios across multiple asset classes.

Daniel Zalipski is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Highpoint Planning Partners and previously worked at VANTAGE FINANCIAL PARTNERS Limited for 16 years. HighPoint Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including 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 other consulting services, implementing portfolios through fundamental analysis and utilizing various investment vehicles and third-party platforms.

Stephen Visser is a financial advisor with Highpoint Planning Partners in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Highpoint Planning Partners, doing business as Onpath Financial, since 2013 and has been associated with LPL Financial since 2006. Highpoint Planning Partners serves a diverse client base including 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 manages wrap-fee programs, implementing investment strategies through a combination of fundamental analysis and diversified portfolio construction across multiple asset types.

Bradley Kmetz is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 13 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ausdal in 2024, he worked at Signature Financial Services, Ltd and First Heartland Capital Inc from 2015 to 2024 and has operated Kmetz Financial Group since 2017, providing full-service accounting and tax preparation. Kmetz also serves as treasurer for the Willowbrook Burr Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion across more than 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory services with strategies tailored at the advisor level, integrating multiple custodians and third-party money managers within its multi-team platform.

Ted Berman is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Berman is involved in advanced tax planning and business consulting through an LLC he owns, and he also manages healthcare software licenses related to chronic care management systems. 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, implementing strategies across a range of asset types with both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Kyle Rohrwasser is a financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners with four years of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Vantage Financial Partners Limited, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Northwestern Mutual. 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 acts as sponsor and manager of a wrap-fee program, implementing portfolios using fundamental analysis across a range of investment types.

Joseph Lyons is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Triad Advisors, LPL Financial, and Sequoia Wealth Management. Lyons is also involved in nonprofit work as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County and directs educational seminars through the Capital Financial Education Group. 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 serves a diverse client base including other advisers, institutions, and government entities.

Alexander Klaas is a financial advisor at Gladstone Wealth Partners with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services before joining Gladstone and LPL Financial in 2021. Klaas maintains involvement in a personal fiduciary role as trustee of a family trust. Gladstone Wealth Partners serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through a network of nearly 100 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of services including discretionary portfolio management and retirement plan consulting, with investment approaches tailored at the representative level and supported by platform-level due diligence.

Elias Friedman is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mariner Independent. His prior experience includes eight years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates a small business selling inflatable products and towels. Mariner Independent serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through a network of advisors using model portfolios and customized strategies, supported by a range of investment tools and affiliated businesses.

Terrence Hawkins is a financial advisor at Trajan Wealth, L.L.C. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Brinker Capital, Halo Investment Services, Halo Securities, Sentinus, and Morningstar Investment Services. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales, working approximately 40 hours per month offering various insurance products. Trajan Wealth serves primarily individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, endowments, and institutional investors. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement and tax planning, and access to alternative investments, with an investment approach tailored to client objectives and informed by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Joel Riley is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience and currently serves with Highpoint Planning Partners in Downers Grove, IL. He has been with the firm, operating as Black Diamond Planners, since 2013. Highpoint Planning Partners serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and acts as sponsor and manager of a wrap-fee program, implementing portfolios through fundamental analysis and diversified allocations across various asset classes.

Alexis Trotter is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with one year of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Ausdal, Alexis worked at Clarity Group Midwest and Princeville State Bank. Alexis also serves as a non-commissioned officer with the Illinois Air Force National Guard. Ausdal Financial Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients and offers a range of services such as advisor-managed accounts, separately managed accounts, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning, with tailored investment strategies developed at the advisor level.

Connie Heier is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. She has worked with Focus Financial since 2016 and previously held roles at Moser & Heier Financial Solutions and Moser & Heier CPA Inc., where she maintains a shareholder position. In addition to her advisory work, she is involved in tax preparation and planning services through Moser & Heier CPA Inc. Focus Financial Network serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charities, and corporate entities. The firm offers personalized investment advisory services, combining portfolio management, asset allocation, and alternative investments with coordination of estate planning and legal or tax professionals.

Erin Moriarity is a financial advisor at Root Financial Partners with a Series 65 designation. Although new to the industry, she has been involved with Root Financial Partners since 2026 and has prior experience with several businesses including Superior Dental Partners and Elevate Billing Solutions. She also runs a financial education platform called Erin Talks Money. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individual clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes diversified, passive investment strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance, and offers educational programs alongside its advisory services.

Justin Muro is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts in Lombard, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 2005. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm provides portfolio management, access to third-party managers, and retirement-plan advice through a nationwide network of independent advisors and its in-house Investment Management & Research team, utilizing proprietary screening processes and offering fiduciary services for retirement and tax-advantaged accounts.

Michael Hoye is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2009. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Schaumburg, IL. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in the consultation and sale of fixed insurance products, including fixed indexed annuities and fixed life insurance. 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 both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes.

Nicholas Schaben is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Securities, LLC with a Series 65 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wallstreet Group Advisors LLC/Acrisure and Carbliss. CreativeOne Securities, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory platforms.

Joshua Kowalczyk is a CFP® professional with six years of experience at JMG Financial Group Ltd in Downers Grove, IL. He has been with JMG Financial Group since 2015 in various capacities. JMG Financial Group advises individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations through comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, and financial consulting. The firm employs a planning-based, long-term investment approach with strategic asset allocation and utilizes a range of investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, separately managed accounts, and private investments for eligible clients.

John Sianis is a financial advisor at Calamos Wealth Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Calamos Advisors LLC since 2019 and Calamos Wealth Management LLC since 2010. Calamos Wealth Management provides discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and institutional advisory services for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, private foundations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs an investment process that emphasizes asset allocation, quantitative and qualitative evaluation, and ongoing monitoring, using a mix of individual equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and private investment funds.