Patrick Gierke is a financial advisor with Acrylic Financial, Inc. in Crystal Lake, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Acrylic Financial since 2019 and previously at Brooklight Place Securities, Inc. and The Leaders Group Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Gierke owns Revolutionary Financial, a fixed insurance sales business. Acrylic Financial, Inc. provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, other investment advisers, corporations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers tailored investment programs combining asset-allocation frameworks with active momentum and technical analysis, and manages discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, including a private hedge fund.

John La Spisa is a CFP® professional at Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. with three years of industry experience. His background includes multiple roles at Vermillion Financial Advisors and academic positions at the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Vermillion Financial Advisors provides financial planning, investment advisory, and employer-sponsored retirement plan services to individuals, trusts, business entities, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm offers both stand-alone financial planning and ongoing advisory programs, utilizing model and customized portfolios with a non-discretionary approach to trade approvals and portfolio management.

Kathleen Panek Rickerson is a financial advisor with Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked with Total Clarity Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2018. Outside of financial advising, she has been involved with BabySnApps since 2013. Total Clarity Wealth Management is a multi-advisor wealth management and financial planning firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, 401(k) advisory, and donor-advised fund services, utilizing a range of investment strategies from conservative wrap programs to more active approaches for qualified investors.

Terrence Cicero is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors and DigioVine, Hnilo, Jordan & Johnson, Ltd. since 2007. DHJJ Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $543.5 million across eight advisors, serving both individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm offers integrated tax preparation and accounting services through an affiliated CPA firm and typically manages accounts on a discretionary basis using a range of investment vehicles.

John Davis is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Chicago Investment Advisory Council and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since the late 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of the Sunset Harbour Yacht Club and is a racecar driving instructor at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail clients, including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops through a team of five advisors. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and manages approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Ronny Mark is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Uhlmann Price Securities since 2013 and has been involved with Perpetual Wealth Capital Management, LLC since 2012, as well as the Price Group since 1994. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as president of Price Futures Group, where he oversees all hedging activities. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail and high-net-worth investors through a five-advisor team, offering portfolio management via proprietary model portfolios and a range of financial planning and educational services.

Sean Poquette is a financial advisor at Leelyn Smith, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior work history at LPL Financial LLC and The State Bank of Geneva. Poquette is also a licensed notary in the state of Illinois. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diversified investment approach utilizing equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and multiple technology platforms for reporting, risk analysis, and account management.

Arthur Freedman is a financial advisor with Essex LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Essex LLC since 2000. Essex LLC is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach using equities, fixed income, ETFs, and investment company shares, informed by fundamental, technical, and sector analysis.

Makinzie Stack is a financial advisor with Leelyn Smith, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial LLC since 2017 and has been with Leelyn Smith, LLC since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a notary public. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes in-house management, separate managers, and model portfolios, supplemented by multiple technology and service providers.

Suzanne Lockwoodfisher is a financial advisor at DHJJ Financial Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Total Clarity Wealth Management. Since 2020, she has been with DHJJ Financial Advisors, a team of eight advisors based in St. Charles, IL. DHJJ Financial Advisors manages approximately $543.5 million for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs client-specific investment policies and manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis, with a notable affiliation to a Certified Public Accounting firm that provides tax and accounting services under separate agreements.

Sean Hendricks is a financial advisor at Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management with 9 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and is also a licensed attorney in the State of Illinois, practicing separately through Hendricks Law Office. His prior experience includes work at Hero Investment Planners LLC and Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers, LLC. Hendricks Wealth and Estate Management serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, managing approximately $536 million in client assets. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a multi-asset allocation approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Trey Roach is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at Kapco Futures and North Central College. Before entering the financial industry, he worked at Acquaviva Winery and in education. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm combines fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies using ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and REITs.

Peyton Brousseau is a financial advisor at The Dala Group, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining The Dala Group, Peyton held positions at Calisi Financial and the City of Tempe, and completed a four-year tenure at Arizona State University. The Dala Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and financial consulting, including retirement, estate, tax, and charitable planning. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to develop diversified asset-allocation strategies across various investment vehicles.

Karmen Ritt is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Leelyn Smith, LLC. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at J.P. Morgan and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. her combined 11 years. Leelyn Smith, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and trusts. The firm utilizes model-based and individualized allocations across various asset classes and employs third-party technology platforms and structured note strategies as part of its investment approach.

Patrick Lyman is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2020. Outside of financial advising, he serves as president of the BNI Referral Champions nonprofit board and is a board member of the Chicago Illini Club; he also works as an online tutor in economics, math, and beginner finance. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a hybrid advisory approach combining discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing quantitative optimization, technical analysis, and option strategies, and reported approximately $600 million in assets under management.

Teri Shaw is a financial advisor at Carter Financial Group, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has worked at Carter Financial Group since 2021 and previously at Voya Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as the Chief School Business Official for Mokena Public Schools, managing multiple departments including business operations and transportation. Carter Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios and combines quantitative analysis with third-party managers to implement and rebalance client strategies.

Kevin Prendergast is a CFP®, CFA®, and holds a Series 66 license with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Leelyn Smith, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, where he has worked since 2019. Prior to that, he was with Valmark Securities, Inc. and Executive Financial Group. In addition to his advisory role, he works as a ghostwriter for Wentworth Financial Communications. Leelyn Smith, LLC serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, business entities, and trusts by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs diversified investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs, utilizing both in-house and external managers, supported by multiple technology platforms and service providers.

Ryan Lafler is a Wealth Advisor at USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC with credentials including the Series 66 designation. He has been in the financial advisory industry since 2025. Prior to entering the advisory field, he worked for nearly a decade in retail at The Golf Warehouse/Baseball Savings and was involved with Champro Sports. Outside of his advisory role, he provides business consulting focused on operations, leadership training, and profitability optimization through Advocate Consulting LLC. USAdvisors Wealth Management, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm with 14 investment professionals managing approximately $488 million in discretionary client assets. The firm serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering advisor-directed portfolio management, model-portfolio strategies, financial planning, and business succession and estate planning services. USAdvisors combines asset-allocation model portfolios with fundamental security selection and both long- and short-term strategies, sourcing solutions from multiple institutional providers.

Gene Hiser is a financial advisor with Sequoia Wealth Management, LLC in Barrington, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Sequoia Wealth Management since 2018 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Hiser serves on the executive committee of Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities and is a trustee for Friends of HE Parks, Hoffman Estates Park District Foundation. Sequoia Wealth Management advises individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines quantitative optimization, third-party research, and manager selection to tailor portfolios and provides access to LPL-sponsored programs including algorithm-based Guided Wealth Portfolios.

James Borello is a financial advisor with James T. Borello & Co. in East Dundee, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and over 41 years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since 1985. James T. Borello & Co. serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, small businesses, trusts, and other legal entities, managing approximately $514 million across about 700 client relationships with a four-advisor team. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services, using asset-allocation models tailored to client goals and employing quantitative analysis and third-party software in managing diversified portfolios.