John La Spisa is a CFP® at Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. with two years of industry experience. His background includes multiple roles at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Vermillion Financial Advisors. Vermillion Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning and investment advisory services. The firm emphasizes structured communications and education through a range of planning disciplines, model and customized portfolios, and participant education tied to plan assets.

Kathleen Panek Rickerson is a financial advisor with Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 2018 and runs BabySnApps, an entrepreneurial venture active since 2013. Total Clarity Wealth Management provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and employer 401(k) plan sponsors. The firm employs a customized investment approach, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and alternative investments.

Terrence Cicero is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors and DigioVine, Hnilo, Jordan & Johnson, Ltd. since 2007. DHJJ Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $543.5 million across eight advisors, serving both individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm offers integrated tax preparation and accounting services through an affiliated CPA firm and typically manages accounts on a discretionary basis using a range of investment vehicles.

John Davis is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Chicago Investment Advisory Council and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since the late 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of the Sunset Harbour Yacht Club and is a racecar driving instructor at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail clients, including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops through a team of five advisors. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and manages approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Ronny Mark is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Uhlmann Price Securities since 2013 and previously spent five years with Perpetual Wealth Capital Management, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Ronny is president of Price Futures Group, where he oversees all hedging activities. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops, using proprietary model portfolios across a range of risk profiles. The firm operates with discretionary trading authority and maintains a high client-to-advisor ratio through a standardized yet personalized service approach.

Sean Poquette is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and having two years of industry experience. He previously worked at The State Bank of Geneva for six years before joining Leelyn Smith and LPL Financial. Poquette is a licensed notary in Illinois. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm employs model-based and individualized allocations across a range of investment vehicles and utilizes multiple third-party platforms and technologies to support client portfolio management.

Makinzie Stack is a financial advisor at Leelyn Smith, LLC in Geneva, Illinois, with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, Stack serves as a notary public. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm employs both model-based and individualized portfolio allocations, using various technology platforms and investment strategies, including structured notes and third-party managers, to support client needs.

Suzanne Lockwoodfisher is a financial advisor at DHJJ Financial Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Total Clarity Wealth Management. Since 2020, she has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors, a team of eight advisors based in St. Charles, IL. DHJJ Financial Advisors manages approximately $543.5 million for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs client-specific investment policies and manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis, with a notable affiliation to a Certified Public Accounting firm that provides tax and accounting services under separate agreements.

Sean Hendricks is a financial advisor at Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Hero Investment Planners LLC. In addition to his advisory role, Mr. Hendricks is a licensed attorney in Illinois and provides legal services through Hendricks Law Office under a separate agreement. Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $536 million in client assets. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, emphasizing discretionary asset management with multi-asset allocation and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment analysis.

Trey Roach is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining The Dala Group, he worked at Kapco Futures and has experience in education and the winery industry. The Dala Group, LLC offers portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and limited financial consulting to individuals—including high-net-worth clients—and business entities. The firm employs multi-disciplinary analysis and asset-allocation strategies to manage portfolios consisting of stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds, serving both discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.

Peyton Brousseau is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining The Dala Group, Peyton held positions at Calisi Financial and the City of Tempe, and completed a four-year tenure at Arizona State University. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies across various investment vehicles.

Karmen Ritt is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Leelyn Smith, LLC. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at J.P. Morgan and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. her combined 11 years. Leelyn Smith, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm utilizes model-based and individualized allocations across various asset classes and employs third-party technology platforms and structured note strategies as part of its investment approach.

Patrick Lyman is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently affiliated with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC since 2020. Prior to this, he held various roles including positions at Walgreens and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of the BNI Referral Champions nonprofit and is a board member of the Chicago Illini Club nonprofit. He also tutors economics, math, and beginner finance courses online. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using a hybrid approach including quantitative optimization, technical analysis, and option strategies, serving clients through both wrap and non-wrap programs.

Teri Shaw is a financial advisor at Carter Financial Group, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has worked at Carter Financial Group since 2021 and previously at Voya Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the Chief School Business Official for Mokena Public Schools, managing multiple departments including business operations and transportation. Carter Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios and combines quantitative analysis with third-party managers to implement and rebalance client strategies.

Kevin Prendergast is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding the CFP® and CFA® designations and over 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial, ValMark Securities, and Executive Financial Group. Prendergast also works as a ghost writer for Wentworth Financial Communications. Leelyn Smith, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts, offering financial planning and standalone consulting. The firm manages assets through a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, fixed income, and allocations to separately managed accounts or private investment funds, utilizing both model-based and individualized strategies.

Ryan Lafler is a Wealth Advisor at USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC with credentials including the Series 66 designation. He has been in the financial advisory industry since 2025. Prior to entering the advisory field, he worked for nearly a decade in retail at The Golf Warehouse/Baseball Savings and was involved with Champro Sports. Outside of his advisory role, he provides business consulting focused on operations, leadership training, and profitability optimization through Advocate Consulting LLC. USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm with 14 investment professionals managing approximately $488 million in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering advisor-directed portfolio management, model-portfolio strategies, financial planning, and business succession and estate planning services. USAdvisors combines asset-allocation model portfolios with fundamental security selection and both long- and short-term strategies, sourcing solutions from multiple institutional providers.

Gene Hiser is a financial advisor with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management since 2018 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Hiser serves on the executive committee of Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities and is a trustee for Friends of HE Parks, Hoffman Estates Park District Foundation. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios and provides access to LPL-sponsored programs including algorithm-based Guided Wealth Portfolios.

James Borello is a financial advisor at James T. Borello & Co. with 42 years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since 1985. Borello holds a Series 63 designation. James T. Borello & Co. provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and other legal entities. The firm employs asset-allocation models and quantitative risk/return analysis to build diversified portfolios and conducts regular reviews of managed accounts.

David Willeumier is a financial advisor at Strategic Asset Management LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC and RDA Financial Network, Inc. Willeumier is also involved with Junior Achievement. Strategic Asset Management LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, focusing on long-term strategies supplemented by shorter-term tactics as needed.

Xavier Brown is a financial advisor at Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining his current firm, he worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. He was also a full-time student athlete in 2017-2018. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail and high-net-worth clients through ongoing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and supports a high client-to-advisor ratio using a standardized service approach.