Christa Madison is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. Her prior experience includes roles at Curi RMB Capital, Sebold Capital Management, Americana Financial Group, MML Investors Services, Inc., and MassMutual Financial Group. Outside of financial advising, she is involved in officiating soccer matches and participates in a family-run craft business, Loom Designs. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and various business entities by providing comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a combination of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program, to tailor investment strategies to client objectives.

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.

Nicholas Rossetti is a CFP® and Series 66 registered advisor with Merit Financial Advisors, based in Deerfield, IL, and has four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Great Lakes Advisors, Wintrust Investments, Northern Trust Corporation, and The Pinnacle Financial Group. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach with centrally managed portfolios overseen by an internal team, while offering customizable options through a network of investment adviser representatives.

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 with firms including Private Client Services, Mooney Lyons Financial, and Triad Advisors. Mooney serves as the president and a board member of the Naperville Networking Alliance, a local networking group. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and institutional investors. The firm combines advisor-level client work with centralized portfolio construction, offering discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside third-party manager options.

Regan Beaver is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in Elmhurst, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with LaSalle St. Securities, L.L.C. since 2003. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs and is notable for managing a larger portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis compared to typical large enterprise advisers.

Ronald Feltes is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at LaSalle St. Securities LLC since 2015 and at Heartland Investment Associates, Inc. since 1990. He is also involved in fixed insurance activities. 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 investment programs, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary asset management.

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® with over 31 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has been with World Equity Group, Inc. since 1997. Outside of his primary role, he is a co-owner and partner of B&R Financial, LLC, which provides financial planning and investment advisory services along with insurance products. World Equity Group, Inc. offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a risk-tolerance questionnaire to guide asset allocation and utilizes discretionary authority granted to third-party managers and representatives for portfolio 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 designations and has worked at firms including DFPG Investments, Inc., First Allied Advisory Services, Inc., and Greenbook Investment Management, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Governors for the Lowe Institute of Political Economy, a nonprofit research institute. Diversify Advisory Services is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and small business owners. The firm employs a tactical diversification and individualized asset allocation approach, offering a variety of portfolio management options and financial planning services tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

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.

Rikk Rodriguez is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses, with 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Triad Advisors. He serves as a co-trustee of a living trust. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction and uses third-party managers and affiliated funds to deliver its services.

Jason Johnson is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C., holding a Series 66 credential and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Deputy Commissioner for USA Softball of Nevada and is involved as an assistant high school softball coach and part-time substitute teacher. 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 management programs, utilizing asset-allocation models and a range of investment vehicles, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets.

Elizabeth Watkins is a financial advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc and Ziegler Capital Management. Crescent Grove Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients by providing integrated wealth management, family office services, OCIO solutions, and portfolio advisory. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets and employs a customized investment process combining long-term strategic allocations with shorter-term tactical adjustments.