William Hickerson is a CFP® professional with 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Advance Capital Management Inc. since 2000. Advance Capital Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, foundations, and endowments, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses an Investment Committee to guide decisions, offers a range of strategies including direct indexing and crypto-related investments, and operates with a referral-driven distribution model.

John Duckworth is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with High Point Planning Partners, operating as Black Diamond Planners, since 2013. HighPoint Advisor Group serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management and financial planning, implementing portfolios through fundamental analysis and a diversified allocation across various securities and investment products.

Allen Laya is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 63 license. He has 54 years of industry experience, including 21 years at Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. and four years at PMG Asset Management Inc. Capital Analysts serves retail and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management, custom and model portfolios, access to third-party managers, and retirement-plan advice through a nationwide network of independent advisors and firm-managed programs.

Dennis Michon is a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP, holding a Series 65 license and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Forum Financial since 2012 and concurrently operates as a partner and attorney at Michon & Buckley, a law firm specializing in estate planning and real estate services. Additionally, he serves as president of Tax & Financial Solutions, Inc., a tax and accounting firm. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients. The firm also acts as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other RIAs, employing model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and primarily utilizing DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs.

Brian Plain is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience and has been with Gradient Advisors, LLC since 2014. He provides consulting services focused on business management and growth to small business owners. Gradient Advisors offers investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm operates primarily through third-party money managers and Investment Advisor Representatives, using a largely non-discretionary approach that incorporates multiple analytical methods to align portfolios with client objectives and risk tolerance.

Martin Pomrehn is a CFP® and PFS™ with 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Forum Financial Management, LP since 2016 and previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. from 2016 to 2020. In addition to his advisory role, he is president and shareholder of MP360° Tax Services, Ltd., a CPA firm providing accounting and tax planning services. Forum Financial Management, LP offers investment advisory and related services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and serves a significant number of independent advisors and RIAs through its turn-key asset-management platform.

Cody Maxwell is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, Charles Schwab, and Kevin Spahn. OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners offers customized financial planning and wealth management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm employs a variety of proprietary models and third-party managers, managing most client assets on a discretionary basis.

Matthew Frederick is a financial advisor with Pure Financial Advisors, LLC in Wheaton, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, Pacific Life Insurance Company, UBS Financial Services, and Merrill. He also holds life and health insurance licenses. Pure Financial Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $11 billion in assets for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes a financial-planning-centered approach using academic frameworks and offers comprehensive services including discretionary portfolio management, pension consulting, and donor-advised fund solutions.

Patrick Donohue is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has worked in various roles including as an agent providing life and health insurance services. Donohue’s background includes experience with BCH Wealth Management, LLC, and involvement in non-investment business activities such as managing insurance needs for individuals and small businesses. Ausdal Financial Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion across more than 16,000 clients. The firm offers tailored investment strategies through advisor-managed and separately managed accounts, leveraging multiple custodians and third-party managers in both discretionary and non-discretionary formats.

Gregory Whitehead is a financial advisor at Calamos Wealth Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in ADK Escapes, LLC, a vacation rental development, and co-owner of a rental property in Chester, NJ. Calamos Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary wealth management and institutional advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, private foundations, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment process includes customized asset allocation, portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring, often utilizing affiliated investment vehicles and maintaining governance controls to manage conflicts of interest.

Alejandro Pastrana is a financial advisor with Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Packerland, he worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and other related entities. He is the sole proprietor of Serene Tax Solutions, where he provides tax return preparation, tax compliance, and business entity tax structuring services. Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors, through a large network of advisors. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan consulting, and access to third-party money managers, utilizing a range of investment solutions via the Hilltop-cleared Envestnet platform.

Lawrence Skibo is a financial advisor at KCD Financial, Inc. with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at multiple firms, including Moloney Securities Co., Inc. and Fisher Investments. Outside of finance, he owns a piano tuning business and is involved in photography and real estate activities. 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, corporate pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering asset management, financial planning, and access to third-party management programs.

Christopher Scott is a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC with nine years of prior experience at Northern Trust and two years at Edward Jones. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry for one year. The Mather Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities, providing comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with customizable portfolio options and integrates AI and machine-learning tools while maintaining human oversight.

Terrance Gaertner is a CFP® professional with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2009. He holds a Series 63 license and is based in Park Ridge, IL. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in term life insurance sales with various carriers on a commission basis. 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 a range of investment strategies and custodial platforms.

Kyle Buffo is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mission Wealth Management, LP. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., and Q3 Advisors LLC. Outside of finance, he is a self-employed musician. Mission Wealth Management is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm that offers wealth management, financial planning, and portfolio management primarily to affluent individuals and families, as well as institutional clients. The firm emphasizes customized, long-term strategies using a diverse range of investment vehicles and provides services through various advisory models.

Maxwell Cinnamon is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at the University of Kansas Athletic Department and State Bank of Herscher. Mr. Cinnamon is also a licensed insurance agent and splits his time between advisory and registered representative roles. HighPoint Advisor Group serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory. The firm constructs investment policies through personal consultations and implements portfolios using fundamental analysis across various asset classes and platforms.

David Frohlichstein is a CFP® professional with 39 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2009 and also operates Frolicstein Financial, a financial advisory business he has managed since 1999. In addition to his advisory work, he has been a self-employed professional musician for over 50 years. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across various asset classes and account types.

Kirk Hackbarth is a financial advisor with JMG Financial Group Ltd in Downers Grove, IL, holding CFP®, PFS™, and Series 63 designations and bringing 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Strategic Wealth Partners, Guidant Wealth Advisors, Liberty Financial Group, Richardson Capital Management, KABAREC Financial Advisors, and K. P. Financial. JMG Financial Group serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations by providing comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, and financial consulting. The firm follows a planning-based, long-term investment approach focused on strategic asset allocation and employs a variety of investment vehicles along with tax-aware techniques and tactical portfolio management.

Christopher Gruchacz is a financial advisor with Calamos Wealth Management LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Calamos in 2019, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank and Comerica Securities. He serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee and a Board of Trustee member at Barry University. Calamos Wealth Management provides discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and institutional advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, private foundations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes asset allocation, quantitative and qualitative evaluation, and ongoing monitoring, utilizing a range of investment vehicles including individual equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and private funds.

Andrew Janusz is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of experience in financial services. He is currently an advisor at OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners and has held previous roles at firms including JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and Northwestern Mutual. OnePoint BFG Wealth Partners provides customized financial planning and wealth management services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a range of portfolio management approaches using third-party managers, proprietary models, and technology integrations to support its investment and operational processes.