Benjamin Carlson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Brighthouse Securities, LLC and METLIFE Investors Distribution Company. Outside of his advisory role, Carlson serves as an alpine ski coach during the winter months. 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 other business entities. The firm manages assets primarily on a discretionary basis, using both advisor-driven and proprietary rule-based model allocations, and integrates its services with affiliated financial businesses and product channels.

Zachary Craggs is a financial advisor at Capital Analysts with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been associated with Lincoln Investment since 2016, along with a brief tenure at Berlin Packaging. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base that includes retail and institutional investors such as high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management, access to third-party managers, and retirement-plan advice through a nationwide network of independent advisors and firm-managed programs.

Brian Van Buren is a Certified Financial Planner® at JMG Financial Group Ltd with nine years of industry experience. He has been with JMG Financial Group since 2016. JMG Financial Group advises individuals, trusts, retirement plans, business entities, and charitable organizations, providing comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, and consulting services. The firm employs a planning-based, long-term investment approach with strategic asset allocation and utilizes a variety of investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, fixed income, and alternative investments.

Ailun Shen is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC since 2026. Prior to this, Shen worked at Mediqus Asset Advisors and Ausdal Financial Partners, INC. The Mather Group primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities by providing combined financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with customized portfolio options and integrates AI and machine-learning tools alongside human oversight in its processes.

Mitchell Conley is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has seven years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at LBMZ Securities, Inc., Zacks Investment Management, The Kenrich Group, and Loyola University Chicago. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and institutional clients while serving as portfolio manager to mutual funds and ETFs. The firm’s investment process combines proprietary quantitative models with qualitative portfolio management across various strategies and distributes its offerings through multiple program platforms.

Walid Matariyeh is an advisor with Highpoint Planning Partners holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at firms such as LPL Financial, Cetera Wealth Services, and Ernst & Young. Matariyeh is also a partner in HTS Accounting & Tax and is involved in educational services businesses that teach children coding. HighPoint Advisor Group serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporate entities, offering services such as discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm uses fundamental analysis to construct client portfolios and leverages multiple platforms, including LPL-sponsored programs, to deliver advisory services.

James Thornton is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and Credit Suisse. Outside of finance, he is involved as a coach with the NFL in a field compliance capacity. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationship work with centralized portfolio construction and serves a diverse client base including other investment advisers, institutions, and government entities.

Ryan Kennedy is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving at Curi Capital, LLC. He previously worked at RMB Capital Management LLC for 10 years and held roles at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. Curi Capital offers wealth management, investment management, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach across various strategies and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Kevin Shekell is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Jackson National Life Distributors for ten years and has been associated with Ausdal Financial Partners and Timberland Financial since 2021. Shekell also owns Shekell Wealth Management, LLC, through which he manages investment and insurance business income, and serves as a Notary Public. Ausdal Financial Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $3.73 billion for over 16,000 clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services and products, with investment strategies tailored at the advisor level to client objectives and risk profiles, operating with multiple custodians and integrating third-party managers and model portfolios.

Andrew Tennent is a financial advisor with B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at B. Riley Wealth Advisors and B. Riley Wealth Management since 2011 and previously spent 20 years with National Securities Corp. B. Riley Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various programs and financial services and manages approximately $4.21 billion in client assets through about 173 advisors.

Keith Plywaczynski is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is the founder and CEO of Fortitude Financial Partners and currently serves as an advisor at Mariner Independent. His prior experience includes roles at Mariner Wealth Advisors and Mariner Platform Solutions. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, model portfolios, and access to third-party managers, with a notable integration of institutional and retirement plan resources.

Christopher Hurckes is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2019. Prior to his advisory roles, he worked at Athletico Physical Therapy from 2012 to 2019. He is also a board member of the McHenry Chamber of Commerce, engaging in community activities. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing over $2 billion in client assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and nonprofits, implementing strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary accounts with access to multiple custodians and investment products.

Robert Widman Jr. is a financial advisor with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors since 2009 and has worked at the affiliated firm LaSalle St. Securities since 2003. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary management approaches and oversees a notable asset mix favoring non-discretionary services.

Jessica Haages is a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Cetera Investment Services, Resource Bank, and Raymond James & Associates. Outside of her financial advisory career, she is involved with Sorrento's Restaurant. Forum Financial Management, LP provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs model asset-allocation portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts, and offers back-office and sub-advisory services to independent advisors and RIAs.

Nicholas Punzio is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity, LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Edward Jones. He is currently also a Registered Representative with Private Client Services. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines advisor-level client relationship work with centralized portfolio construction, including the use of third-party managers and proprietary funds, serving a diverse client base that includes other advisers, institutions, and government entities.

Adam Saltzman is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Northern Trust Securities, Inc. in Skokie, IL, where he has worked since 2003. He holds a Series 63 license and has spent his entire career at Northern Trust Securities. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-registered broker-dealer that provides discretionary portfolio management primarily for high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients. The firm uses a model-driven approach with portfolios that include proprietary and third-party funds, offering advisory, brokerage, and custody services through a wrap fee program.

Christopher Lynn is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Integrated Advisors Network LLC, based in Oak Park, IL, and has 20 years of industry experience. He has operated under the DBA JC Investment Management since 2005. Integrated Advisors Network is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement and employee benefit plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a range of investment approaches and third-party sub-adviser platforms to implement client plans, emphasizing portfolio management, financial planning, and related consulting services.

Christopher Ferraro is a financial advisor with Highpoint Planning Partners, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 13 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Northern Trust Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and JP Morgan Securities. Ferraro is dually registered with HighPoint Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial. HighPoint Advisor Group serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and wrap-fee program management. The firm uses fundamental analysis and a variety of investment vehicles, as well as third-party and LPL-sponsored platforms, to implement customized investment policies.

Sandra Hernandez is a financial advisor at Northern Trust Securities, Inc. in Chicago, IL, with six years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial, LLC, and TD Ameritrade. Northern Trust Securities, Inc. is a multi-team firm serving high-net-worth individuals, retail investors, and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program. The firm employs a model-driven approach, offering portfolios that combine proprietary and third-party products, and provides brokerage and custody services supported by its affiliation with Northern Trust Corporation.

William Davis is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with seven years of experience at Forum Financial Management, LP, where he has been employed since 2015. He serves as Treasurer for the Lake Eleanor Estates Homeowners' Association, overseeing finances and managing expenditures. Forum Financial Management, LP provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, qualified plan services, and educational workshops to individual and institutional clients. The firm also acts as a sub-advisor and turnkey asset management platform for other independent RIAs, implementing portfolios primarily with DFA mutual funds and ETFs following a Modern Portfolio Theory approach.