Charles Melka is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC since 2015. He also maintains a role with LPL Financial, LLC, where he has worked concurrently since 2015. Melka provides financial advisory services including insurance policy servicing for his clients. Sequoia Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios and provides both discretionary management and third-party strategist models.

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.

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.

Margaret Quinn is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC since 2014, where she is part of a six-advisor team based in Chicago, IL. Paradigm Wealth Management, LLC serves individuals, including high net worth clients, and charitable organizations by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and referrals to third-party money managers. The firm also manages held-away defined contribution plan accounts using a third-party platform and offers investment-related educational seminars for plan participants.

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.

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.

Arthur Cohen is a financial advisor at Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Arthur M. Cohen and Associates since 1989. Cohen holds the Series 63 designation. Arthur M. Cohen & Associates, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other entities. The firm tailors strategies based on client time horizon and risk tolerance, primarily using fundamental analysis, and manages over $1.1 billion in discretionary assets.

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.

Jeffrey Dehaan is a CFP® with 16 years of experience in the financial advisory industry, currently serving at Clearwater Capital Partners. He has been with Clearwater Capital Partners and its affiliates since 2013. In addition to his advisory role, he places insurance products for clients as part of their overall wealth management plans. Clearwater Capital Partners advises high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services such as private wealth management, family office support, and retirement plan advisory. The firm emphasizes portfolio management guided by written Investment Policy Statements and employs a mix of fundamental, technical, quantitative, and thematic analysis.

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.

Timothy O'Donnell is a financial advisor with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management since 2015 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Vice President and Chair of the Election Operations Committee for the Barrington Township Republican Organization. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection, offering discretionary management and third-party strategist models tailored to clients’ goals.

Nancy Effert is a financial advisor at Essex LLC with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at ChangePath, LLC and Partnervest Advisory Services, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in life insurance and annuity sales through Effert Financial Solutions. Essex LLC is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consultation services, employing model portfolios and a range of analytical approaches to asset selection and monitoring.

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.