James Schmelter II is a financial advisor with SpiderRock Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at BlackRock Investments LLC and BlackRock from 2018 to 2024. SpiderRock Advisors provides discretionary investment advisory and sub-advisory services to a diverse client base, including institutional clients, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm utilizes systematic, technical, and rules-based processes combined with quantitative and fundamental analysis to offer option-based hedges, yield-enhancing overlays, and tailored synthetic borrowing strategies.

Jeffrey Gin is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Exodus Wealth, LLC. He has worked at Prosperity Wealth Management, Inc. since 2015 and has been associated with Fortune Financial Services Inc. since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in tax preparation through his separate business activities. Exodus Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension plans by providing asset management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm manages discretionary portfolios using a variety of investment strategies and emphasizes tailored account supervision with regular reviews and rebalancing.

Jack Hagedorn is a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Chicago Partners since 2017. Prior to his advisory role, he attended Indiana University - Bloomington. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, endowments, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation oriented investment approach that combines fundamental analysis with quantitative optimization and model-based portfolio construction across multiple asset classes.

Robert Volk II is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2019, with prior roles that include positions at Costco and Dow AgroSciences. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base that includes individual households, institutional clients, not-for-profits, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a combined fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio services.

Olea Rykhlov is a CFP® professional with over 23 years of experience in wealth management, currently serving at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC since 2026. Prior to joining Fifth Third, Olea spent 22 years at Truist Bank. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and separately managed account access to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored strategic asset allocation frameworks and typically manages portfolios on a discretionary basis, often delegating to third-party managers and utilizing affiliated model strategies.

Kenneth Shotsberger is a financial advisor at Victory Financial Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Equitable Advisors, Axa Advisors, and Allstate Insurance. Outside of advising, he is a minority silent partner and investor in Greenbuild Capital, LLC. Victory Financial Group serves individual clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, small businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and integrates fundamental, cyclical, and behavioral analysis to construct diversified model portfolios.

Gary Hirschberg is a financial advisor at Aaron Wealth Advisors with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co. for 12 years before joining Aaron Wealth Advisors in 2018. Hirschberg serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of International Hillel and is a member of the investment committee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, both nonprofit organizations. Aaron Wealth Advisors serves high-net-worth and institutional clients, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and multi-generational families. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial consulting, utilizing an outsourced platform to access third-party managers while maintaining client advisory relationships.

Nicholas Winter is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL. His prior roles include positions at W&S Brokerage Services, Western & Southern Life, and the University of Cincinnati. Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and a range of institutional clients, providing discretionary wealth management and comprehensive financial planning with an emphasis on diversified asset allocation and relative-value fixed income analysis. The firm is part of the Focus Financial Partners network and offers access to affiliate and third-party solutions alongside its investment management services.

Walter Nystrom is a financial advisor at A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. from 2020 to 2023 and has held positions outside the financial sector, including roles at Empire Machine and Workout Anytime. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a dually registered SEC investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, and institutional vehicles through a multi-team platform. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, with a notable emphasis on international investing via its EPC Advisors Group division.

Thomas Flaig is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2024 and previously spent 25 years at Borthwick Associates and six years at Legacy Asset Management. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, endowments, and corporations, among others. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation approach that combines fundamental analysis with quantitative optimization across various investment strategies and vehicles.

Gavin Bolanos is an advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC based in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in the financial industry since 2025. Prior to joining VestGen, he held roles in private client services and wealth management and has experience in educational settings. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses a combination of advisor-level client relationship management and centralized portfolio construction, serving a diverse client base that includes other investment advisers, institutions, and government entities.

Brian Monahan is a financial advisor with Northern Trust Securities, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Northern Trust Securities since 2016. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation that provides discretionary portfolio management to high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm offers model-driven investment solutions through Separately Managed Accounts, Fund Strategist Portfolios, and Strategist UMAs delivered via the Fidelity Managed Account Xchange platform, combining advisory, brokerage, and custody services.

Philip Johnston is a CFP®-designated financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC with six years of industry experience. He has previously worked at ShankerValleau Wealth Advisors and Focus Financial, as well as held various roles with the University of Illinois and its Foundation. The Mather Group serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities by offering integrated financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with customizable portfolios and incorporates third-party AI tools alongside human oversight in its processes.

Timothy Feldheim is a financial advisor with IHT Wealth Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Sheridan Road Financial, Independent Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches high school football at Loyola Academy. IHT Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, trusts, and corporate clients. The firm employs a blend of fundamental stock selection and quantitative tools in diversified model portfolios, and offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA fiduciary services through a network of approximately 153 advisors.

Charles Mccormick is a financial advisor at Hilltop Securities Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with two years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Hilltop Securities Asset Management and Broski Fence, as well as 16 years in primary and secondary education. Hilltop Securities serves individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory and broker-dealer services, offering managed accounts, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting on an open-architecture platform that combines third-party and firm-sponsored investment strategies.

Jonathan Fox is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with The Mather Group, LLC in Chicago, IL. He has over 11 years of industry experience, including a decade at Allspring Global Investments prior to joining The Mather Group in 2026. The Mather Group serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities by providing integrated financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with customizable risk-based allocation models and utilizes AI and machine-learning tools alongside human oversight.

Neil Peplinski is a financial advisor at Kingsview Wealth Management, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cedar Capital Advisors, LLC and Good Harbor Financial. Kingsview Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm providing wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, endowments, trusts, and municipal clients. The firm combines in-house investment strategies with third-party managers and offers access to alternative investments through various platforms.

Connie Johnson is a CFA® charterholder with two years of industry experience. She is currently with Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC and previously worked at The Colony Group, Kabouter Management LLC, Aon, and NWQ Investment Management/Nuveen. Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management serves high-net-worth individuals and families, foundations, endowments, and institutional clients with discretionary wealth and portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs an active, client-specific investment approach emphasizing diversification and relative-value fixed income strategies, and is affiliated with the Focus Financial Partners network.

Sara Berkowicz is a CFP® with 24 years of experience, currently serving at Lifemark Securities Corp. since 2009. She is also an independent insurance agent and the founder of Can I Keep The House, Inc., a financial planning and divorce mediation firm. Since 2020, Berkowicz has been a faculty member at The College for Financial Planning, where she teaches and publishes research. Lifemark Securities Corp. provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services primarily for individual investors and retirement plan sponsors, offering tailored, suitability-driven advice with a range of managed account programs and consulting services.

Peter Steigerwald is a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at Eddie Bauer, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting for the State of Colorado, and the University of Notre Dame. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC advises a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, nonprofits, endowments, and corporations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement services, and family-office reporting. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach and sponsors affiliated pooled investment vehicles, serving both private fund clients and insurance companies.