Brian Dunn is a financial advisor at Black Elm Advisers, LLC in Skokie, IL, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has served as president of Epic Sky, Inc., a marketing company, since 2015. Dunn is also involved in hedge fund management through Black Prime, LLC, an affiliated entity. Black Elm Advisers provides discretionary investment management to individual and high-net-worth clients, employing a mix of fundamental and quantitative analysis. The firm utilizes a range of strategies, including long and short positions, margin trading, and options, with performance-based compensation and active use of derivatives distinguishing it from many peers.

Maria Graft is a financial advisor at Simplified Wealth Management, LLC in Barrington, IL, with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and is involved in several outside business activities, including serving as a marketing manager for MJG Construction, LLC and working as an insurance agent with Our Family Office, LLC. Simplified Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $23 million. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and offers strategies ranging from long-term holdings to options trading, along with ongoing portfolio monitoring and reporting.

Daniel Dame is a financial advisor at PMG Wealth Management with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has worked at PMG Wealth Management since 2016 and has been associated with LPL Financial since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he acts as a broker for various non-variable insurance products through Dame Financial Services. PMG Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business owners with discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm manages customized portfolios using a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, often blending in-house management with outside managers to address client-specific needs.

Matthew Nadeau is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He is a partner at Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management LLC, where he has worked since 2025. His previous experience includes roles at Apollon Wealth Management, Triad Advisors Inc, and Piershale Financial Group. Barzideh & Nadeau Wealth Management LLC provides comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $60 million in discretionary assets across about 90 clients, utilizing a broad mix of analytical techniques and various asset-allocation approaches to create and monitor portfolios.

Donald Monsen is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Woodfield Financial Advisors, Inc. He has previous experience with Independent Financial Group LLC and Woodfield Planning Corp, where he has worked since 1986. Woodfield Financial Advisors provides personalized financial planning and investment management services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses, managing approximately $230 million for several hundred clients. The firm focuses on portfolio construction based on client risk profiles, ongoing management, and detailed insurance planning, offering both discretionary management and limited-scope planning engagements.

Barbara Bridgman is a financial advisor at Succession Financial, Inc. with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at WealthStar Advisors, LLC, Mueller Financial Services, Inc., and operating her own advisory practice. Succession Financial, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax preparation services. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory with both passive and active strategies.

Leslie Herr is a financial advisor at Simplified Wealth Management, LLC with 18 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Herr has worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities and Auburn Group, and is involved in non-investment activities such as managing office operations for Signal Hill Partners and MJG Construction, as well as serving as a managing member and insurance agent at Our Family Office, LLC. Simplified Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to support various investment strategies, including options trading, and provides client-specific portfolio monitoring and reporting.

Jeffrey Moran is a CFA® charterholder and an advisor at SCV Capital LLC with five years of experience at the firm and 22 years in the industry, including 17 years at PPM America. He is based in Tower Lakes, Illinois. SCV Capital LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management primarily to pooled investment vehicles and institutional clients such as banks, pension funds, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs fundamental analysis for public equities and detailed reviews for private securities, focusing on long-term strategies while allowing for shorter-term adjustments as needed.

Melissa Dailey is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked previously at Northwestern Mutual and Lincoln Financial. Clearwater Capital Partners serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, including sovereign wealth funds and government entities. The firm employs a diverse range of investment strategies and offers coordinated services through affiliated entities in areas such as tax, cash flow, and insurance.

David Andrews is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2015, and also maintains a role at LPL Financial. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans with services including asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios and offers both discretionary management and third-party strategist models.

Linda Grizely is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Nectarine. Her background includes roles at firms such as Fidelity Investments, Sageview Advisory Group, and Cetera Advisor Networks. She is also involved in public speaking and writing through her business, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, and is the managing member of Mindset & Money, LLC, which focuses on mindset coaching. Nectarine serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing consultative financial planning through advisor representatives selected via the firm’s website. The firm emphasizes long-term asset allocation using low-cost, index-based funds and delivers advice on a fee-for-service basis without managing client portfolios or monitoring accounts after recommendations.

Lisa Zarkin is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience. She is currently with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC, where she has worked since 2017, and has previous experience at LPL Financial and PlanSmart Financial Services. Outside of financial advising, she is an author and self-publishes her own book. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm offers access to third-party money managers and model portfolios, using a combination of quantitative optimization and third-party research to tailor portfolios to clients’ goals.

Robert Tutela is a financial advisor at Essex, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Essex since 2016. Tutela serves as a SmartAsset Ambassador, consulting as an independent contractor to generate sales leads for his firm. Essex, LLC is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $649.3 million across about 576 client accounts. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. Investment decisions are made by a multi-member committee using a blend of fundamental, technical, and sector analysis.

Thomas Quinn is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in financial advisory services. He is a vice president and financial advisor at American Community Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2003. Prior to his current role, Quinn was with Triad Advisors, Inc. for 16 years. He also serves as a successor trustee managing a family revocable trust. American Community Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, corporations, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a multi-platform investment model that includes third-party managed programs and advisor-managed portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Michael Speziale is a financial advisor at James T. Borello & Co. with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at James T. Borello & Co. since 2011, following earlier roles at Valic Financial Advisors and Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services. James T. Borello & Co. provides comprehensive investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, small businesses, trusts, and other entities. The firm integrates discretionary investment management and financial planning, using asset allocation models and tax-management techniques to build client portfolios.

Kathleen Dixon is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with American Community Wealth Management, LLC, where she has worked for over ten years. She has 27 years of industry experience, including roles at OSAIC, Triad Advisors, LPL Financial, and Uvest Financial Services Group. Dixon also serves as Operations Manager at American Community Wealth Management, providing administrative support for multiple advisors in addition to managing her own client book. American Community Wealth Management offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, corporations, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a multi-platform investment model, combining third-party managed programs with advisor-managed portfolios across active and passive strategies to tailor investment advice to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Gregory Davis is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners. He has been with Clearwater since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is a passive investor in a thoroughbred horse racing LLC and acts as a life insurance agent, evaluating and placing policies when needed for clients. Clearwater Capital Partners provides family office services, private wealth management, institutional advisory, and retirement plan advising. The firm serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients using a variety of investment approaches, including fundamental, quantitative, and options strategies.

Terri Rau is a financial advisor at Midwest Professional Planners, Ltd. with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. Rau has worked primarily with Midwest Professional Planners in various capacities since 2013 and was also associated with APW Capital, Inc. She is involved in pro bono financial planning guidance through the Financial Planning Association and participates in divorce financial planning workshops and consulting. Midwest Professional Planners is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and charities with approximately $649 million in assets under management. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, retirement coaching, and specialized services including divorce planning, utilizing quantitative methods and a combination of individual securities and ETFs in their investment approach.

Bryson Cioni is a financial advisor at Midwest Professional Planners, Ltd. He holds a Series 65 designation and has approximately one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Midwest Professional Planners, Cioni worked at Amcor and attended Iowa State University. Midwest Professional Planners is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and charities, with about $649 million in assets under management. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and specialized services such as divorce planning and retirement coaching, utilizing quantitative methods and a combination of individual securities and low-cost ETFs.

John Chapman is a financial advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Clearwater Capital Partners since 2006. Chapman is a partial owner of Clearwater Capital Insurance Services, LLC, which provides non-variable life, long-term care, and disability insurance sales, and he is also a business owner of Clearwater Capital Consulting, LLC, offering select tax services. Clearwater Capital Partners serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, providing family office and private wealth management, institutional advisory, retirement plan advisory, and wrap-fee investment programs. The firm manages most advisory accounts on a discretionary basis and incorporates fundamental, technical, quantitative, and thematic analysis in portfolio management.