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.

Meghan Nolan is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP since 2016. She is based in Lombard, IL, and has spent her entire advisory career with Forum Financial Management. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and sub-advisory solutions, with a focus on supporting independent advisors and RIAs through its turn-key asset-management platform.

Daniel Laya is a financial advisor at Capital Analysts with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. for 20 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of Corner Sports LLC, a ski and snowboard rental, tuning, and delivery business. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs, supported by an in-house investment management and research team that employs proprietary screening processes and provides options such as automated rebalancing and tax-aware strategies.

Laura Norek is a financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Forum Financial Management in various capacities since 2021. Prior to this, she was employed at Leadership Extension Consulting and Career Education Corporation. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, qualified plan services, and educational workshops to individual and institutional clients. The firm also serves as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs, managing model portfolios primarily using DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs within a Modern Portfolio Theory framework.

John Susin is a financial advisor with OneSeven in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Red Oak Capital Management, Niagara International Capital Limited, and Great Lakes Atlantic. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches a hockey team in Chicago. OneSeven serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is primarily long-term with flexibility for shorter-term trading, utilizing diversified portfolios and access to alternatives and private placements.

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 credentials and has worked at DFPG Investments, Inc. since 2019 and First Allied Advisory Services, Inc. from 2006 to 2019. Cheney serves on the Board of Governors for the Lowe Institute of Political Economy, a nonprofit research organization. Diversify Advisory Services provides investment advisory and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, medical professionals, and small business owners. The firm employs a tactical diversification approach using a variety of investment platforms and strategies while maintaining documented client objectives and the ability to engage sub-advisors.

Rikk Rodriguez is a ChFC® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and Triad Advisors. He is also a co-trustee of a living trust. VestGen Advisors, LLC manages approximately $6.66 billion for a diverse client base, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) retirement plan services. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis combined with modern portfolio theory, serving both individual and institutional clients.

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.

Jason Johnson is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in Elmhurst, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo and Northwestern Mutual, among others. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as Deputy Commissioner for USA Softball of Nevada and is 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, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary management programs with a focus on diversified asset allocation.

Thomas Riley is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts in Schaumburg, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning since 2013. Capital Analysts serves individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and corporate clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that employs proprietary screening and model portfolios.

Rebecca Szewczyk is a financial advisor at Alera Investment Advisors, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including OSAIC, Triad Advisors, Empower Retirement, and GWFS Equities. Szewczyk is involved in client service management for retirement plan services across multiple affiliated entities. Alera Investment Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and ERISA-focused plan services, utilizing a combination of internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers with a primarily long-term investment approach.

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.

Joshua Glorch is a financial advisor at NorthRock Partners, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at NorthRock Partners since 2019 and previously spent three years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and maintains current Illinois insurance licensure. NorthRock Partners provides comprehensive wealth management and advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tailored, holistic investment approach that includes broad asset allocation, diversification, and periodic rebalancing while integrating private market allocations and utilizing AI tools alongside human oversight.

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 with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining LaSalle St., he worked at Heartland Investment Associates and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. Luebe serves on the board of the Birkey Investment Fund, participates in Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, and is involved in finance committees at Wellington Heights Community Church and Heritage Area Agency. 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 investment programs, managing a sizable portfolio with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets.

Dov Robinson is a financial advisor with M Holdings Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with M Holdings since 2017 and previously worked at Kestra Financial Services and his own firm, The Robinson Financial Group, where he serves as vice president. Outside of his advisory work, Robinson is involved in community and charitable activities, including membership at YU Kollel Torah MiZion and serving on the board of Camp Moshava Wildrose. M Holdings Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a national network of independent financial professionals. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, and insurance advisory, supported by third-party sub-advisors and platform providers.

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.