Jesse Golik Meineke is a financial advisor with The Mather Group, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Trinity Financial Advisors and Integra Financial Advisory. 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, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with multiple risk-based allocation models and customization options, combining technology tools with human oversight.

Jeffrey Heilman is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Midlothian, IL, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 33 years of industry experience and has been with Ausdal Financial Partners since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is licensed in life insurance sales, an activity he has been involved with since 1992. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of about 152 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, utilizing a range of investment strategies and custodial services.

James Begley is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Zacks Investment Management since 2022. In addition to his advisory role, Begley is involved in real estate as a broker and manager with Exclusive Realtors. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm uses proprietary quantitative and qualitative models centered on earnings-estimate revisions and serves both direct clients and third-party advisers through a broad range of investment vehicles and strategies.

Matthew Spokas is a financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been associated with Forum Financial Management since 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is the principal of Spokas & Associates CPAs LLC, a firm he has been involved with since 2011. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, primarily implementing those models through institutional mutual funds, ETFs, and selectively incorporates private investment vehicles and outside managers.

Sophia Bernardi is a financial advisor at Centennial Securities Company, Inc. with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Centennial, she worked at Conagra Brands for three years and Walgreens Co for three years. She also has a four-year academic background from Indiana University. Centennial Securities Company, Inc. provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, foundations, endowments, and other business entities. The firm’s investment advice is delivered through its representatives, employing a range of strategies tailored to client objectives.

Michelle Juras is a financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners with 20 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation and is registered with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining HighPoint Advisor Group in 2021, she worked at Mass Mutual and Mass Mutual Investors Services. HighPoint Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management and a range of financial planning and consulting services, implementing portfolios through fundamental analysis and utilizing both proprietary and third-party platforms.

Christopher Gongola is a financial advisor with IHT Wealth Management LLC based in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Wunderlich Securities. Gongola is also involved with investment-related activities at United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporate and institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors, providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, outsourced CIO arrangements, and access to third-party managers. The firm employs a combined investment process of fundamental value screening, quantitative optimization, and periodic rebalancing, utilizing proprietary models and discretionary mandates tailored to client objectives.

Ryan Evans is a CFP® and ChFC® with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Merit Financial Advisors and PKS Investments, having previously worked at Blueprint Wealth Advisors, LLC and Commonwealth Financial Network. Outside of his advisory roles, he owns George St. Securities, an operating LLC involved in business support activities. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios and offers specialized services such as independent fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Calvin Rowland is a financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Prudential Financial Planning Services and LPL Financial. HighPoint Advisor Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $4.0 billion in client assets and employs fundamental analysis to construct individualized investment policies across a broad range of securities and managed solutions.

Andrea Diltz is a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management with Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ritholtz in 2024, she worked for CG Financial Services and spent five years in secondary education. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a goal-based investment approach that emphasizes asset allocation and behavioral finance, utilizing diversified low-cost ETFs alongside tactical overlays and alternative investments.

James Chase Jr. is a financial advisor with HighPoint Planning Partners in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Level Four Advisory Services and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in retail work at local farmers markets and has engagements related to solar energy. 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 combines fundamental analysis with a variety of investment vehicles and custodied program solutions, managing approximately $4.0 billion in client assets.

Mitchell Despinich is a financial advisor with Private Client Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Client Services since 2010. In addition to his advisory role, he sells insurance products including life, disability, long-term care, and health insurance through his financial services practice. Private Client Services is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plan sponsors, and businesses. The firm provides financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management through about 50 investment advisor representatives and manages approximately $1.05 billion across over 3,200 client accounts.

James Noe is a financial advisor at Capital Analysts with 44 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 2005. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various programs and utilizes an in-house Investment Management & Research team to guide investment decisions.

Bailey Yablonsky is a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Boston Scientific, Optum, Collins Aerospace, and several other organizations. The Mather Group serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities by providing financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with customizable portfolio options and integrates AI and machine-learning tools alongside human oversight.

Kevin Antosz is a financial advisor with Zacks Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at LBMZ Securities Inc, Edward Jones, Pittsburgh Field Club, and Miami University. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients, offering a range of strategies that combine proprietary quantitative models with qualitative management. The firm also manages mutual funds and ETFs and distributes its strategies through various wrap-fee and unified managed account programs.

David Kujawa is a CFP® and ChFC® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at HighPoint Planning Partners. He has been with HighPoint Advisor Group, LLC (DBA OnPath Financial, LLC) since 2013 and also maintains a relationship with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in the collection of watches. HighPoint Advisor Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs fundamental analysis to construct individualized investment policies and utilizes a variety of investment vehicles and custodial program solutions, managing approximately $4.0 billion in client assets.

David Anderson is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Butler Brothers, Wolverine Trading, UMB Bank, and State Street. Outside of his advisory work, he provides security services for the Chicago Cubs. Financial & Tax Architects offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm employs proprietary investment strategies utilizing ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with most client relationships managed on a discretionary basis.

Benjamin Sevcik is a CFP® and PFS™ with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Forum Financial Management, LP since 2014. He is also a partner at Forum Tax and Accounting Services LLC, where he provides accounting and tax preparation services. Forum Financial Management, LP offers fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and qualified plan services to individual and institutional clients, while also acting as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach, primarily using DFA institutional mutual funds and ETFs, and manages approximately $9 billion in assets.

Eric Maddix is a financial advisor at Chicago Capital, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Chicago Capital since 2018, following a 19-year tenure at William Blair & Company, L.L.C. Chicago Capital provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and related consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, foundations, registered investment advisers, and corporations. The firm is an active manager combining fundamental and technical research to build individualized portfolios across a broad range of asset classes, while overseeing over $4.8 billion in client assets with a relatively small team of 11 advisors.

Adam Bernthal is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Chicago since 2014. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and manager selection, employing a variety of analytical methods and managing a majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.