Frank Diebold Jr. is a financial advisor with Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 27 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Avantax, he worked for Honkamp Krueger Financial Services for 21 years and has been associated with Diebold & Associates since 1978. Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. provides portfolio management, financial planning, and managed retirement plan services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm operates primarily through a network of CPA firms and advisor representatives, managing approximately $7.57 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

Kenneth Valentino is a financial advisor with WORLD EQUITY GROUP, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Patriot Capital Services, Inc., Patriot Capital Management, Inc., and World Equity Group, Inc. since 2004-2005. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Vice President of Business Development for International Pure Water, a company that manufactures and sells water filtration products, and owns an outdoor marijuana growing business in Michigan. World Equity Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, business entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. The firm employs a combination of model-based and customized investment approaches, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers.

Jason Johnson is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C., holding a Series 66 credential and 17 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of his advisory work, Johnson serves as Deputy Commissioner for USA Softball of Nevada and is an assistant high school softball coach, as well as a part-time substitute teacher. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, options, and alternative vehicles, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management.

Thomas Riley is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with an in-house Investment Management & Research team that employs proprietary screening processes and provides various portfolio solutions.

Thomas Campbell is a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Forum Financial Management since 2014 and concurrently serves as Vice President of John E. Campbell & Assoc., Ltd., a CPA firm providing accounting and tax services. Forum Financial Management, LP offers fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients, while also serving as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs. The firm employs model asset-allocation portfolios managed primarily with DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs, focusing on a Modern Portfolio Theory approach.

David Perry is a financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at PURSHE KAPLAN STERLING INVESTMENTS, Inc., PR Wealth Management Group, Inc., and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as treasurer and director of the Sunrise Professional Condominiums association in East Moline, IL. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning through a model-driven approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, incorporating institutional funds, individual bonds, and outside managers, while also supporting independent advisors with back-office and sub-advisory services.

Anthony Ryan is a CFP® and CFA® at JMG Financial Group LTD with five years of experience at the firm and a prior 15 years at McLaughlin Capital. He is based in Downers Grove, IL. JMG Financial Group serves individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities by providing discretionary investment management, financial advisory, retirement plan consulting, and tax consulting services. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation overseen by an investment committee and manages approximately $6.36 billion in assets with a team of 64 advisors.

Thomas Mccabe is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners with seven years of industry experience. He has held roles at Highpoint Advisor Group, LPL Financial, 5M Group, and Evans Senior Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he is a business owner of Alpar Laboratories. HighPoint Advisor Group serves individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and wrap-fee program management. The firm develops client investment policies through personalized consultations and implements diversified portfolios using fundamental analysis, third-party platforms, and LPL-sponsored programs.

Charles Kiker is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC. He previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network for 10 years and has been involved with Ek&A for over two decades. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business that sells life, disability, long-term care insurance, and fixed annuities, and he serves as a trustee for an irrevocable life insurance trust. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for over 9,400 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with a range of investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a combination of client-specific goal setting and various analytical methods.

Grant Luebe is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust and Heartland Investment Associates. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Birkey Investment Fund, participates on finance committees for Wellington Heights Community Church and Heritage Area Agency, and is involved with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies across various asset classes and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets.

Jeffrey Kochan is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners, bringing 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Parkland Securities LLC and Sequoia Premier Partners, where he serves as Vice-President. He is also involved with Strategic Tax Partners, a tax preparation and accounting business in Naperville, IL. HighPoint Planning Partners provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $4.0 billion in client assets and employs a variety of investment strategies across multiple asset classes, utilizing both independent managers and custodial program solutions.

John Karavouzis is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at JMG Financial Group LTD. His prior experience includes roles at Highpoint Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC. He has been with JMG Financial Group since 2018. JMG Financial Group provides wealth management, portfolio management, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations, employing a planning-based, long-term investment approach that incorporates strategic asset allocation and diverse investment options.

Herman Tkach is a CFP® professional at Soltis Investment Advisors, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mercer Global Advisors, U.S. Bancorp Investments, U.S. Bank, and TIAA-CREF. He serves on the board of his condominium association and is a board member and endowments committee member of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago’s Russian Speaking Jewish Division. Soltis Investment Advisors provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, institutions, trusts, endowments, and retirement plans, managing approximately $13 billion in assets. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach that integrates quantitative screening and qualitative manager due diligence and emphasizes ongoing client communication through regular reviews and market commentary.

Willard Einspar is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience, currently practicing at HighPoint Planning Partners. He has been affiliated with HighPoint Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC since 2016. Einspar holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Downers Grove, Illinois. HighPoint Advisor Group serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and operates a wrap-fee program, implementing client portfolios through fundamental analysis across a variety of asset types and utilizing multiple third-party and proprietary platforms.

Benjamin Caruso is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 13 years of industry experience, with prior roles at Edward Jones, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, MB Financial Bank, and Cetera. He is also involved with HighPoint Advisor Group, LLC, an independent registered investment advisor, where he provides investment advisory services. LPL Financial offers advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, charities, and high-net-worth households. The firm supports its advisors with in-house research and a variety of investment solutions, combining large-scale advisory operations with insurance, lending, and other financial products.

Michael Bruno is a ChFC® with 42 years of industry experience, currently serving at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Securities America Advisors and Invest Financial Corp. He is also president of MJB Financial Services, Inc., an insurance sales business. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors serves individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with fee-based financial planning and portfolio management services, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management across a range of investment strategies.

Elana Feigenblatt is a financial advisor at CL Wealth Management LLC in Schaumburg, IL, with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with CL Wealth Management since 2013. She also maintains an affiliation with Cabot Lodge Securities LLC. CL Wealth Management LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio advisory services, financial planning, and client education, tailoring investment strategies using fundamental and technical analysis, custom model portfolios, and regular monitoring.

James Mcgovern is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment since 2012. In addition to his advisory role, he owns a fixed insurance sales business. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm employs discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and offers a variety of advisory and model portfolio options.

Suman Sachdeva is a financial advisor at BFC Planning, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at BFC Planning since 2017, alongside roles at Securities Management and Research, Inc. and Broker Dealer Financial Services. He serves as treasurer for the Raj & Suman Sachdeva Foundation, a charity organization. BFC Planning, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, banks, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and estates through approximately 200 investment adviser representatives. The firm provides financial planning and portfolio management services using a range of platforms and strategies tailored by its advisors.

Raymond Velasco Sr. is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Kovack Advisors since 2019, following prior roles at Opus Wealth Partners and LPL Financial. Velasco also owns RVS Wealth Management, an investment advisory business. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities, using a combination of internally developed models and third-party managers to implement client portfolios.