William Bringham is a financial advisor at KCD Financial, Inc. with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with KCD Financial since 2017, following five years at Freedom Investors Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of WTB Associates, Inc., a tax preparation and accounting business. KCD Financial, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with 38 advisors managing approximately $202 million in assets. The firm serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—corporate pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment strategies and access to third-party management programs.

David Lehenbauer is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at OSAIC, Triad Advisors, and Charles Schwab, among others. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and institutions. The firm utilizes a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers to construct portfolios primarily focused on mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income with a long-term investment approach.

Cynthia Pruemm is a financial advisor at Corecap Advisors with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been associated with SIS Financial Group since 2006. In addition to her advisory role, she owns and operates an independent insurance agency serving a similar client base. Corecap Advisors provides discretionary investment and portfolio management as well as standalone financial planning services to individuals, retirement accounts, pension plans, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm uses a relationship-oriented, individualized approach with a long-term investment horizon and employs a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income.

Mitchell Hamer is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Kovitz Securities, Asset Management Group LTD, Sunset Partners Capital Management, and Foreside Financial Services. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as a managing member of Intersectling Wealth, LLC, providing wealth management services. Stratos Wealth Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and retirement plans, through a network of 71 investment advisory representatives across multiple teams. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and third-party manager programs tailored to client goals, employing a combination of customized asset allocations, model portfolios, and sub-adviser solutions.

David Rogers is a financial advisor with M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Jamieson Financial since 2018, M Holdings Securities since 2017, LPL Financial from 2012 to 2017, and Greenbridge Strategies LLC since 2012. Additionally, he is involved with Jamieson Financial Services, assisting investment advisors at Wells Fargo in designing and implementing life insurance solutions. M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a nationwide network of independent firms and financial professionals. The firm offers a comprehensive range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, and insurance advisory, supported by platform providers and third-party sub-advisors.

Joseph Emme is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, The Pinnacle Financial Group, and Commonwealth Financial Network. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation approach managed through centrally overseen model portfolios, with services delivered by a network of investment adviser representatives.

Anne Morrissy is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Gamco Asset Management Inc. and has been associated with Gabelli & Company, Inc. since 1999 and G.distributors, LLC since 2012. Gamco Asset Management Inc. provides discretionary investment management and sub‑advisory services to a diverse client base, including institutional investors, private clients, and less common categories such as sovereign wealth funds and banking institutions. The firm employs a value-driven investment process supported by fundamental research and offers a range of customized institutional and separate-account strategies.

Sherwin Shenfeld is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding the PFS™ and Series 63 designations and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has served as president of Shenfeld & Co, Ltd, a CPA firm, since 1989 and also leads Mervana, Inc., an art dealing business. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional accounts. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money manager access.

Thomas Chrobak is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with 12 years of industry experience and a Series 65 designation. He has held roles at Gradient Advisors since 2022, and concurrently owns MC2 Wealth Management and Plan on College, where he provides financial planning and educational consulting services. Gradient Advisors, LLC delivers investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, using a largely non-discretionary operating model.

Christopher Burke is a financial advisor with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Podesta Capital Advisors, Podesta & Co., and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of Apollon, he serves as Managing Partner at Podesta Capital Advisors (PCA), LLC. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $11.56 billion in assets through a network of 145 advisors. The firm serves individuals, families, family offices, trusts, businesses, and other entities, employing a combination of fundamental analysis, tactical allocations, ESG models, and technology tools within a hybrid investment approach that includes pooled vehicles, sub-advisory services, and portfolio management for insurance-dedicated funds.

Stephen Meskan is a financial advisor at CL Wealth Management LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held roles at several firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Feltl & Company, and B. Riley Wealth Management. He also serves as president of Meskan Capital, where he educates clients on the merits of 1031 exchanges. CL Wealth Management LLC provides portfolio advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies, utilizing fundamental and technical analysis, model portfolios, and a range of mutual funds and ETFs.

Philip Telpner is an investment advisor representative with Lifeworks Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Breakout Private Wealth LLC, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Morgan Stanley. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in insurance sales, dedicating approximately 10% of his time to this activity. Lifeworks Advisors serves individuals, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and businesses with wealth management, financial planning, and portfolio management services. The firm employs a planning-based or risk-based investment approach, utilizing model strategies that combine low-cost funds, individual securities, options, and third-party managers, supported by quantitative and fundamental analysis and AI decision tools.

Charles Svoboda is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at CoreCap Advisors with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining CoreCap Advisors, he was associated with SIS Financial Group and UBS. His role at SIS Financial Group includes insurance and annuity sales, along with providing inside sales and operational support. CoreCap Advisors offers discretionary investment and portfolio management as well as standalone financial planning to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement accounts, and institutional entities. The firm employs a relationship-oriented investment approach with a long-term horizon, utilizing a variety of investment vehicles and sub-advisors to manage client portfolios.

Brian Kearns is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mutual Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Twombly Asset Management, Emberhouse, Morgan Stanley, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of advisory work, Kearns serves as Co-Chair of the Personal Financial Planning Forum for the Illinois CPA Society and is Treasurer for the Sons of the American Legion Post 42; he also leads a tax preparation service business. Mutual Advisors, LLC serves a diverse range of clients, including individual investors, trusts, retirement plan participants and sponsors, and institutional investors. The firm offers asset management and financial planning services, employing a blend of active and passive strategies tailored to client objectives, and is notable for its scale of institutional work and use of specialized platforms and third-party manager relationships.

Annirose Womack is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving with Capital Analysts. Her career includes roles at Lincoln Investment, Astraios Financial-East, LLC, and Horace Mann Investors, Inc. She is also the owner of Womack Enterprises LLC, an entity used for tax and accounting purposes. Capital Analysts provides investment management services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and a proprietary mutual-fund screening process called CAPSL.

Braden Monahan is a financial advisor with Simplicity Wealth in Lincolnshire, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Simplicity Wealth since 2024 and previously held roles at Ehlert Financial Group and the University of Illinois. In addition to his advisory work, Monahan is a registered insurance agent and presents life insurance policies alongside his financial advisory services. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse clientele including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds investment approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios and discretionary management combined with technology and operational support for other advisers.

Christa Madison is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. Her prior experience includes roles at Curi RMB Capital, Sebold Capital Management, Americana Financial Group, MML Investors Services, Inc., and MassMutual Financial Group. Outside of financial advising, she is involved in officiating soccer matches and participates in a family-run craft business, Loom Designs. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and various business entities by providing comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program, to tailor investment strategies to client objectives.

Clay Hessel is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. He is also involved in providing life insurance and protection solutions to clients. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach and serves both retail investors and plan sponsors with discretionary portfolio management and ERISA-focused plan services.

Mary Ehlert is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial industry, currently affiliated with Simplicity Wealth. She has held roles at Forum Financial Management and founded Ehlert Financial Group. Ehlert is involved in several nonprofit and advocacy organizations focused on disabilities and special needs, including serving as CEO of Protected Tomorrows Inc. and participating on the boards of multiple related charities. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a fund-of-funds investment approach primarily using ETFs and mutual funds, and offers technology and operational services to other advisers alongside its advisory solutions.

Stephen Dudas is a financial advisor at World Equity Group, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Insigneo Advisory Services, Securities America Advisors, and Triad Advisors. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee program, combining discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party money managers.