Francesco Vitale is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including VOYA Financial Advisors, Cetera, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. He also serves as a trustee on a family trust. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual investors, retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation strategy managed through in-house and third-party resources, and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Anthony Gedwill is a financial advisor at Silver Oak Securities, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at firms including Guggenheim Partners, Invesco, and Nuveen Securities. His career includes roles at multiple financial services firms over the past decade. Silver Oak Securities serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—along with pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, and estates. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and emphasizes discretionary, customized investment management tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Andrew Lewis is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in McHenry, Illinois, and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LaSalle St. Securities, LLC, he worked at Dry Dock for nine years. He is also involved in a fixed insurance business outside his advisory role. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary portfolio management programs and utilizes a range of investment vehicles and third-party manager oversight in its asset management approach.

Robert Bieniek is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Port Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2005 and has also been involved with Individual Financial Practitioners, Inc. since 1983, where he is engaged in the sale of individual life and long-term care insurance. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers.

David Robbins is a financial advisor with Archer Investment Corporation in South Barrington, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Archer since 2015 and is also an owner of Nieminski Robbins & Associates CPAs, where he has worked since 2005, providing tax, accounting, and wealth management services. Additionally, he is involved with Barrington Advisors Group LLC, a marketing venture connected to Nieminski Robbins & Associates. Archer Investment Corporation offers investment management primarily to individual clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, through separately managed accounts and proprietary mutual funds. The firm employs a multi-branch, independent-contractor model and manages roughly $1.01 billion in discretionary assets with a range of advisory services from comprehensive financial planning to limited-scope model portfolios.

Kyle Janas is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Wealth, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also operates the Law Offices of Craig A Janas, where he is involved in estate planning and life insurance sales. His work history includes roles at Safe Money Concepts, INC and Family Defined Benefits. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC provides fee-based asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and sub-advisory services to individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and other RIAs. The firm uses a combination of proprietary ETF-based models, third-party managers, and option strategies, supporting tailored suitability assessments and regular portfolio rebalancing.

Ryan Linenger is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2016 and previously operated Linenger Wealth Management. Linenger serves as a board member of Wheaton Christian Grammar School, volunteering time to assist with school governance. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside proprietary market valuation tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Sanjay Asija is a financial advisor at Archer Investment Corporation with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Archer since 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he is a certified public accountant managing tax preparation and payroll services through his CPA firms. Archer Investment Corporation provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and investment companies, managing approximately $900 million on a primarily discretionary basis. The firm offers customized portfolio management and model-based strategies, emphasizing diversified allocations across various asset classes and regular account reviews.

Cecil Means is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Interactive Financial Advisors with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Interactive Financial Advisors, he worked at Charles Schwab and held positions outside the financial sector. Interactive Financial Advisors offers financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to construct diversified model portfolios and operates a large multi-advisor network with multiple branch offices.

Cray Coppins III is a CFP® professional at Mission Wealth Management, LP with 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stonepath Wealth Management, LLC for 12 years and USAA Financial Planning Services for one year. Coppins holds a Series 63 license and is based in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Mission Wealth Management serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, offering wealth management, financial planning, tax and estate services, and retirement plan advisory. The firm employs a comprehensive approach that integrates investment management with tax, trust, philanthropy, and risk planning, utilizing a combination of internal management and third-party sub-advisors.

Andrew Krei is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2015. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with integrated wealth management, family office services, outsourced chief investment officer solutions, and portfolio advisory. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets using a customized investment policy framework that combines strategic and tactical asset allocation, supported by an investment committee overseeing manager due diligence and monitoring.

Gary Gawryleski is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2015 and holds the Series 63 designation. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, providing integrated wealth management, family office services, and outsourced chief investment officer solutions. The firm’s investment approach combines customized policy statements with strategic and tactical asset allocation, supported by an investment committee that oversees manager due diligence and monitoring.

Thomas Mc Guire is a financial advisor at Silver Oak Securities, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and previously worked at Sentinus-Halo Securities, LLC and Morningstar Investment Services LLC. Outside of finance, he is a partner in DMC Fitness Solutions, a business that repairs and maintains fitness equipment. Silver Oak Securities serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and other entities through a network of about 101 financial professionals managing approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, combining discretionary investment management with operational features such as ongoing model monitoring and automatic investment processes.

Theodore Buckley is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and 11 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, Sequoia Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, Buckley is an author and motivational speaker, presenting seminars related to his book on retirement planning, and serves on the board of advisors for a social club in Lake in the Hills, IL. 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, utilizing third-party managers and home office strategies to serve a diverse client base including institutions and sovereign entities.

Jonathan Novy is a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including RWM Insurance Services and Sheridan Road Advisors. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and college financial planning. The multi-team firm manages approximately $9.4 billion in assets and employs a goal-based investment process that incorporates behavioral finance, diversified low-cost ETFs, and tactical overlays, along with digital platforms for model portfolio implementation and management.

Samuel Sadkhin is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Osaic Wealth, Hard Hat Hub, and PreScouter. 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-analysis approach and integrates its services with insurance and pension-consulting platforms.

Eric Talbott is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including Piershale Financial Group and Envestnet Asset Management. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.56 billion in client assets through a network of 145 advisors across 67 offices. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, trusts, estates, businesses, retirement plans, and insurance company clients with services that include financial planning and portfolio management, utilizing a combination of centrally managed mandates and locally managed portfolios supported by advanced technology and risk models.

Chad Tuneberg is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with World Equity Group since 2009. Outside of advising, he serves as an alderman for the 3rd Ward of Rockford, Illinois, participating in municipal legislative and policy-making activities and acting as a liaison to the Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutions such as pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through wrap-fee programs and employs a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation, utilizing discretionary third-party money managers and providing various portfolio management options.

Daniel Peltier is a financial advisor at CL Wealth Management LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Cabot Lodge Securities, SB Advisory, and Raymond James & Associates. CL Wealth Management LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio advisory services, financial planning, and access to the Envestnet platform, tailoring investment strategies through fundamental and technical analysis combined with custom model portfolios and ongoing monitoring.

Joseph Zabratanski is a financial advisor at Donaldson Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Donaldson Capital Management since 2011. Donaldson Capital Management provides investment management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan services to both individual and institutional clients. The firm employs proprietary portfolio strategies and combines fundamental, technical, and statistical analysis to manage income- and growth-oriented portfolios, serving a diverse client base that includes banking institutions, insurance companies, and municipal plan sponsors.