Joseph Emme is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work includes positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, The Pinnacle Financial Group, and Commonwealth Financial Network. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving approximately 20,000 clients across 66 offices, managing about $23.9 billion in assets. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services with a focus on long-term, diversified portfolios supported by an internal Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

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 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 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 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.

Bradley Miller is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in Elmhurst, IL, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at LaSalle St. Securities, L.L.C. since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of Keystone Wealth Management, Inc., a business created for tax and accounting purposes related to self-employment. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors offers fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm provides both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, managing a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Jason Briscoe is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors since 2012 and previously held positions at firms including BrokersXpress LLC and Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Briscoe owns businesses involved in tax preparation and commercial, home, and auto insurance. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, emphasizing non-discretionary asset management, and employs a diversified approach involving mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and options.

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 work includes roles at Twombly Asset Management, Emberhouse, Morgan Stanley, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. He is active in 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 serves a diverse client base including individual investors, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients, managing approximately $9.45 billion with a team of 154 advisors. The firm employs a mix of active and passive investment strategies tailored to client objectives and is notable for its institutional work and operational features such as an Outsource Insurance Desk and partnerships with third-party managers and TAMPs.

Jacqueline Bulava is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Arbor Point Advisors and Osaic Advisory Services, among others. Outside of her advisory role, she is also an independent life insurance agent and is involved with The Bulava Group in real estate sales and operations. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment approaches, including client-approved recommendations and asset-allocation models using a diversified mix of mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and options.

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® 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.

Benjamin Packer is a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ritholtz Wealth Management in 2025, he worked at Charles Schwab and Column Capital Advisors. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a goal-based investment process that incorporates asset allocation and behavioral finance, using diversified low-cost ETFs along with tactical overlays and alternative investments.

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.

Sandra Evans is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. She has worked at La Salle St. Securities, Inc. for 34 years and Carrollton Bank for 41 years, where she serves as Assistant Vice President and Trust Officer. Evans is also secretary-treasurer of Evans Farm Equipment, Inc. and a board member of the Prairie Council of Aging. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs with a focus on a diverse asset mix, including mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and options.

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.

Jared Shirk is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. He holds the Series 66 designation and has four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Capital Wealth Partners and LaSalle St. Securities, as well as involvement with Purdue University. Outside of advising, he is engaged in fixed insurance contracting and operates a mowing business. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary management approaches, utilizing a mix of asset-allocation models and third-party manager oversight.

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.

Mitchell Thornton is a financial advisor at Northern Trust Securities, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Northern Trust Securities since 2010. Thornton holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-registered broker-dealer serving high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm offers model-driven discretionary portfolio management through Separately Managed Accounts and Strategist portfolios delivered via the Fidelity Managed Account Xchange platform.