Melanie Hummer is a CFP® and CFA® with 27 years of experience in financial advisory services. She is the founder of Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc, where she has worked since 1999. In addition to her advisory role, she is a self-employed CPA specializing in income tax return preparation and is the creator and president of costbasis.com, a website providing resources and calculators for investors to account for corporate reorganizations. Hummer Financial Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary investment supervisory services and a range of financial planning engagements for individuals, trusts, retirement accounts, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes tax-aware, buy-and-hold investment strategies with a focus on controlling taxable events and maintaining detailed tax records, supported by the firm’s integration of accounting and tax expertise.

Joseph Kuschman is a CFP® professional associated with Earnest Planning LLC in Chicago, IL, with six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Goldman Sachs and NextCapital Advisers, among others. Earnest Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with wealth management that combines discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and passive management, offers ESG strategies and model portfolios, and provides a range of financial planning services while operating on a fee-only basis.

Peigen Tao is the principal of Taos Investment Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding the CFA® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, and has 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and operates several affiliated businesses, including an accounting firm and an insurance agency, where he holds management roles. Tao’s other business activities include serving as president of an insurance agency and partner in an accounting firm. Taos Investment Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary asset management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as small business owners. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis and manages approximately $78.9 million in assets across about 116 client relationships.

Conor Mahlmann is a CFP® certified financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascent Financial Planning and has prior experience at SLP Wealth LLC, Kippington Capital Management, and TD Ameritrade. Outside of traditional financial advising, he works as a Student Loan Consultant at Student Loan Planner®, where he conducts consultations and creates media content related to student loan repayment and forgiveness. Ascent Financial Planning provides financial planning and portfolio management services for individuals and families, emphasizing retirement planning, cash flow and budgeting, and federal student loan guidance. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis with model ETF portfolios and selective individual securities, operates on a fee-only basis, and offers both fixed-fee and asset-based pricing options.

William Nedza is a CFP® professional with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Ventoux Financial Advisors, LLC since 2018. His career includes leadership roles at Nedza Financial Advisors, LLC and Aos, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he holds active insurance licenses and engages in insurance sales. Ventoux Financial Advisors, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser that provides written financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other U.S. entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, risk management tools, and diversified investment strategies across various asset classes.

Thai Thomas Tran is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advisory roles. He is the sole advisor at Petrarch Wealth Management, an independent firm based in Chicago, IL. His prior experience includes multiple roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and ownership of Petrarch Insurance Services LLC, where he also provides online non-investment related financial education and consulting. Petrarch Wealth Management offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individual and retirement plan clients. The firm emphasizes capital preservation and risk management through behavioral economics, goal-based planning, and strategic asset allocation.

Kevin Yu is a CFP® and CFA® charterholder with 20 years of experience in financial advisory. He has led Yunistone Investment Group, LLC since its founding in 2009. The firm provides investment advisory and management services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, focusing on long-term, globally diversified, and tax-efficient portfolios using a core-satellite approach that combines passive index and ETF exposures with actively managed funds.

Gerard Downey is a financial advisor at Linden Wealth Management LLC in Oak Park, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2011, accumulating 15 years in the financial sector. Linden Wealth Management LLC is an independent, SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small- to medium-sized businesses. The firm applies modern portfolio theory and quantitative analytics to construct diversified portfolios, emphasizes low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

We guide First Gen Wealth Builders to align money with purpose. When you’re a First Gen, the financial safety net didn’t exist. You built your own. We partner with individuals, families, and entrepreneurs who’ve built success from the ground up. Does this sound like you? You’re ready for guidance that feels aligned, not intimidating. Advice that honors where you came from and helps you build what’s next. Hiring a financial planner? That’s new territory. No one in your family has done this before. Success has evolved. The questions are bigger now — more strategic, more intentional. -How do I balance saving and investing for my family with still having the freedom to travel, be present and enjoy life? -How do we protect what we’ve built, legally, financially, and emotionally, in a system that wasn’t built for us? -How do I make smarter decisions around taxes, equity comp, and investments, without second-guessing every move? Enter FirstGen Wealth: A Financial Life Planning Practice - Independent - Fee-Only (one flat fee for financial planning and Investment Management) -Fiduciary 100% of the time - Virtual - Based in Chicago and work with clients nationwide (most clients are in CA, NY, NJ, WA, VA, GA, and TX) Meet Valerie Rivera, CFP®, Founder & Financial Planner: -CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with nearly 20 years of experience advising clients with $10–$20 million portfolios. Now using that same expertise to empower First Gen Wealth Builders. -Wife, mother, homeowner, and business owner bringing real-world perspective to every financial plan. - A proud First Gen who built her own financial safety net and reached Coast FI by 40. Passionate about tax planning, travel, and helping others design lives of freedom and purpose. Her six-year-old has already visited more than 15 countries, and I’m always planning the next four. -Culturally competent, inclusive, and a proud LGBTQ+ ally committed to financial equity and social justice.

Frances Tuite is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. She is currently with Sankota Capital LLC and has previously worked at Oak Family Advisors, Fairpointe Capital, and Rmb Capital Management. Outside of her advisory role, she co-manages an organic brewery and restaurant and owns an organic farm. Sankota Capital provides discretionary investment management to individuals, family offices, institutions, and corporations. The firm focuses on fundamentally driven investments in small- and mid-cap companies, typically maintaining concentrated portfolios managed with a long-term horizon and low turnover.

Eduardo Caldera is a financial advisor at Retirement Systems LLC with under one year of industry experience. He previously worked with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC and Regency Capital, and has a background in mortgage banking. He is also involved in life insurance and annuity sales through Regency Capital. Retirement Systems LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning primarily to individual clients, offering tailored portfolios and 3(21) fiduciary services to qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis with quarterly reviews and allows clients to set written investment restrictions.

Kurt Schultz is a financial advisor at ATIS, Inc. in Highland, Indiana, with 33 years of industry experience. He has held Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with ATIS, Inc. since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 20% partner in Evolution Investments, LLC, which manages office facilities and a professional condo association. ATIS, Inc. serves individual investors and trusts, focusing on IRA rollovers and offering portfolio management, retirement, estate, and legacy planning. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification through predetermined mutual fund and ETF models, primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis within wrap-fee programs delivered via RBC-sponsored platforms.

David Gosnell is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of experience at New England Research & Management, Inc. He is based in Chicago, IL and has been with the firm since 2008. New England Research & Management provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, managing a range of account types including trusts, retirement plans, and estates. The firm customizes portfolios to individual client objectives, managing each account separately and employing diverse instruments such as exchange-listed securities, ETFs, and derivatives.

Melissa Osika is an investment advisor with Herr Capital Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. She has worked at Herr Capital Management since 2017 and previously held positions at American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., SSN Advisory, Inc., and Securities Service Network. In addition to her advisory role, she is a licensed insurance agent offering life, health, disability, long-term care, and fixed annuities. Herr Capital Management LLC is a private wealth advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a disciplined investment process with strategic and tactical allocation adjustments and offers financial planning, discretionary investment management, and retirement-plan consulting.

Lamont Change is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience, practicing at The Change Advisory Group, LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds the Series 66 designation and serves as a managing director at the firm. The Change Advisory Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals and related entities, providing discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and consulting for trusts, IRAs, retirement accounts, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm constructs customized portfolios using asset allocation and security selection across multiple asset classes and serves a diverse client base that includes institutional and governmental entities.

Catriona Duncan is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with four years of industry experience. She is currently with Sankota Capital LLC and previously worked at William Blair Investment Management, Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Advisory Research, Inc., and Cupps Capital Management, LLC. She serves as CIO/Treasurer of the Judy Family Foundation, focusing on long-term asset allocation and evaluation of private investments. Sankota Capital LLC provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, pension and profit-sharing plans, endowments, foundations, and corporations. The firm emphasizes fundamentally driven investment processes targeting small- and mid-cap companies, with concentrated portfolios managed under discretionary authority and a long-term horizon.

Sara Freer is a financial advisor at New England Research & Management, Inc. She holds a Series 65 credential and has been with the firm since 2006. Sara operates out of Chicago, IL, and has 20 years of industry experience. New England Research & Management provides discretionary investment management primarily to high-net-worth individuals and families, managing a range of account types including trusts, retirement accounts, and estates. The firm customizes portfolios to individual client objectives and manages accounts separately, employing a variety of securities and strategies with full discretionary trading authority.

Gianni Perkovic is a financial advisor at Retirement Systems LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at several firms, including AE Wealth Management, EV Federal, FEFA Asset Management, and Citizens Bank. In addition to his advisory role, Perkovic is a licensed insurance agent and dedicates a significant portion of his time to insurance product sales. Retirement Systems LLC provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) fiduciary services to individuals and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored investment programs and ongoing portfolio management, combining fundamental, technical, and charting analysis with regular account reviews.

Dillon Hoover is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Significance Capital Management LLC and previously worked at CastleArk Management and Spot Trading L.L.C. Significance Capital Management LLC is an independent investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an Enhanced Alpha Strategy that combines fundamental, quantitative, factor, and technical analysis to manage large-cap equity allocations, and also serves as a sub-adviser to the Significance Capital Enhanced Alpha ETF.

Steven Peake is a financial advisor at Apex Quantitative Group, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked at Apex Quantitative Group since 2019. Outside of advising, he works as a golf instructor and a real estate recruiter. Apex Quantitative Group provides discretionary portfolio management for individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages model-based, risk-controlled large-cap equity portfolios using a machine-learning system and serves a small client base with roughly $1.5–$1.7 million in assets under management.