Brian Degrado is a financial advisor with VestGen Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lake Street Private Wealth, Raymond James & Associates, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Chase Investment Services Corp. VestGen Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and institutional investors. The firm combines advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction, utilizing third-party managers and proprietary strategies, and manages approximately $6.66 billion in assets.

Nicholas Hai Hathuc is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Chicago, IL. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofit organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a customized asset allocation strategy that balances active and passive investments, focusing on diversification, cost control, and long-term discipline.

Michael Lutz is a financial advisor at IHT Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL, with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at JPMorgan Securities LLC and JPMorgan Chase. He also provides administrative support for IHT Wealth Management. IHT Wealth Management serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, and outsourced CIO arrangements. The firm uses proprietary model portfolios and third-party managers, combining fundamental value screening and quantitative optimization in its investment process.

Steven Hefter is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Encompass More Asset Management LLC since 2022. Prior to this, he worked at Verity Asset Management and State Street Bank, and he is also involved with Appreciation Financial, where he sells insurance and annuity products. Additionally, Hefter consults for ERC Specialists, LLC, and provides business concierge services through Linqqs LLC. Encompass More Asset Management LLC primarily serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management through proprietary and third-party models, financial planning, and access to private placements. The firm employs a model-based investment approach combining quantitative, qualitative, and fundamental analysis, and manages approximately $582 million for around 4,000 clients.

Darla Douglas is a financial advisor with IHT Wealth Management LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and 11 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, GPS Wealth Strategies Group, Western Wealth Management, and Independent Financial Partners. She is also a co-owner of B & B Farms of Grafton, an LLC unrelated to investment activities. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporate and institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, and outsourced CIO services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental value screening, quantitative optimization, and tailored portfolio strategies delivered through a network of advisors.

Erica Tarantur is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has been with RMB Capital Management, LLC since 2010. Based in Chicago, IL, she currently works with Curi Capital, LLC, a multi-team firm. Curi Capital offers wealth management, retirement plan consulting, family office services, and specialized subscription options for early-career medical professionals. The firm serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, utilizing a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach across a variety of account types and strategies.

James Schmelter II is a financial advisor with SpiderRock Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at BlackRock Investments LLC and BlackRock from 2018 to 2024. SpiderRock Advisors provides discretionary investment advisory and sub-advisory services to a diverse client base, including institutional clients, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm utilizes systematic, technical, and rules-based processes combined with quantitative and fundamental analysis to offer option-based hedges, yield-enhancing overlays, and tailored synthetic borrowing strategies.

Jeffrey Gin is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Exodus Wealth, LLC. He has worked at Prosperity Wealth Management, Inc. since 2015 and has been associated with Fortune Financial Services Inc. since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in tax preparation through his separate business activities. Exodus Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension plans by providing asset management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm manages discretionary portfolios using a variety of investment strategies and emphasizes tailored account supervision with regular reviews and rebalancing.

Jack Hagedorn is a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Chicago Partners since 2017. Prior to his advisory role, he attended Indiana University - Bloomington. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, endowments, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation oriented investment approach that combines fundamental analysis with quantitative optimization and model-based portfolio construction across multiple asset classes.

Robert Volk II is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL. He has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2019, with prior roles that include positions at Costco and Dow AgroSciences. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base that includes individual households, institutional clients, not-for-profits, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a combined fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio services.

Olea Rykhlov is a CFP® professional with over 23 years of experience in wealth management, currently serving at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC since 2026. Prior to joining Fifth Third, Olea spent 22 years at Truist Bank. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and separately managed account access to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored strategic asset allocation frameworks and typically manages portfolios on a discretionary basis, often delegating to third-party managers and utilizing affiliated model strategies.

Kenneth Shotsberger is a financial advisor at Victory Financial Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Equitable Advisors, Axa Advisors, and Allstate Insurance. Outside of advising, he is a minority silent partner and investor in Greenbuild Capital, LLC. Victory Financial Group serves individual clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, small businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and integrates fundamental, cyclical, and behavioral analysis to construct diversified model portfolios.

Matthew Pope is an investment advisor representative at Latitude Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at GWN Securities, Inc. since 2009. In addition to his advisory role, he owns an accounting and tax business and is an independent insurance agent. Latitude Advisors serves individual and business clients, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party manager selection, and pension consulting. The firm employs a combination of model-based strategies and fundamental/quantitative analysis, managing most client relationships on a discretionary basis.

Daniel Cohen is a financial advisor with Thurston Springer Advisors in Deerfield, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Thurston Springer Financial, Nations Financial Group, Wells Fargo Advisors, and UBS Financial Services. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a tax consultant and also works occasionally as a DoorDash driver. Thurston Springer Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as corporations, foundations, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and fiduciary services, employing both buy-and-hold and active investment strategies supported by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Gary Hirschberg is a financial advisor at Aaron Wealth Advisors with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co. for 12 years before joining Aaron Wealth Advisors in 2018. Hirschberg serves on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of International Hillel and is a member of the investment committee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, both nonprofit organizations. Aaron Wealth Advisors serves high-net-worth and institutional clients, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and multi-generational families. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial consulting, utilizing an outsourced platform to access third-party managers while maintaining client advisory relationships.

Nicholas Winter is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, IL. His prior roles include positions at W&S Brokerage Services, Western & Southern Life, and the University of Cincinnati. Bartlett & Co. Wealth Management LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and a range of institutional clients, providing discretionary wealth management and comprehensive financial planning with an emphasis on diversified asset allocation and relative-value fixed income analysis. The firm is part of the Focus Financial Partners network and offers access to affiliate and third-party solutions alongside its investment management services.

Christopher Mercer is a financial advisor at Lifeworks Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Mercer is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales and implementation. Lifeworks Advisors serves individuals, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and businesses, offering wealth management, financial planning, and portfolio management. The firm uses both planning-based and risk-based investment approaches, incorporating model strategies with low-cost funds, individual securities, options, and third-party managers, while maintaining integrated tax and accounting capabilities through affiliated entities.

Walter Nystrom is a financial advisor at A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. from 2020 to 2023 and has held positions outside the financial sector, including roles at Empire Machine and Workout Anytime. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a dually registered SEC investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, and institutional vehicles through a multi-team platform. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, with a notable emphasis on international investing via its EPC Advisors Group division.

Thomas Flaig is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2024 and previously spent 25 years at Borthwick Associates and six years at Legacy Asset Management. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, endowments, and corporations, among others. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation approach that combines fundamental analysis with quantitative optimization across various investment strategies and vehicles.

Gavin Bolanos is an advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC based in Chicago, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in the financial industry since 2025. Prior to joining VestGen, he held roles in private client services and wealth management and has experience in educational settings. VestGen Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses a combination of advisor-level client relationship management and centralized portfolio construction, serving a diverse client base that includes other investment advisers, institutions, and government entities.