Garland Kizer is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and has held roles at Cetera, VOYA Financial Advisors, and his own firms, Kizer & Associates and Kizer Financial Services. Kizer serves as a trustee for the THSD 214 Foundation and MacMurray College, and he is chairman of the Bartlett 4th of July Festival committee. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, businesses, and institutions, emphasizing a long-term, diversified investment approach through model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central Investment Management team.

Brendan Donlevy is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Triad Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Capital Forensics Inc. Brendan is based in Chicago, IL. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for about 9,453 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan services. Their approach integrates client-specific goal setting with various analytical methods and may include third-party managers or affiliate strategies.

Matthew Krueger is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Simplicity Wealth since 2022. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in farming through Krueger Farms LLC and provides tax and business advisory services at Krueger & Associates Tax & Business Advisory, Inc. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a fund-of-funds approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, and offers model portfolios along with advisory technology and operational support for other advisers.

Jessica Nieminski is an investment advisor representative at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She has held positions at multiple firms, including Cetera and Network 1 Financial Securities, and operates ClearPath Financial LLC, a financial services DBA. Nieminski also sells health, life, property, and casualty insurance through ClearPath Financial Insurance, LLC. Fortis Capital Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including discretionary management and ESG options, and manages over $1.6 billion in discretionary assets.

Daniel Zarzynski is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robertson Stephens with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at CAFG Wealth Management, Camping World, and Brunswick Corporation. Robertson Stephens provides investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with comprehensive planning services, managing approximately $8.76 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

Donna Adams is a financial advisor with Regal Investment Advisors LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at OneAmerica Securities and American United Life for 11 years. She is involved with several community organizations, serving as an owner and board member of DamYak Challenge LTD and Paradise Charitable Foundation, and as a board member of BREAK Crystal Lake Teen Center and the Chain-O-Lakes Chamber. Regal Investment Advisors, operating as LionShare, provides model portfolio implementation and discretionary investment management to unaffiliated advisers and their clients. The firm manages approximately $2.88 billion across proprietary and third-party strategies through a sub-advisory platform focused on institutional clients rather than direct relationships with end investors.

Gregg Cummings is a financial advisor at Savvy with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for LPL Financial for 15 years. Cummings has been with Savvy since 2026. Savvy provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts and estates, businesses, ERISA plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily index-based, long-term approach supplemented by active equity portfolios and tax-aware direct indexing, using third-party sub-advisers and technology platforms to customize investment plans based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

Vivian Ding is a financial advisor with Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 registrations. She has been in the industry since 2025, with prior experience at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Lilly Financial, and Combined Insurance. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plan participants, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a broad investment approach using both fundamental and technical analysis across various asset classes on an open-architecture platform.

Michael Page is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Prospera since 2019. His prior experience includes tenures at Wells Fargo Financial Network, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in purchasing rental property for his son. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and platforms.

June Dinardo is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at Arkadios Capital since 2024 and Wayne Hummer Investments since 2008. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans using a combination of advisor-managed accounts, a wrap program, third-party money managers, and financial planning. The firm supports discretionary account management through its internal portfolio team and employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment approach.

Erik Olson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Arete Wealth Advisors and Arete Wealth Management since 2010. Olson serves as a board member and investment committee chair for the Converge Foundation and owns Olson Analytics, a data analysis and consulting business. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based model allocations, utilizes third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Andrew Mitchell is a financial advisor with Sound Income Strategies, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Wipfli. He also serves in a related capacity at Crystal Lake Tax and Finance, LLC. Sound Income Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and pension clients, and other registered advisors, offering asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and co-advisory arrangements. The firm’s investment approach focuses on fixed-income and income-oriented strategies, with active portfolio management and selective use of third-party managers.

Chris Morgan is a financial advisor at Harbour Investments, Inc. with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Beacon Wealth Advisors, LLC and Gradient Securities, LLC. In addition to advisory work, he is involved in tax preparation through Beacon Advisors LLC and is a managing member of Beacon Wealth Advisors, LLC. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to multiple investment approaches through internal and third-party managers.

Eric Mesko is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Triad Advisors, LPL Financial, and Waddell & Reed. He serves on the board of Bartlett Learning Centers, a school for children with mental challenges. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for over 9,400 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a blend of analytical approaches and third-party managers.

Stanley Nieminski is a financial advisor at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 35 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and PFS™ designations and has worked at firms including Clearpath Financial LLC and Cetera. In addition to his advisory role, he is president of a mortgage brokerage and provides tax and accounting services through his CPA firm. Fortis Capital Advisors offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and institutional clients. The firm focuses on customized portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring, employing a range of strategies including passive, active, tactical, blended, and ESG-integrated approaches.

Bryan Dern is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Savvy with one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at Maia Wealth, Mana Financial Group, Tosaf, Inc., and prior positions in various non-financial firms. Savvy provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, businesses, ERISA plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm customizes investment plans based on client objectives and uses a primarily index-based, long-term approach complemented by active equity portfolios and tax-aware direct indexing.

Ian Morrison is a financial advisor with OneAscent Financial Services LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling, Securities America Advisors, and Securities America, Inc. Outside of finance, he worked for Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters. OneAscent Financial Services LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, broker/dealer customers, and institutions. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing individualized asset-allocation approaches and various model-based platforms.

Joshua Pratt is a financial advisor at Harbour Investments, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at multiple firms including Beacon Insurance Advisors, LLC and Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. Pratt is also involved as an independent insurance agent, selling fixed insurance products and equity-indexed annuities. Harbour Investments serves a diverse client base including individual investors, trusts, pension and 401(k) plans, and institutional entities. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services, using multiple investment approaches and platforms tailored to individual advisor and client needs.

Teresa Young is a financial advisor with First Advisors National, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at W&S Brokerage Services, Western Southern Life, Alliant Credit Union, and LPL Financial. She volunteers as a tax preparer and quality examiner for Ladder Up in Chicago, assisting low-wage earning families with pro bono tax preparation. First Advisors National manages discretionary assets for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering investment management, third-party portfolio recommendations, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and tactical allocation, utilizing fundamental analysis and formal annual reviews to guide its investment process.

Mark Morrison is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with OneAscent Financial Services LLC. He has previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and The Cornerstone Financial Group Inc. among others. He also serves as an elder at The Arising Church in Crystal Lake, where he is involved in counseling and preaching. OneAscent Financial Services LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, broker/dealer customers, and institutions. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, and consulting services using individualized asset allocation and model-based platforms, and offers specialized services including tax-overlay options and outsourced CIO and CCO support.