Gregory Johnson is a financial advisor at Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Halo Securities, LLC and Sentinus, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a lacrosse coach and referee at Hinsdale Central. Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC serves individuals, including high net worth clients, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money manager referrals. The firm emphasizes tailored advisory strategies and manages held-away participant accounts through a third-party platform, providing regular account reviews and educational seminars.

Michael Bellis is a CFP® professional with over 32 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Vertex Partners and has previously worked with Highpoint Advisor Group and LPL Financial. Bellis also has involvement in an accounting and tax preparation partnership, Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC. Vertex Partners provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm tailors portfolios based on clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, using a diversified approach that includes proprietary model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party program platforms.

Brian Niksa is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc since 2009. Based in Downers Grove, IL, he is part of a multi-advisor team at the firm. Capstone Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, tax preparation, and access to private fund investments. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset-class allocation, cost control, tax positioning, and employs both fundamental and cyclical analysis within a multi-year horizon framework.

Wendy West is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Harvest Investment Services, LLC, bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has worked at Double W Financial Group, Inc. since 2014 and Harvest Financial Planning since 2012, with prior experience at Proequities from 2000 to 2018. West serves on the boards of the DeKalb Area Retirement Center and Kishwaukee United Way and chairs the IHSA Destination DeKalb, coordinating state high school football championships. Harvest Investment Services, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and other advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm employs an actively managed tactical investment strategy and offers a multi-advisor team structure with several offices.

Tammy Billadeau is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vertex Partners. Her prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, LLC and Churchill Management Group. She also provides administrative support to Vertex Partners. Vertex Partners offers advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolios based on risk tolerance, time horizon, and liquidity needs, utilizing a variety of investment strategies and platforms.

Timothy Bennett is a Series 65-credentialed advisor at Forthright Capital with one year of industry experience. He has worked in educational roles prior to joining the firm and engages in insurance-related activities including pension reviews and retirement planning. Forthright Capital Advisory, LLC manages approximately $107.7 million in discretionary assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm primarily employs passive investment management using model portfolios and also incorporates outside managers when appropriate, with regular portfolio reviews conducted on a quarterly basis.

Maureen Miller is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Doyenne Wealth Advisors since 2022 and previously spent six years at Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth. Doyenne Wealth Advisors provides personalized, fee-only financial counseling and non-discretionary investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, senior corporate executives, and related trusts, foundations, and endowments. The firm emphasizes long-term, diversified asset allocation and delivers tailored planning across multiple financial areas while maintaining client decision authority.

Bradley Morris is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at PCG Wealth Management in Oak Brook, IL. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Good Life Advisors, and Waddell & Reed Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Morris is involved in tax preparation and accounting services through multiple related business activities. PCG Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a primarily long-term, customized investment approach that utilizes low-cost diversified funds and other securities tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Tesa Williamson is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Doyenne Wealth Advisors in Chicago. Her prior experience includes roles at Brownson Rehmus Foxworth and Williamson House. Doyenne Wealth Advisors provides fee-only financial counseling and investment advisory services primarily to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, senior corporate executives, and their related entities. The firm emphasizes customized, long-term, diversified asset allocation and typically uses marketable investments, third-party managed accounts, and selective private investment vehicles, delivering services mostly on a non-discretionary basis.

Michelle Pezzulo is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Bentley Financial Group. She has been with Bentley Financial Group and affiliated with LPL Financial since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is a notary public for the state of Illinois. Bentley Financial Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $393 million in discretionary client assets and typically implements client-directed investment policies using fundamental analysis, options hedging, and third-party independent managers.

Paul Fousek is a financial advisor with Horizon Wealth Management in La Grange, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Horizon Wealth Management since 2014 and has worked with LPL Financial since 2005. He serves as a business fellow at Norwich University, meeting regularly to support the enhancement of student offerings. Horizon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, fiduciary investment approach with diversified portfolios and offers discretionary management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) retirement-plan advisory services.

Alexander Hemsley is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Hemsley Advisors, Ltd. since 2018 and previously held roles at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations. He is based in Chicago, IL. Hemsley Advisors, Ltd. is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, focusing on individualized investment policies and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Nickolas Brait is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently serving at SAGE Private Wealth Group, LLC. He has held roles at SAGE Private Wealth Group since 2013 and has been involved with the Oechsli Institute since 2017, where he coaches financial advisors on business development. SAGE Private Wealth Group is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, high-net-worth families, and employer retirement plans with wealth management, financial planning, and fiduciary retirement-plan services. The firm employs a multi-advisor team that delivers discretionary portfolio management and coordinated planning tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Joshua Strauss is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Pekin Hardy Strauss, Inc., a team-based firm located in Chicago, IL. Strauss has worked at Sf Investments, Inc. and Pekin Singer Strauss Asset Management, Inc. since 2004. Pekin Hardy Strauss, Inc. provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, pension and retirement plans, registered investment companies, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs fundamental analysis and asset allocation, incorporating ESG factors, and utilizes a variety of instruments and strategies including derivatives to tailor portfolios to clients’ objectives and risk profiles.

Joshua Perlmutter is a financial advisor at Atlas with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including ATFS Advisers, Lido Advisors, GeoWealth Management, Cresset Asset Management, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. Atlas provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis within a primarily long-term, index-based framework, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with private credit and alternative investment options.

Lisa Bussenger is a financial advisor with Rothschild Wealth LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. She has 15 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Kinetic Investment Management, Inc. and Global Financial Private Capital. Bussenger also owns Bussenger Insurance & Financial Services, LLC. Rothschild Wealth LLC advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate executives, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional and tax-exempt entities. The firm uses asset-allocation models tailored to client goals and employs quantitative methods and third-party software to manage diversified portfolios.

Suzanne Wetzel is a financial advisor at Doyenne Wealth Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth from 2005 to 2021 and positions at Mathnasium and Ipsd 204. Doyenne Wealth Advisors provides personalized, non-discretionary financial counseling and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, senior corporate executives, and related trusts and foundations. The firm emphasizes long-term, diversified asset allocation and delivers comprehensive planning while clients retain final decision authority.

Sean O’Connor is a financial advisor with Serenity Investment Advisors, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Serenity Investment Advisors in 2024, he operated O'Connor Wealth Planning LLC and worked at Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. Outside of advising, he assists with tax preparation and bookkeeping as a partner in Lisa A Spaay CPA LLC. Serenity Wealth Management provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a tactical allocation approach supported by fundamental analysis and proprietary model portfolios that are tailored to client risk profiles.

Charles Carey is a financial advisor at Wellment Financial with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at FSR Insurance Planning, Ltd. and FSR Wealth Management Ltd. since 2020. Carey is also a licensed insurance agent assisting with life insurance and fixed annuity products. Wellment Financial provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional sponsors. The firm uses vetted model portfolios and a sub-advisor platform focused on tax-aware retirement planning, managing approximately $237 million in discretionary assets.

Steven Franzen is a financial advisor at Vertex Partners with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 66 license. Franzen has held roles at LPL Financial since 2009 and operates his own CPA firm, Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PC, providing tax preparation and accounting services. He also acts as a trustee for family trusts. Vertex Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement consulting. The firm customizes portfolios based on clients’ risk tolerance and goals, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and third-party platforms, and maintains an affiliation with an accounting firm that provides additional tax and consulting services.