Reginald Smith is an investment advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC for three years. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients, employing a blend of proprietary quantitative models and qualitative portfolio management across various strategies. The firm also manages mutual funds and ETFs and offers retail wealth management, alternative investment strategies, and model portfolios.

Brandon Mull is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66-licensed advisor with eight years of industry experience. He currently works at Savvy and previously held roles at Zhang Financial LLC, Morgan Stanley, and TransMarket Group. Savvy provides customized discretionary and non-discretionary investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm combines an index-based core with tailored strategies such as direct indexing with tax-loss harvesting, active and passive stock portfolios, and ESG-focused models, supported by a parent technology platform and third-party tools.

Brian M. Ahern is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 25 years of industry experience. He is currently with VestGen Advisors, LLC and has prior experience at The LAT Group, Raymond James Financial Services, and Merrill. Based in Chicago, IL, he has held various roles in both advisory and private client services. VestGen Advisors, LLC manages approximately $6.66 billion for about 22,790 clients through 53 advisors, offering a range of investment management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) retirement plan services. The firm employs a client-specific strategy development process that incorporates fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis alongside modern portfolio theory and serves a diverse client base including institutional investors.

Christian Whittemore is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Zacks Investment Management since 2002. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm employs a proprietary investment process combining quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering a broad range of strategies and serving both direct clients and third-party advisers through model portfolios and indices.

Craig Norris is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mariner Independent in Chicago, IL. He has held advisory roles at Archiwealth and Mariner Platform Solutions and serves on the advisory board of The H Foundation, a nonprofit focused on cancer research. Additionally, he creates content for an internet-based sports media channel called Game On Media. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers access to model portfolios, third-party managers, and a range of retirement plan services, supported by institutional affiliations that enhance its investment and fiduciary capabilities.

Joseph Witkowski is a financial advisor with Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Advisor Network since 2020, following a brief period at Thrivent Financial. Thrivent Advisor Network provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes a long-term investment approach with customized asset allocations, utilizing low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income securities, and alternative investments where appropriate.

Kelsey Narish is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2023. She also operates Narish Financial Service, where she provides life insurance and annuities as part of comprehensive financial planning. Prior to her financial advisory roles, she worked at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School for one year. Arete Wealth Advisors offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary model-based allocation strategies and uses third-party sub-advisers while acting as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Daniel Cardell is a CFA® charterholder with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2018. He previously worked at Chancellor Financial Group WB LLC and has held roles at Waveco Energy LLC and Roadwave LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in Holborn Village LLC, a real estate property management business. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, endowments, and corporations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services. The firm utilizes a long-term, diversified investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and customized portfolios, and is notable for sponsoring affiliated pooled investment vehicles and serving insurance company clients.

Claire Fischer is a financial advisor with First Advisors National, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and based in Oak Park, IL. She has no prior industry experience and worked in various roles outside finance, including healthcare and hospitality. First Advisors National provides investment management, asset allocation advice, and retirement plan consulting primarily for individual clients, utilizing third-party money managers and offering discretionary portfolio management combined with fundamental analysis and regular reviews.

Brett Simms is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Interactive Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL since 2014. Interactive Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and advisory consulting. The firm uses asset-allocation models ranging from conservative to aggressive, primarily implementing strategies with ETFs and mutual funds, and employs tools such as Modern Portfolio Theory and the TIFIN Wealth Risk tool to profile investor risk.

Nicholas Lopez is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Edward Jones and LBMZ Securities, Inc. Prior to his advisory career, he was involved with Henry County Public Schools and the Henry County/Martinsville YMCA. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm employs a proprietary stock-ranking approach based on earnings-estimate revisions and offers a range of strategies and investment vehicles, while also licensing indices and model portfolios to other advisers and sponsors.

Peter Flanzer is a financial advisor with Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Waterstone Financial Group and Lodestar Investment Counsel, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as managing member of Marion Investment Partners LLC, overseeing private investments. Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, offering discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and institutional fixed-income management. The firm emphasizes diversified asset allocation, relative-value analysis for fixed income, and uses mutual funds and ETFs to implement targeted exposures.

Brian Kasal is a financial advisor at FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 41 years of industry experience. He is also the CEO of FourStar Insurance Services, LLC, an insurance sales business he founded in 2015. Kasal’s career includes over a decade with both FourStar Wealth Advisors and FourStar Insurance Services. FourStar Wealth Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, institutions, and business entities. The firm manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis using a range of securities and investment strategies tailored to clients’ risk tolerances and objectives.

John O'Shea is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Blueprint Wealth Advisors LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Slalom. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and modular sleeves, with oversight from a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Morgan Browne is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at The Mather Group, LLC. Prior to joining The Mather Group, Browne worked at Siemens and has a background that includes time at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 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 employs an evidence-based investment approach with various risk-based allocation models and customization options, including ESG portfolios and direct indexing.

Margo Sweany is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently with Curi Capital, LLC and has been with RMB Capital Management since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of a small rental property through a single-member LLC. Curi Capital serves individuals, families, institutional clients, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles, offering services such as Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement Plan Solutions, and Family Office Services. The firm manages approximately $9.83 billion and employs a long-term, fundamental investment approach combining in-house strategies with external managers.

Brian Gedonius is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners in Chicago, IL. He has been with HighPoint Advisor Group LLC and LPL Financial since 2014. HighPoint Advisor Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $4.0 billion in client assets and employs a fundamental analysis approach to construct individualized investment policies across various asset classes.

Joseph Hume is a financial advisor at Northern Trust Securities, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Northern Trust Securities in 2022, he worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and held various roles including positions in education and at Morningstar. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program serving high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm employs a model-driven approach to portfolio management, combining advisory, brokerage, and custody services with offerings that include Separately Managed Accounts, Fund Strategist Portfolios, and Strategist UMAs.

Mark Nichol is a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC with four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. and Zeiler Insurance Services. Nichol has also spent several years as a full-time student prior to his advisory career. 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 employs an evidence-based investment approach with multiple risk-based allocation models and offers customization options including direct indexing and ESG factor portfolios.

Tonio Crudele is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. His prior roles include positions at Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Allstate corporate entities. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs proprietary quantitative models combined with qualitative portfolio management across various strategies and sponsors wrap-fee programs while managing affiliated mutual funds and ETFs.