Travis Smyczynski is a CFP® and Series 66 holder with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent three years with Axa Advisors, LLC. Smyczynski is also involved in independent insurance sales on a part-time basis. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services, tailoring strategies to client objectives and utilizing multiple custodians and third-party managers.

Ellis Shanley is a CFP®-designated financial advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Mainstreet Investment Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, UBS, and Merrill Lynch. Outside of finance, he has experience working in the hospitality industry at Whiskey Jacks Bar and Saloon. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate-planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a range of analytical methods and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary assets, offering integrated services through its affiliation with the Plante Moran enterprise.

Julian Van Ostrand is a financial advisor with Northern Trust Securities, Inc. in Skokie, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Northern Trust Securities since 2008. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-registered broker-dealer that provides discretionary portfolio management through a model-driven wrap fee program serving high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of managed account solutions and combines advisory, brokerage, and custody services, including access to both proprietary and third-party investment products.

Robert Eberlin is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with HighPoint Advisor Group since 2021 and previously held roles at Level Four Advisory Services and LPL Financial. HighPoint Advisor Group 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 fundamental analysis to construct individualized investment policies across various asset classes.

Benjamin Storm is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience. He is currently with IHT Wealth Management LLC and previously worked at LPL Financial and First Watch. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Prairie Sky Financial Group, an entity related to his LPL business activities. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and corporate clients. The firm employs a blend of fundamental stock selection and quantitative tools to manage diversified portfolios, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA fiduciary services through a network of approximately 153 advisors.

Nicholas Muscolino is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with one year of industry experience. He currently works at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC and previously held roles at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Muscolino’s background includes academic experience at the University of Kentucky. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, endowments, corporations, and other entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and family office consulting. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation focused investment strategy combining fundamental analysis and quantitative optimization.

Michael King is a financial advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2017 and also worked at Plante Moran, PLLC. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate-planning services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, banks, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside a proprietary equity valuation model to manage portfolios through both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Kinsey Hagedorn is a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked in education at the University of Kansas and New Trier High School. Chicago Partners Investment Group advises a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, and corporations, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach utilizing fundamental analysis and customized portfolios, and is notable for sponsoring affiliated pooled investment vehicles and serving insurance company clients.

Lynn King is a financial advisor at Sapient Capital LLC in Chicago, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Sapient Capital in 2026, King worked for Morgan Stanley for six years and New York Life Insurance for four years. Sapient Capital provides wealth management, financial planning, family office services, and sub-advisory support to individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, foundations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses a long-term investment approach combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios and acts as a fiduciary under ERISA/IRC standards.

Matthew Talowski is a financial advisor at Curi Capital, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 credential. He has been with Curi Capital since 2024, with prior experience at RBC Wealth Management and JSM Living. Curi Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.6 billion in assets, serving individuals, employer retirement plans, institutions, and family offices. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental investment approach and offers a range of services including wealth management, retirement plan solutions, and specialized products for medical professionals.

Mark Karstrom is a financial advisor with Fourstar Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Noyes Advisors LLC and David A. Noyes & Company. Karstrom is also associated with Realta Equities, Inc. and Realta Investment Advisors. Fourstar Wealth Advisors provides investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis, using both fundamental and technical analysis, and offers tailored wealth management solutions.

Mary Deutsch is a financial advisor at Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. She is also the owner and insurance agent of MTD Financial, Inc., and serves as president of Tess Marketing, Inc., a business marketing services company. Additionally, she is a managing member of Eight 22 Alpha, LLC, a real estate investment venture. Gibbs Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and related advisory services, utilizing third-party platforms and strategists. The firm employs a mix of analytical approaches to guide asset allocations and emphasizes risk management, tax efficiency, and guaranteed-income solutions where appropriate.

Gilberto Arias Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts, holding a Series 66 license and over 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 2007. Outside of advisory work, he serves as Vice President and Secretary of a nonprofit condominium association and holds leadership roles in cooperative real estate management. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs and advisory services. The firm’s investment decisions are guided by an in-house research team using proprietary screening processes, with a business model that supports advisors in offering complementary outside activities alongside advisory services.

Olivia Venezia is a financial advisor at SpiderRock Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at BlackRock and Fidelity Investments. Outside of finance, she has been involved with field hockey programs and clubs over several years. SpiderRock Advisors provides discretionary overlay and portfolio management services to a range of clients including institutional investors, wealth managers, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a rules-based, systematic approach combining quantitative and fundamental inputs, with a focus on listed derivatives and dynamic option overlays.

David Taylor III is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Practice Management Consultants, LLC. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Paul Braden is a financial advisor at Northern Trust Securities, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66, Series 63, and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining Northern Trust Securities in 2023, he spent 22 years at Wolverine Trading, LLC. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-registered broker-dealer serving high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management through a model-driven wrap fee program featuring Separately Managed Accounts, Fund Strategist Portfolios, and Strategist UMAs delivered via the Fidelity Managed Account Xchange platform.

Philip Ridolphi is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc. since 2016. The firm is a fee-only, federally registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, foundations, endowments, qualified retirement plans, and senior corporate executives. Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth provides personalized financial counseling and non-discretionary investment advisory services, emphasizing long-term, diversified asset allocation and tailored investment programs based on written client goals.

Thomas Gruszka is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at VestGen Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wealth Management Group, LLC, and Sigma Financial Corporation. Based in Chicago, IL, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. 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, offering investment management, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan services, employing a range of analytical methods and third-party managers to implement portfolios.

Christopher Deacy is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IHT Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL. His prior experience includes eight years at Edward Jones and two years at LPL Financial. He operates CMD Wealth Partners, an independent investment advisory business started in 2024. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporate and institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors by providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, outsourced CIO services, and access to third-party managers. The firm employs a blend of fundamental and quantitative investment approaches and offers tailored portfolio solutions through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Jacob Hianik is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC. He has four years of industry experience, including five years with Chicago Partners Wealth Advisors. Prior to his advisory career, he was a student for ten years. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC advises a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, nonprofits, endowments, and corporations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach with customized portfolios, utilizing fundamental analysis and strategies such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.