Scott Wentsel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with nine years of industry experience and the principal advisor at Wentsel Wealth Management, LLC. He has managed his independent advisory firm since 2016 and has been a professor at DePaul University since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for an investment-related advisory firm. Wentsel Wealth Management provides investment management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a low-cost, globally diversified investment approach centered on asset allocation, combining index-oriented ETFs and mutual funds with selective active management and individual securities, and offers institutional services uncommon for a firm of its size.

James Krebec is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at CIC Investment Consultants, LLC since 2003. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and maintains an Arkansas insurance license, though he spends no meaningful time in the insurance business. CIC Investment Consultants provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, written financial plans, and advisory services on private securities and alternative investments, using a variety of analytical methods and strategies tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Jennifer Sanchez is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience and over 26 years as a self-employed advisor. She is principal of Integral Financial Planning LLC in Naperville, IL. In addition to financial advising, she provides personal income tax preparation services during the first four months of each year. Integral Financial Planning LLC serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts and estates, offering personalized financial planning, comprehensive wealth management, and integrated income tax preparation. The firm focuses on mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, applies fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory, and typically manages client accounts on a non-discretionary basis.

Nathaniel Tanney is a financial advisor at Convexity Investments LLC in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Convexity Investments since 2021 and has been a commodities trader for a proprietary trading firm since 2009, a role from which he receives no commissions. Convexity Investments provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual clients, including retail and high-net-worth households, managing approximately $2.7 million across a small client base. The firm employs both cyclical and quantitative analysis with a mix of long-term and short-term trading, primarily in equities and exchange-traded funds, and operates with discretionary trading authority on client accounts.

Sam Bakou is a CFP® with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He is the sole advisor at Sora Wealth, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2021, having previously worked for 18 years at Vantage Financial Partners Limited. Sora Wealth, LLC provides personalized wealth management, financial planning, and discretionary portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to build individualized investment plans and employs a broad set of instruments and strategies, including options and alternative funds, while delegating day-to-day trading and operations to a sub-adviser.

Himanshu Patel is the sole advisor at Lakshmi Wealth Management LLC in Naperville, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 11 years of industry experience. He has led Lakshmi Wealth Management since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, he provides occasional consulting on insurance carrier business through an expert network firm. Lakshmi Wealth Management serves individual investors and trusts, offering personalized financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm employs actively managed, customized portfolios and uses a range of instruments, including options and derivatives, to manage risk and pursue returns.

Sam Macaluso is the founder and principal of Ripple Ridge Enterprises LLC, an independent advisory firm. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 14 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory work, he operates an independent insurance agency and a CPA firm, SAM D. Macaluso & Associates, which provides accounting and tax-preparation services. Ripple Ridge Enterprises serves individual and high-net-worth clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation approach and utilizes a range of investments, including mutual funds, ETFs, private placements, and non-traded real estate investment trusts.

Edwin Cogan is a financial advisor at Steeplechase Investments with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Steeplechase Investments since 1994. Steeplechase Investments provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual clients, focusing on direct investments in stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds. The firm employs an active, tactical approach that adjusts between capital appreciation and preservation based on macroeconomic analysis and technical chart patterns, tailoring portfolios to clients’ age and income needs.

Angela Major Hart is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal advisor at Veridian Private Wealth Management. She has held previous roles at Byline Bank, Northern Trust Securities, Northern Trust Bank, and First Midwest Bank. Ms. Hart is also a licensed attorney and an active member of the Illinois Bar. Veridian Private Wealth Management offers discretionary investment management and qualified retirement plan consulting to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, charities, and employee benefit plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation framework with a proprietary methodology emphasizing diversification and provides ERISA fiduciary services uncommon among independent advisors.

Kristopher Kalish is a financial advisor with The Kalish Group in Aurora, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill before founding The Kalish Group. The Kalish Group is a state-registered advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $29.1 million across about 27 client relationships, using a proprietary strategic asset-allocation methodology and a variety of investment vehicles, with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing tailored to each client.

Thomas Ahlbeck is a financial advisor at Ahlbeck Financial with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Cetera Financial Specialists LLC and Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he manages and owns commercial and residential real estate properties with family members and serves as the treasurer for Maine Township School. Ahlbeck Financial provides portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, tailoring investment strategies to clients' goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and technical analysis, offering discretionary management across various asset classes with regular account reviews.

Michael Cantlon is a financial advisor with Cantlon Financial Planning LLC in St. Charles, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Cantlon Financial Planning since 2012 and has worked as a self-employed financial planner since 1983. Cantlon is licensed to sell life, accident, fire, and casualty insurance. Cantlon Financial Planning LLC provides personalized financial planning and discretionary asset management to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm uses client-specific investment programs with fundamental analysis and offers strategies including option writing and derivatives, managing approximately $125 million as of the end of 2025.

James Jacobson is a financial advisor at Capital Ideas in Naperville, IL, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at JP Morgan Securities and RiverNorth Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with a franchised bakery and acts as a partner in a business consulting firm. Capital Ideas serves a range of clients including individuals, families, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $336 million in assets through a team-based approach that uses fundamental and technical analysis, proprietary models, and outside research.

Philip Tetley is a financial advisor at Tetley Investments, LLC in Park Ridge, Illinois, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Tetley Investments since 2012. Tetley Investments is an independent asset management and financial planning firm serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term investment process combining quantitative and fundamental research within a global asset-allocation framework.

John Crawford is a financial advisor at Copperwood Financial with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Horizon Wealth Management. Copperwood Financial provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses, with a specialty practice for athletes under the Pro Athlete Wealth brand. The firm manages client portfolios on a discretionary, tactical allocation basis and offers qualified retirement plan consulting, including ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary services.

James Lohr is a financial advisor at Masus Financial Group, Ltd. with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Before joining Masus, he worked at LPL Financial and has a diverse background including service in the United States Army and roles in the fitness and restaurant industries. Masus Financial Group, Ltd. provides wealth management, investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary research approach and offers customized portfolios with a long-term focus, managing over $190 million in discretionary assets as of December 31, 2025.

David Bankston is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with RWC for Life and has held roles at Simplicity Wealth, LLC, FSC Securities Corp, and has operated Bankston Wealth Management, Inc. since 1999. In addition to his advisory work, he manages an accounting firm, David A Bankston CPA, LLC. RWC for Life provides comprehensive financial planning, consulting, and discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporate entities. The firm offers customized and model portfolios with regular reviews, serving about 97 client relationships and managing approximately $30.2 million in assets.

Joseph Lopresti is a financial advisor at Arlington Wealth Management with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Arlington Capital Management, Inc. since 2000. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with the Investor Education Institute in an operational role and is a part-owner of Advanced Tax Reduction Group, as well as engaged with Arlington Business Advisors, a business brokerage. Arlington Wealth Management provides wealth management and discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, while also servicing trusts, retirement plans, and other entities. The firm employs a proprietary management system combining quantitative models and qualitative research to create tailored portfolio strategies, with an affiliation to the Investor Education Institute supporting its educational resources and client outreach.

Charles McKenna is a financial advisor with McKenna Capital, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Heart Capital, LLC since 2018 and has provided consulting for GModelo USA, LLC. McKenna serves as a principal and advisor for a commodity fund at Heart Capital. McKenna Capital is a small, supported advisory firm managing approximately $83 million for fewer than 40 clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, pension plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a combination of charting, fundamental and technical analysis and manages accounts with a focus on long-term strategies, options trading, and traditional instruments.

Jose Cuevas III is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with Wisdom Investments since 2016 and also worked at High Five Financial, LLC from 2016 to 2018. Wisdom Investments provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, nonprofit organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold approach guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and the Efficient Market Hypothesis, offering a range of tiered planning services and incorporating educational seminars and AI-enabled tools as part of its client support.