Robert Mortimer is a CFP® with 49 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc. since 2022 and with B. Riley Wealth Management since 2010. He is based in Chicago, IL. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for a family-owned nonprofit corporation that manages a vacation property. B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $7.03 billion in client assets through 274 advisors. The firm provides a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement solutions to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans.

Barry Link is a financial advisor with World Equity Group, Inc. in Schaumburg, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and 48 years of industry experience. He has worked at World Equity Group since 2001 and operates Link Diversified Services, which he started in 1982. Outside of advising, he is involved as an independent contractor with Abacus Life Settlements, assisting with policy evaluations and transactions for senior clients. World Equity Group, Inc. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers managed portfolios through its Adhesion Money Management wrap-fee program and utilizes third-party managers to implement asset allocation models based on client risk tolerance.

Paul Mangiardi is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, with 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LBMZ Securities, IHT Wealth Management, and Charles Schwab. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm combines proprietary quantitative models with qualitative portfolio management and offers a variety of strategies through its own and third-party wrap-fee and unified managed account programs.

Ben Petrie is a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC in Chicago, IL, with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with The Mather Group since 2022. Prior to his current role, his work experience includes positions outside the financial industry. The Mather Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities by providing financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm utilizes an evidence-based investment approach with risk-based allocation models and offers customizable portfolio options, including ESG portfolios and liability-matching bond ladders.

Marc Lawrence is a financial advisor with FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Merino Wealth Management, Mark Brown State Farm, Ryan Whitson State Farm, Rosen Harwood, Citizens Bank of Fayette, and the University of Alabama. FourStar Wealth Advisors serves individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to manage portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and time horizon, using a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, options, and third-party managers.

Bradley Shaps is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Securian Financial Services, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, Triad Advisors, and GCG Financial. He serves on the board of trustees and the fundraising committee at Congregation Beth Shalom and is currently the vice president of fundraising there. Alera Investment Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm employs a diversified investment approach utilizing internal management, affiliate platforms, and independent managers, with a focus on long-term fundamental analysis and offers comprehensive ERISA-related services for retirement plans.

Ian Crowley is a financial advisor at IHT Wealth Management LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial and PKF Mueller. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporate and institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors by providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, and outsourced CIO services. The firm’s investment approach combines fundamental value screening, quantitative optimization, and periodic rebalancing, with access to proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and discretionary mandates.

Jon Adams is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license with three years of industry experience. He currently serves as an advisor at Calamos Wealth Management LLC and Calamos Financial Services LLC since 2023. Prior to this, he worked at Citigroup for one year and BMO Global Asset Management for seven years. Adams is a member of the Ares Advisory Board, where he participates in discussions on private markets and best practices. Calamos Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary wealth management and institutional advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, private foundations, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment process includes idea sourcing, quantitative and qualitative evaluation, portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring, often utilizing affiliated investment vehicles and maintaining governance controls.

Jacob Kerstein is an investment advisor representative with Latitude Advisors, LLC in Northbrook, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Latitude Advisors, he has had roles at GWN Securities, Jeffrey Lasky Financial Services, and Latitude Financial. Latitude Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients including pension and profit-sharing plans, offering financial planning, discretionary portfolio management using in-house and third-party model strategies, and pension consulting services.

Gregory Murphy is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at both Zacks Investment Management since 2007 and LBMZ Securities, Inc. since 2009. Zacks Investment Management offers discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, pooled investment vehicles, and institutional clients, serving as portfolio manager to mutual funds and ETFs. The firm combines proprietary quantitative models with qualitative portfolio management across various strategies and distributes its offerings through wrap-fee and unified managed account programs.

Jeffrey Cismoski is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at ORG Partners LLC, WealthShield Partners, LLC, Cresset Asset Management, LLC, and Evanston Investments Inc DBA Evanston Advisors. Ascentis Independent Advisors provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and businesses, offering tailored portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs asset allocation, fundamental and technical analysis, and utilizes discretionary sub-advisory arrangements and co-advisory platforms, including a Private Direct Investments program for client access to private funds and alternative investments.

Jack Long is a financial advisor with Summit Financial, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has recently started his career in the industry, gaining experience with Summit Financial and affiliated firms since 2025. Prior to his advisory roles, he has work experience outside finance, including a position at Landmark Exteriors and education at Auburn University. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm with approximately $26.35 billion in assets under management, serving about 17,800 clients through 216 advisors. The firm offers a range of investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan services with both discretionary and consultative approaches.

James Geake is a financial advisor at Madison Avenue Securities, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Madison Avenue Securities since 2006. Geake is also a 50% owner of Wayne Messmer & Associates, LLC, which provides sales and service of life and health insurance and annuities. Additionally, he serves as a board member of Voyageur Crossings Condominium. Madison Avenue Securities, LLC provides investment advisory and related services to individual clients, charitable institutions, foundations, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $2.0 billion in assets. The firm offers a variety of account platforms and investment strategies, delivering portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and college-savings services through its network of investment adviser representatives.

James Hagedorn is a CFA® charterholder with 22 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2009 and also works with The Mosaic Financial Group LLC. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC advises a diverse range of clients, including individuals, trusts, nonprofits, and corporations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement services, and family-office reporting. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach that incorporates fundamental analysis, customized portfolios, and strategies such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Edward Kollada Jr. is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Global Retirement Partners, Kestra Financial Services, Strategic Retirement Partners, and The Bensman Group. He is also the owner and president of Elite Wealth Partners, Inc., a firm specializing in tax preparation, accounting, and insurance. FourStar Wealth Advisors serves individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and time horizon.

Kyle Schneider is a financial advisor at SpiderRock Advisors, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at BlackRock Investments LLC, Harris Associates, and Harbor Capital Advisors. Schneider is currently based in Chicago, IL. SpiderRock Advisors provides discretionary investment advisory and sub-advisory services to institutional and individual clients, utilizing portfolio overlay and strategy management services that combine listed derivatives with traditional securities. The firm employs systematic and quantitative approaches through proprietary software and real-time risk monitoring to construct option-based hedges and yield-enhancing overlays.

Kimberly Woodsum is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ehlert Financial Group, Inc. and has a background that includes five years at Red Coat Farm. Woodsum is also a licensed life insurance producer, presenting and selling insurance products as part of her client services. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional investors, and financial firms. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios that are actively managed and monitored, alongside technology and operational solutions for advisers.

Brian Schmehil is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at The Mather Group, LLC. He has been with The Mather Group since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in leasing and managing personally owned real estate. The Mather Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities, offering integrated financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm uses an evidence-based investment approach with customizable portfolio options and incorporates AI and machine-learning tools under human oversight.

John Sciaccotta is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience at Forum Financial Management, LP, and DeMarco Sciaccotta Wilkens Dunleavy, LLP, where he served as managing partner of a CPA firm. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, manages third-party managers, and frequently emphasizes a non-discretionary asset mix.

Adam Sarno is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at LaSalle St. Securities and Merrill, among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he mentors college students who are members of Beta Theta Pi at Butler University and serves as a trustee of his parents' trust. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, emphasizing a predominance of non-discretionary asset management.