Rebecca Szewczyk is a financial advisor with Alera Investment Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 12 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Empower Retirement, Gwfs Equities, Inc., Triad Advisors, and OSAIC. Szewczyk serves as a client service manager specializing in retirement plan services. Alera Investment Advisors offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, institutions, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, fundamental-analysis driven investment approach and integrates insurance and pension consulting platforms alongside its advisory services.

Edilberto Ortiz is a financial advisor with IHT Wealth Management LLC in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for 15 years and was a partner at E.C. Ortiz & Co. LLP, where he provided accounting and auditing services. Ortiz continues to maintain a role at E.C. Ortiz & Co. LLP as a CPA and tax preparer. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporations, and institutional clients, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, outsourced CIO services, and access to third-party managers. The firm’s approach combines fundamental value screening with quantitative optimization and employs strategies such as tax-lot harvesting and covered-call options.

Byron Mandell is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Chicago Partners since 2017 and also has a teaching role at Loyola University Chicago. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, nonprofit plans, endowments, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation investment approach that utilizes fundamental analysis and quantitative optimization across various asset classes, including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative strategies.

Terry Mccaffrey is a financial advisor at VestGen Advisors, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Optimum Investment Advisors and Banc Of America Investment Services, Inc. He is a co-founder and member of VestGen Wealth Partners Holdings, LLC, a financial services holding company based in Chicago. 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 integrates advisor-level client relationships with centralized portfolio construction and serves a diverse client base including other investment advisers, banking institutions, and government entities.

Manish Jain is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Zacks Investment Management since 2007. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm employs a proprietary stock-ranking approach centered on earnings-estimate revisions and offers a wide range of strategies and investment vehicles, operating across retail, institutional, and third-party distribution channels.

Patrick Wade is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2019 and previously was employed at Wintrust Financial Corp. from 2017 to 2019. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides 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 approach incorporating fundamental analysis and quantitative optimization across a range of investment vehicles.

Gary Costarella is a financial advisor with Nations Financial Group, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Nations Financial Group in 2025, he worked for Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC for 16 years. He is also the owner of C & R Capital Management, through which he provides investment and advisory services. Nations Financial Group, Inc. offers investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach combines proprietary model portfolios with the option to select outside managers, tailoring strategies to client objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.

George Fludas is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 credential with three years of industry experience. He co-founded Esygma Inc., a digital marketing and web development firm supporting small businesses, though he is no longer actively involved in its operations. Prior to joining Zacks in 2022, his work history includes roles outside the financial industry. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, pooled investment vehicles, and institutional clients. The firm employs proprietary quantitative models combined with qualitative portfolio management across diverse strategies and manages affiliated mutual funds and ETFs, distributing strategies through various wrap-fee and unified managed account programs.

Benjamin Wozniak is a financial advisor at The Mather Group, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 credential. He has one year of experience in the industry, including time spent at The Mather Group and prior roles outside finance such as Benoot Pressure Washing and Poplar Creek Country Club. The Mather Group serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trusts, corporations, and other entities with combined financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning guidance, and family office services. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach with risk-based allocation models and offers customized strategies including direct indexing and ESG portfolios.

Grant Luebe is a financial advisor at LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. in Elmhurst, IL, with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Heartland Investment Associates and Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. Luebe serves as a board member of the Birkey Investment Fund, teaching investment topics to students, and participates in finance committees for Wellington Heights Community Church and Heritage Area Agency. He is also involved with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides personalized, 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 investment approaches, managing a substantial majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Liza Blundell is a financial advisor with Jefferies Investment Advisers LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. She has worked at Jefferies LLC since 2013. Jefferies Investment Advisers LLC provides fee-based financial planning services to a broad range of clients including individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, collaborative planning process supported by financial planning software and scenario analysis, focusing on comprehensive planning topics without offering security-specific investment recommendations.

Dov Robinson is a financial advisor with M Holdings Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with M Holdings since 2017 and previously worked at Kestra Financial Services and his own firm, The Robinson Financial Group, where he serves as vice president. Outside of his advisory work, Robinson is involved in community and charitable activities, including membership at YU Kollel Torah MiZion and serving on the board of Camp Moshava Wildrose. M Holdings Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a national network of independent financial professionals. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, and insurance advisory, supported by third-party sub-advisors and platform providers.

Liam Duffy is a financial advisor at FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at John B. Sanfilippo And Son, Lifetime Fitness, and Joe's Brewery. FourStar Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios across a variety of investment vehicles, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan consulting.

Charles Garrido is a financial advisor with A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at McDonald Partners LLC, Sanctuary Securities, Inc., and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. Outside of advising, he serves as president of the FAF Foundation, a charitable organization, and holds board and finance committee roles with RAICES, a nonprofit focused on asylum and migrant advocacy. He is also working on authoring two books, one about his Cuban upbringing and another on financial strategies. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a dually registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, and institutional vehicles through a multi-team platform. The firm emphasizes international investing and offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services.

Nicole Polanco is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC since 2015. She holds a Series 65 license and works from Chicago, IL. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC provides investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, not-for-profit plans, endowments, corporations, and other business entities, offering family office, trustee, and retirement-plan consulting services. The firm employs a long-term, diversified, asset-allocation approach combining fundamental analysis with quantitative optimization across various investment strategies, including mutual funds, ETFs, direct indexing, and fixed income.

Herman Tkach is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience in financial advisory roles. He is currently with Soltis Investment Advisors, LLC and has held positions at Mercer Global Advisors, U.S. Bancorp Investments, TIAA-CREF, TD Ameritrade, and Ameriprise. He serves on the board of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, supporting the Russian Speaking Jewish community, and is involved in leadership roles within his condominium association. Soltis Investment Advisors provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm uses a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment process that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative analysis, offering a range of investment options and regular client communications.

John Eberle is a financial advisor at FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Vivaldi Capital Management LLC, Fiduciary Financial Partners LLC, and J.P. Morgan Securities. FourStar Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to tailor investment portfolios across various asset classes, including mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and private funds, while providing ongoing account monitoring and retirement plan consulting.

David Donnelly is a financial advisor at SpiderRock Advisors, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at BlackRock Investments, LLC since 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he provides advice to the CEO of Trove, LLC, a company that offers loans to individuals. SpiderRock Advisors, LLC provides discretionary overlay and portfolio management services to institutional and wealth-management clients, utilizing a rules-based, systematic approach that combines quantitative and fundamental inputs. The firm is known for its expertise in listed derivatives and dynamic option overlays, serving a diverse client base including asset managers, family offices, and pension funds.

Michael Bruno is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 43 years of industry experience. He is currently with LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, L.L.C. and has previously worked with Securities America Advisors and Invest Financial Corp, among others. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of MJB Financial Services, Inc., an insurance sales business. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary asset management.

Jonathan Hoenig is a Series 65 credentialed advisor at Quartz Partners Investment Management with one year of industry experience. He previously worked for Fox News Channel and Capitalistpig Hedge Fund LLC for ten years each and contributes to Fox Business Network in a non-investment broadcasting role. Outside of finance, he owns a parking space rental company in Chicago. Quartz Partners Investment Management serves individual investors, retirement plans, institutions, and financial intermediaries with model-based investment management. The firm combines top-down macro analysis and bottom-up stock selection, offering discretionary portfolios monitored by an investment committee and delivering models via multiple platform arrangements.