John Nowicki is a financial advisor at LCM Capital Management Inc. in Chicago, IL, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with LCM Capital Management since 2002. In addition to his advisory role, he has worked as an independent insurance agent since 2001. LCM Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm’s investment approach focuses on fundamental issuer analysis, long-term equity holdings primarily from the S&P 500 and EAFE universes, and periodic rebalancing, managing approximately $365 million in client assets through a team of nine advisors.

Deborah Cross is a financial advisor with Romano Brothers and Company in Evanston, Illinois. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 22 years of industry experience, including 23 years with Romano Brothers. Romano Brothers and Company serves individuals, employee benefit plans, non-profits, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services. The firm employs a generally conservative, long-term, fundamentals-based investment approach with both active and passive strategies, managing accounts through an eight-advisor team.

Michal Gicala is a CFP® professional at Capstone Financial Advisors Inc with six years of experience, including prior work at Ikenberry Dining Services and a background in full-time education. Based in Downers Grove, IL, Michal has been with Capstone since 2020. Capstone Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning with an investment approach focused on asset-class allocation, cost control, and tax positioning, managing approximately $2.44 billion in client assets across a multi-advisor team.

James Franke is a financial advisor with Rothschild Investment LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Rothschild Investment, LLC since 2011 and Rothschild Wealth LLC since 2026. Rothschild Investment serves a broad range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and institutional clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs asset-allocation models customized to client objectives and uses a diverse mix of investment vehicles supported by quantitative and research-driven analysis.

Tom Sleeter is a financial advisor with Ruggaard & Associates, holding a Series 66 credential and over 27 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial and Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and he has been involved with multiple family farming enterprises since the early 1990s. Outside of financial advising, he serves as a board member for two nonprofit organizations related to a recreational island and a rural cemetery. Ruggaard & Associates provides investment management and financial planning services to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as pension and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and strategies tailored to client objectives, combines investment management with tax preparation, and offers quarterly reviews and detailed reporting.

Margaret Quinn is a Certified Financial Planner® with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC since 2014, working within a six-advisor team in Chicago, IL. Paradigm Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and participant account management for defined contribution plans. The firm’s investment approach incorporates fundamental and technical analysis, modern portfolio theory, and long-term purchase strategies, often utilizing third-party model portfolios and money managers.

Jeremy Ander is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience at Urban Financial Advisory Corporation in Chicago, IL. He has been with the firm since 2007. Urban Financial Advisory Corporation serves mid- to high-net-worth individuals and related entities, offering comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, tax compliance, and income and estate tax planning. The firm integrates investment advice with in-house accounting and attorney-provided estate services, employing a planning-first, consultative approach with diversified investment strategies.

James Longo Jr. is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cora Capital Advisors, where he has worked since 2025, following a long tenure at Osaic FA, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, Longo is involved in insurance sales and is the president of Paramount Wealth Advisors, a consulting company. Cora Capital Advisors is an SEC-registered fiduciary managing approximately $587 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm offers wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a long-term, fundamental investment approach tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Zachary Goodman is a financial advisor at Market Gauge Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Tactive and Boyd Watterson Asset Management. Goodman also serves as a consultant to MarketGauge.com, a financial publishing entity affiliated with his firm. Market Gauge Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management to individual and institutional clients through separately managed accounts and sub-advisory arrangements. The firm uses a combination of proprietary models and traditional analysis to implement tactical and long-term investment strategies.

Paul Embree is a financial advisor with Embree Financial Group in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial Corporation since 2009 and has been associated with Waterstone Financial Group and Moody Investment Advisors, Inc. since the early 2000s and 1990s, respectively. Embree Financial Group provides holistic financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting to individuals and institutions, including high net worth clients and corporate entities. The firm manages assets through a fiduciary approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and offers customized reporting and fee arrangements.

James Veers is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed advisor with two years of industry experience. He currently works at Studio Investment Management and previously held roles at Great Lakes Advisors and Lombardia Capital Partners. Studio Investment Management serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, partnerships, government entities, and other legal entities, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consulting. The firm emphasizes a value-minded, long-term investment approach using individual securities and funds, tailoring portfolios to client guidelines while considering total client costs.

Bradley Cohen is a financial advisor at North Star Investment Management Corporation with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with North Star since 2006, previously working at Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation from 2016 to 2018. Cohen is a 20% owner of North Star Financial Services, a holding company. North Star Investment Management Corporation serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and family office services, managing approximately $2.5 billion in assets and frequently incorporates its affiliated mutual funds into client portfolios.

John Postel III is a financial advisor at Cohen Capital with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Raymond James & Associates and JPMorgan Chase. He is also a licensed insurance professional in a non-investment capacity. Cohen Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser that offers discretionary investment management, wealth management, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, businesses, pooled vehicles, and institutional accounts. The firm emphasizes a long-term portfolio approach using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, while also employing other investment strategies and third-party managers as appropriate.

David Garcia is a financial advisor at Regal Advisory Services, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been associated with Regal Discount Securities, Inc. since 1998. Regal Advisory Services, Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and other institutional clients through a team of 15 advisors managing approximately $113.5 million in assets. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory, using a blend of fundamental and quantitative research tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Skaiste Aksomitaite is a financial advisor at Regal Advisory Services, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Regal Advisory Services and its affiliated broker-dealer, Regal Securities, since 2005. Regal Advisory Services serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and institutional clients through a team of 15 advisors managing approximately $113.5 million in assets. The firm’s investment process combines fundamental and quantitative research tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, offering a range of strategies including equities, ETFs, options, alternative investments, and non-traded REITs.

Logan Guess is a Series 65-registered advisor with LCM Capital Management Inc. in Chicago, IL, with five years of industry experience. He has worked at LCM Capital Management since 2021 and previously held positions at WestRock and other firms dating back to 2016. LCM Capital Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations by providing discretionary portfolio management, pension consulting, and participant education. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis and sector leadership, primarily investing in S&P 500 and EAFE equities with a focus on long-term holdings, while occasionally using derivatives and borrowing strategies.

Joshua Youel is a financial advisor with SAGE Private Wealth Group, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Brighthouse Financial, Motorola Solutions, and LaSalle Investment Management Inc. He joined SAGE Private Wealth Group in 2023 as part of an 11-advisor team. SAGE Private Wealth Group offers wealth-management and financial-planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs a customized investment approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and provides comprehensive family-office services, retirement-plan fiduciary support, and donor-advised fund solutions.

Kevin Stemberger is a financial advisor with Regal Advisory Services, Inc. in Farmington Hills, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Noble Capital Partners since 2007 and serves as managing member of KJ Stemberger LLC, an accounting firm. Additionally, he is a committee member of the National Cancer Institute Council of Research Advocates. Regal Advisory Services, Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and institutional clients through a team of 15 advisors managing approximately $113.5 million in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, employing a blend of fundamental and quantitative research tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Thomas Janes is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Rothschild Investment LLC since 2019 and previously worked as an investment management consultant from 2015 to 2019. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, families, trusts, foundations, corporations, and plan sponsors. Rothschild emphasizes working with entrepreneurs and closely held business owners and employs a long-term, individualized investment approach that combines fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis.

John Valleau Jr. is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 1993 and is also involved with ShankerValleau Accountants, Inc., an accounting firm where he assists with tax preparation. ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a six-advisor team managing approximately $550 million for individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost, research-driven portfolio management primarily using structured strategies from Dimensional Fund Advisors, combined with ongoing financial planning and both discretionary and limited non-discretionary services.