Matthew Kline is the founder and managing member of Kline Capital Management LLC, an independent firm based in Northfield, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at Neurotech LLC and US Markets, Inc. Outside of financial advising, he is involved in several business ventures, including managing an aerial and construction equipment company and owning a consulting firm and an insurance agency. Kline Capital Management provides fee-only financial planning, wealth management, and investment portfolio management primarily to individual clients, with some corporate and pension clients. The firm emphasizes goal-based planning and strategic asset allocation, using index funds and ETFs alongside active funds when necessary, and maintains written investment policy statements with a focus on tax efficiency and ongoing reporting.

Sergey Zaks is the principal of Zaks Investment Advisory Service, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 20 years of industry experience. He is also the founder and president of Distributed Software Development, Inc., a software company specializing in municipal systems such as 911 dispatch and voter-registration platforms. Zaks Investment Advisory Service provides discretionary and nondiscretionary separately managed accounts primarily for individual clients. The firm employs a passive investment approach focused on diversified portfolios using exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, adjusting allocations to client circumstances while maintaining low trading volumes and avoiding leverage.

Christopher Sands is the principal advisor at Sands Wealth Strategies, LLC, with 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Manning & Napier Advisors, B. Riley Wealth Advisors, and Lemme Investment Group, where he also served as Chief Compliance Officer and is preparing to succeed the firm's retiring owner. Sands Wealth Strategies, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and corporate entities, providing wealth management, retirement plan management, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a blend of fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, using both passive and active investment vehicles, and offers retirement-plan consulting and ERISA 3(38) investment management services.

Sophie Kaluziak is a financial advisor at Vista Financial Planning in Oak Park, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Vista Financial Planning since 2003. Vista Financial Planning is a fee-only, independent firm serving individuals, families, and employee benefit plan sponsors. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning services, including tax planning, estate and risk management, retirement planning, and portfolio analysis, with an investment approach tailored to clients’ tax situations and risk tolerance.

Melanie Husk is a financial advisor at Mel Consulting Co. d/b/a Mel & Co in Chicago, IL, with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and previously worked at World Equity Group and Raymond James & Associates. Mel Consulting Co. provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small- to mid-sized businesses. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach focused on passive, asset-class-based portfolios and emphasizes personalized, behavioral financial planning alongside educational programming and public speaking.

Benjamin Gutstein is a financial advisor at White Crest Capital in Glencoe, IL, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with White Crest Capital since 2015. White Crest Capital provides discretionary asset management and portfolio supervision to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages a broad range of securities using a combination of cyclical, fundamental, and technical analysis, tailoring advice through personalized interviews and questionnaires.

Adam Faust is the sole advisor at Deep Blue Financial LLC in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 22 years of industry experience. He has led Deep Blue Financial since its founding in 2014. Outside of financial advising, Mr. Faust is the owner of a photography business specializing in author and wedding photography and serves on the board of directors for the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, a nonprofit theater in Arlington Heights. Deep Blue Financial LLC provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, and related entities, focusing on portfolio management, retirement income planning, and investment consulting. The firm constructs low-cost, tax-aware portfolios primarily using diversified ETFs, incorporates loss harvesting and periodic rebalancing, and offers non-discretionary management to clients who retain trade decision authority.

Vincent Bicicchi is the sole advisor at Galvanize Wealth LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in La Grange Park, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Galvanize Wealth in 2019, he worked at Levin Funding Group and has been involved with Vindico, Inc. since 2014 and OZO Development, LLC since 2018, serving as president and CFO/co-founder respectively. Outside of advisory services, he is active in insurance sales and business and estate consulting through Vindico, Inc., and participates in software development and financial strategy at OZO Development. Galvanize Wealth serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses, and qualified retirement plans, providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation-driven approach using passively managed mutual funds and ETFs, supported by written investment policy statements and periodic reviews. It also offers insurance and estate/business consulting through the principal’s additional activities and provides pension consulting and employee-benefit plan services.

Danielle Schultz is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She is the sole advisor at Haven Financial Solutions, Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Evanston, IL. In addition to her advisory work, she devotes time to freelance writing outside of securities trading hours. Haven Financial Solutions primarily serves individual clients, offering comprehensive financial planning and investment supervisory services. The firm employs a strategic, passive investment approach focused on diversified asset allocation using indexed mutual funds and ETFs, with an emphasis on long-term buy-and-hold and periodic rebalancing. It also provides educational workshops and written financial contributions, with specialized services in divorce and college planning.

Michael Stanton is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in financial planning. He is the sole advisor at Stanton Financial Planning, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2015. Stanton Financial Planning, LLC offers fee-only holistic financial and tax planning services to individuals and families, focusing on comprehensive planning engagements, project retainers, and hourly consultations rather than ongoing portfolio management. The firm emphasizes disciplined asset allocation, global diversification, and tailored recommendations, operating without discretionary trading authority or custody of client assets.

James Martinelli is a financial advisor with JDN Financial LLC in Glenview, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with WSP Commodity Trading, LLC since 2011 and has been an independent insurance agent since 2003, including activities involving equity indexed annuities. JDN Financial LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional clients such as banks, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches for portfolio implementation and offers commissionable insurance products through its principal’s insurance licensure.

Stephanie Van Vlerah is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Financial Illumination Advisors, LLC since 2021. Prior to this, she worked at Oxford Financial Group, Ltd for eight years and briefly pursued entrepreneurial activities. She serves on the boards of the Rosecrance Chicago Foundation and Rosecrance Health Network, and is the Spousal Forum Chair for YPO Chicagoland. Financial Illumination Advisors provides financial planning and outsourced CFO services to high-net-worth individuals, family entities, and private foundations. The firm focuses on personalized written plans and coordination with outside specialists, offering family office–style services without providing asset management or discretionary trading.

Evan Kakis is the principal of Kakis Financial Services Inc. in Des Plaines, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 17 years of experience in financial advising. He has operated Evan S. Kakis Ltd since 1999, a CPA and accounting firm where he serves as president. Additionally, he is president of Payroll Solutions and Services Inc., a payroll processing company. Kakis Financial Services is an independent registered investment adviser managing discretionary portfolios primarily for individuals, families, not-for-profit organizations, and closely held businesses. The firm emphasizes risk management through customized asset allocation and ongoing portfolio adjustments, utilizing a variety of mutual funds, ETFs, and government securities.

Bekim Redzic is a financial advisor at Keystone Asset Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and also serves as an office manager at Beta Electric, Inc., a family-owned electrical construction business. Keystone Asset Management LLC manages private investment funds for accredited and qualified investors, employing multi-strategy proprietary approaches that include fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and various instruments such as swaps, options, and credit derivatives. The firm utilizes affiliated broker-dealers for trade execution and frequently invests in sub-funds it manages.

Brian Thompson is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He leads Brian Thompson Financial in Chicago, IL, and also prepares taxes and provides tax representation through Brian Thompson Tax LLC. Brian Thompson Financial offers financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach with diversified, low-cost index funds and ETFs, and coordinates with outside managers when appropriate. Its services include a Comprehensive Care personal planning program and a business-focused model integrating planning, advisory, and fractional CFO support.

Daniel Borstein is a financial advisor with Boon Capital Advisors LLC in Northbrook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Boon Capital Advisors since 2015. Boon Capital Advisors LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advice to individuals, small businesses, and pooled investment vehicles, managing approximately $158.7 million in discretionary assets. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including fundamental and technical analysis, options and margin trading, and uses model portfolios tailored to client suitability.

Christian Wray is a financial advisor at Hazelwood Investment Advisors LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at HWCP, Hines, CA Ventures, and Grant Thornton LLP. Hazelwood Investment Advisors LLC is a small, independent firm that provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and related retirement and trust accounts. The firm focuses on a long-term, growth-oriented equity strategy emphasizing large-cap and technology companies, combining fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic research.

Eric Edwards is a financial advisor with Edwards Premier Financial in Bellwood, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services from 2013 to 2018. Outside of advisory work, he is licensed to sell fixed insurance and annuity products. Edwards Premier Financial provides portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual investors, with occasional service to small businesses and non-profits. The firm employs a range of investment strategies from passive fixed-income to active trading and combines fundamental and technical analysis tailored to client objectives.

Siravich Krasaeath is a financial advisor at Diversey Capital, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 11 years of industry experience. He has been employed at Cushman & Wakefield since 2006, overlapping with his advisory career. He also maintains an active state managing broker real estate license, an unusual credential given the size of his firm. Diversey Capital provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services primarily to mid- to high-net-worth individuals and related entities. The firm’s investment approach focuses on matching client time horizons with diversified asset allocations and offers a proprietary absolute-return multi-strategy program under a performance-based fee arrangement.

Matthew Furlong is the principal advisor at Furlong Investment Solutions, LLC in Chicago, IL. He holds the CFP® and CFA® designations and has 10 years of industry experience. Since 2016, he has led his independent firm, providing financial planning and investment management services. Furlong Investment Solutions, LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, family trusts, estates, qualified retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs a core-and-satellite strategic asset allocation approach with an emphasis on low-cost passive investments supplemented by tactical active positions, alongside integrated financial planning and retirement plan consulting under a fiduciary model.