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 Hagen is a financial advisor at BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Thrivent Financial. Outside of advising, he is a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Momentum and provides foster care services. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation. The firm employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach using third-party managers and model portfolios, and operates a significant wrap fee program.

Justin Stender is a financial advisor at Alley Company with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Morningstar Investment Services, Inc. for 24 years before joining Alley Company. Alley Investment Management Company provides discretionary separate-account portfolio management primarily for high-net-worth individuals, institutions, foundations, and family offices. The firm focuses on tax-conscious, long-term large-cap equity strategies combined with customized asset-allocation programs, utilizing ETFs, options, and margin where appropriate.

Daniel Nagel is a financial advisor with TSFG, LLC in Lake Forest, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with TSFG, LLC since 2015 and has a concurrent affiliation with LPL Financial dating back to 2004. Outside of advisory services, he has engaged in offering non-variable insurance products including disability and universal life insurance. TSFG, LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs fundamental analysis in security selection, tailoring portfolios to client objectives, and offers additional services such as retirement-plan advisory and review of clients’ outside assets.

Richard Kolb III is a CFP® certificant with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Inspirion Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2018. Prior to this, he worked at Baxter International Inc. from 2016 to 2018. He is on the board of directors for Michael Matters Org., a non-investment-related organization. Inspirion Wealth Advisors manages approximately $1.39 billion for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and ongoing retirement plan consulting using both fundamental and technical analysis, including strategies such as option writing and margin borrowing.

Kevin Silverman is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently a member of the team at Carmel Capital Partners, LLC and also serves as owner of Madison Partners, L.C., a business involved in research, publishing, and content creation. In addition to his advisory roles, Silverman teaches investing and portfolio management at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Carmel Capital Partners provides investment management and advisory services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth investors and pension plans. The firm emphasizes fundamental valuation focused on free cash flow and capital preservation, utilizing customized portfolios, model portfolios, and allocations to mutual funds and ETFs, and it serves as a private fund sponsor and manager for multiple investment vehicles.

Michael Gibbons is a financial advisor with TSFG, LLC and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. He has 32 years of industry experience, including over two decades at LPL Financial and more than a decade with TSFG, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with the National Slovak Society in a non-variable insurance capacity. TSFG, LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and other entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis in security selection and offers tailored portfolio management with regular reviews, alongside retirement-plan advisory and participant services.

Keaton Messerschmidt is a financial advisor with BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC in Vernon Hills, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, NA. He is also involved with Baxter Credit Union as Senior Manager of Private Client Services. Additionally, Messerschmidt participates in a customer experience certificate program at Valparaiso University. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach using third-party managers and model portfolios, and it operates a significant wrap fee program with approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets under management.

David Graff is a financial advisor at Precise Investment Management, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Precise Investment Management since 2019, previously serving as self-employed and affiliated with Insight Securities Inc. Additionally, he works on accounting matters for Precise Investment Management in a non-investment capacity. Precise Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management services to individuals, families, and high-net-worth clients, including non-citizens and non-resident aliens. The firm’s investment approach involves selecting sub-advisory portfolio managers through country-specific research and ongoing due diligence, offering programs such as the Precise Worldview Structured Program and the Precise Worldview Focus Program.

Mantas Tautkus is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Origin Investment Advisory LLC since 2021. He previously worked at Edward Jones from 2014 to 2020 and owns MT Financial Planning, Inc., an investment advisory firm. Origin Investment Advisory primarily serves individual retail clients through a subscription model and employer-sponsored workplace programs, offering budgeting tools, access to CFP® professionals, thematic Stock Bundles, and an Automated Index Investing robo-style service. The firm’s investment approach uses Modern Portfolio Theory and behavioral finance principles, employing rules-based model portfolios and tax-aware implementation, and operates on a subscription fee structure rather than traditional AUM fees.

Steven Thomas is a financial advisor at SGL Financial, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Wealth Financial Advisory Services, LLC since 2014. Steven holds a Series 63 designation. SGL Financial, LLC provides fee-based investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to financially established individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm emphasizes diversified asset allocation, long-term investment horizons, and offers portfolios implemented through sub-advisers and third-party managers.

Mark Saran is a financial advisor with North Shore Private Asset Management, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 12 years of industry experience with prior roles at Neuberger Berman LLC, Altegris Investments, JVM Securities, LLC, and Esbjorn, LLC. North Shore Private Asset Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to offer customized portfolio management and retirement plan advisory services, with a notable focus on state and municipal government relationships and operational support for plan administration.

Steven Lewit is a financial advisor with SGL Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been associated with multiple firms, including KCD Financial, Tarkenton Financial, and Wealth Financial Group, with career history dating back more than three decades. Lewit is also CEO of Wealth-N, Inc. and serves as an agent for Tarkenton Financial LLC and J.G. Wentworth’s annuity purchase program. SGL Financial, LLC provides fee-based investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to financially established individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard, emphasizing diversified asset allocation and long-term investment horizons, often implementing strategies through third-party managers.

Chad Codak is a financial advisor at BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. His prior work includes positions at Northwestern Mutual and Bass Pro Shops. Outside of advising, he maintains a role at Bass Pro Shops. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a core-plus-satellite investment approach, utilizing third-party managers and model portfolios, and manages approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets through a team of 15 advisors.

Matthew Pitzulo is a financial advisor at Greenline Wealth Management in Vernon Hills, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Greenline Wealth Management in 2023, he worked at Converge Medical Technology, Best Dedicated Solutions, and Slammers LLC. Greenline Wealth Management is a six-advisor SEC-registered firm that provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm has a notable retirement plan practice alongside its retail asset management and utilizes a third-party manager network on the Envestnet platform.

Kristen Mc Cullough is a financial advisor at Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at RMB Capital Management, LLC and Vennwell, LLC. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses quantitative tools and model portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and circumstances, managing approximately $389 million in assets across 161 client relationships.

Edward Connolly is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 15 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at IRON Financial LLC since 2006. Connolly is part of Essex LLC, a team-based registered investment adviser located in Deer Park, IL. Essex manages approximately $563 million for around 600 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs model portfolios and uses fundamental, technical, and sector analysis to guide asset selection and rebalancing, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning services.

Kristi Mertens is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She is affiliated with BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC and has worked with LPL Financial and Baxter Credit Union during her career. BCU Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consultation to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $653.6 million in discretionary assets using a core-plus-satellite approach with third-party managers and model portfolios, including ESG options, serving around 870 clients with a team of 15 advisors.

Jeffrey Feinendegen is a financial advisor at 15 Wealth Advisors LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at TSFG, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of advising, he is an author of a general book about rules of living and is involved in a garage epoxy flooring dealership. 15 Wealth Advisors serves individual, high-net-worth, pension, and corporate clients by offering investment advisory, financial planning, and employer planning services. The firm uses a multidisciplinary investment process focused on ETFs, model allocations, and customized strategies, and it provides employer-level financial planning and retirement consulting along with its wrap fee program sponsorship and affiliated insurance agency ownership.

Donald Mckiernan is a financial advisor with Landolt Securities, Inc. in Lake Bluff, IL, holding a Series 63 designation and over 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Landolt Securities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Mckiernan is the managing partner of Nekimi Equity Growth Fund I LLC, where he manages investments within a private equity fund. Landolt Securities provides investment management and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other entities. The firm manages a significant portion of client assets in small-cap growth stocks and employs both short-term and long-term trading strategies tailored to client objectives.