Sherwin Shenfeld is a financial advisor with WORLD EQUITY GROUP, Inc. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 63 license and has 39 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is president of Shenfeld & Co, Ltd, a CPA firm, and president of Mervana, Inc., an art dealing business. WORLD EQUITY GROUP provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business entities, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs a mix of model-based and customized investment approaches and offers a range of portfolio management and retirement plan advisory services.

Thomas Chrobak is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Gradient Advisors since 2022. Prior to that, he was associated with MC2 Wealth and SGL Financial, and he also owns an educational consulting business, Plan on College. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a broad range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm supports a network of 169 advisors across 154 offices and employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to customize client strategies.

Christopher Burke is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. He also serves as Managing Partner at Podesta Capital Advisors, an Illinois registered investment advisory firm. Apollon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered multi-team adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines centrally managed strategies with locally managed portfolios and offers a broad range of investment options, including ESG models and Direct Indexing with tax management overlays.

Stephen Meskan is a financial advisor with CL Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Meskan Capital, Cabot Lodge Securities LLC, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc., FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC, and Feltl & Company. He is president of Meskan Capital, where he focuses on evaluating and educating clients about 1031 exchanges. CL Wealth Management LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio advisory services, financial planning, third-party manager referrals, and client education, using tailored investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis.

Philip Telpner is a financial advisor at Lifeworks Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley. Philip is also dually registered with Breakout Private Wealth LLC. Lifeworks Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and businesses, offering discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm combines a planning-based tranche approach with risk-based models and employs factor-based and smart-beta equity strategies, ETFs, and third-party managers, while integrating tax and accounting capabilities within its corporate group.

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® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mutual Advisors, LLC since 2019. His prior roles include positions at Twombly Asset Management LLC, Emberhouse, LLC, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with the Illinois CPA Society as Co-Chair of the Personal Financial Planning Forum and serves as Treasurer for the Sons of the American Legion Post 42. Mutual Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $6.75 billion through a network of 123 advisors. The firm serves individuals, institutions, trusts, and retirement plans by providing asset management, financial consulting, ERISA plan advisory, and other services, utilizing a combination of passive and active investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Braden Monahan is a financial advisor with Simplicity Wealth in Lincolnshire, IL, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ehlert Financial Group and several engagements with the University of Illinois. In addition to his advisory work, he presents and explains life insurance policies as a registered insurance agent. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios monitored and rebalanced regularly, along with optional overlays like tax optimization and customized screening.

Christa Madison is a CFP® and Series 63 licensed advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Curi RMB Capital, Sebold Capital Management, Americana Financial Group, MML Investors Services, Inc., and MassMutual Financial Group. Outside of advising, she is involved as a soccer referee and partners with family members in a craft show business called Loom Designs. Ascentis Independent Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services including asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing portfolios constructed from diverse public and private securities that are actively monitored and rebalanced.

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® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at Simplicity Wealth. She previously worked at Forum Financial Management, LP and operated Ehlert Financial Group. Outside of financial advising, she is involved in multiple nonprofit organizations focused on special needs advocacy and disability services, including serving as CEO of Protected Tomorrows Inc and as a board member for several related charities. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a fund-of-funds investment approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, combined with model portfolios and third-party manager oversight, alongside technology-driven services for advisers.

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 worked at multiple firms including Insigneo Advisory Services, Securities America Advisors, Triad Advisors, and Investacorp, Inc. before his current tenure at World Equity Group. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers managed portfolios primarily through its wrap-fee programs, combining discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Nicholas Rossetti is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Merit Financial Advisors in Deerfield, IL. His prior experience includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, The Pinnacle Financial Group, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Northern Trust Corporation. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving more than 20,000 clients across 66 offices. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services utilizing a long-term, diversified investment approach supported by an internal Investment Management team and customizable portfolio models.

Eric Rosenbloom is a Senior Vice President at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® and Series 66 credentials. His prior experience includes roles at Securian Financial Services Inc., Minnesota Life, Triad Advisors, Inc., and GCG Financial, where he continues to serve as a financial advisor. Rosenbloom is also involved in life settlements through the Ashar Group. Alera Investment Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental analysis-driven investment approach utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income, and offers ERISA-focused services for retirement plans.

Eric Mooney is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in various roles including at Mooney Lyons Financial and Triad Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, Mooney serves as president and on the board of directors of the Naperville Networking Alliance, a community networking group. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for over 9,400 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a blend of analytical methods and third-party managers.

Arthur Pedgrift III is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Ausdal since 2009 and is also associated with Choices Brokerage since 1997. In addition to his advisory work, he is a self-employed insurance agent focusing on life, health, disability insurance, and fixed annuities. 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, with a range of investment strategies implemented on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Todd Balber is a CFP® professional with over 31 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with World Equity Group, Inc. since 1997. Balber is also a co-owner and partner of B&R Financial, LLC, which offers financial planning and advisory services as well as fixed life and disability insurance products. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as various business entities. The firm offers managed portfolios through its wrap-fee programs, utilizing third-party money managers and a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation and discretionary account management.

Steven Nivens is a CFP® professional with 37 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in outside insurance sales, including fixed life, health, and disability insurance, and provides referrals for Medicare and travel insurance products. 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 strategies across a range of investment products.

Robert Cheney is a financial advisor at Diversify Advisory Services, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at DFPG Investments, Inc. since 2019 and First Allied Advisory Services, Inc. from 2006 to 2019. Cheney serves on the Board of Governors for the Lowe Institute of Political Economy, a nonprofit research organization. Diversify Advisory Services provides investment advisory and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, medical professionals, and small business owners. The firm employs a tactical diversification approach using a variety of investment platforms and strategies while maintaining documented client objectives and the ability to engage sub-advisors.

Christopher Jauch is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Crescent Grove Advisors since 2015. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients by providing integrated wealth management, family office services, outsourced chief investment officer solutions, and portfolio advisory across discretionary and non-discretionary mandates. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets and employs a customized investment process that combines long-term strategic allocations with tactical adjustments, supported by a dedicated investment committee.