Max is the co-founder of Novak Financial Partners, a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm serving clients nationwide. He helps professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions through comprehensive financial planning and transparent, flat-fee advice. Novak Financial Partners is a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm helping professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions with confidence. As CFP® professionals, we provide comprehensive financial planning that goes beyond investment management. We help clients coordinate investments, retirement planning, tax strategies, equity compensation, insurance, estate planning, and other major financial decisions into one cohesive financial strategy. We charge a transparent flat annual fee because we believe pricing should reflect the value of our advice, not simply the size of your investment portfolio. This allows us to work with professionals who are still building wealth without investment minimums while remaining a cost-effective option for retirees and clients with larger portfolios. Before co-founding Novak Financial Partners, Max worked at Personal Capital, Moneta, and Facet Wealth, helping individuals and families navigate complex financial decisions. He earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Based in Southern Illinois, Max works virtually with clients nationwide. Advisory services offered through Core Planning LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Zach is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™ who helps clients align their money with their values so that they can live more intentionally now and in the future. With a background in psychology and a deep belief in access and equity, he brings both heart and strategy to every plan. Zach’s approach is collaborative, thorough, and solution-oriented. He’s worked with hundreds of families over his 10+ year career, and he’s especially passionate about demystifying complex topics so clients feel confident making decisions that reflect what they care about most. Prior to Novak Financial Partners, Zach spent over a decade at nationally recognized Registered Investment Advisors, where he became increasingly focused on delivering planning in a way that’s transparent, approachable, and deeply human. Outside of work, Zach enjoys reading, exercising, traveling with family, and cheering on Chicago’s sports teams. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Mary Swearingen is a financial advisor with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, Illinois. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with the firm since 2016. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individual clients and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm develops individualized investment policies using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and routinely exercises discretionary authority to implement trades.

John Alongi II is a financial advisor with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Alliance Wealth Management LLC since 2019 and has also worked with LPL Financial since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in a family-owned Italian restaurant. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to establish individualized investment policies and routinely exercises discretionary authority to implement client trades.

Bradley Wills is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Alliance Wealth Advisors in Carbondale, IL, where he has worked since 2019, and has also been affiliated with LPL Financial since 2008. Alliance Wealth Advisors provides investment supervisory services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individual clients and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis to develop individualized investment policies and routinely exercises discretionary authority in managing client portfolios.

Mark Chalem is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in the financial industry, currently affiliated with Edward Jones since 2016. He is based in Carbondale, Illinois. Outside of his advisory role, Chalem serves as an investing instructor at John A. Logan College. Independent Wealth Network, Inc. advises individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations, providing wealth management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm manages approximately $518 million in client assets and employs a range of investment strategies including third-party models and discretionary portfolio management.

Rachael Asbury is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently advising at &Partners. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors and has a background that includes education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. &Partners serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, universities, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, employing a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies delivered through platforms like Envestnet.

Rafe Tuttle is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. He has worked exclusively at Edward Jones since 2024 and has prior experience at Murray State University and Black Diamond Harley Davidson. Outside of his advisory role, he creates and sells designs on merchandise through an online platform. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory strategies and affiliated financial services, supported by a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

David Clarke is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience, associated with Cetera since 2002. He is also a CPA and provides accounting and tax services through Koberstein Clarke, Ltd. Clarke serves as treasurer for the Murphysboro Apple Festival, Inc. and Specialized Training for Adult Rehabilitation, Inc., both local nonprofit organizations. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC operates a nationwide network of independent advisors serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm offers multiple program structures and access to third-party money managers, managing over $256 billion in assets.

Andrew Chylewski is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Walgreens for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member, coach, and secretary for Murphysboro Trap Inc., where he helps coordinate team activities and administrative tasks. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing over $1 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Nicholas King is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Metropolitan Council, Dick's Sporting Goods, Southern FS, and Southern Illinois University. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

James Gossett is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. and First Mid Illinois Bank & Trust since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves in a political capacity with Du Quoin District 300 and is Vice President of First Mid Wealth Management, where he focuses on investment product sales and service. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using risk profiling and modeling tools, and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Brandon Rogowski is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Edward Jones, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Pruco Securities, LLC. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, advisory services, and brokerage products through an integrated platform that combines adviser programs, insurance sales, and lending solutions.

Theresa Ojewuyi is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She has worked with Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2010. Ojewuyi also participates in community activities through her role with the Carbondale Elementary School District No. 95, where she attends meetings to support fundraising efforts for local schools. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Stephanie Peterein is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Murphysboro, Illinois. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2007, accumulating 19 years of industry experience. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory programs and affiliated financial services. The firm is notable for its extensive network of advisors and branches, as well as its fiduciary standard and diverse investment offerings.

Brenta Bevis is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 license and 15 years of industry experience. She has been with LPL Financial since 2008. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a cashier at Walmart and is a notary public, providing notary services exclusively for LPL clients when needed. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and nonprofits through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary management with access to model portfolios and third-party research.

Dana Zimbro is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Carbondale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she assists with inventory control and event preparation in a motorcycle dealership operated by her spouse. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s services include investment policy statement preparation, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Chelsea Jones is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2018 and previously held roles at Hurst - Rosche Engineering and The Southern Illinoisan. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage solutions to individual, corporate, and institutional clients, managing approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors.

Nicholas Ramsey is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Regions Bank, First Southern Bank, LPL Financial, and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of advising, he is involved in youth volleyball as an IHSA official, head coach, and club director. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform with over $256 billion in assets under management and more than 10,000 advisors nationwide.

Robert Loucks is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with LPL Financial in Carbondale, IL, and has 26 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research and model portfolios.

Micah Clarke is a financial advisor at Cetera with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Cetera since 2016 and also leads Clarke CPA & Consulting Ltd, which provides accounting and financial planning services. Additionally, he assists with financial planning at Clarke Financial Ltd. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various investment strategies and third-party managers.

Lisa Vorce is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Visionary Wealth Advisors and has been with Thrivent since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, Vorce is involved in several nonprofit organizations, including serving as a programming liaison for Little Black Book: Women in Business, a committee member for Eden's Glory, and a board member for First Priority of Metro East STL. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning on various topics and integrates planning with managed-account programs while maintaining separate service components.

Jerry Kuhnert is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2020, he worked at District #300 Schools, St. Vincent Hospital, and Indiana University - Bloomington. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages roughly $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

John Forbes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Carbondale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linsco/Private Ledger since 2005. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Lisa Forby is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Carbondale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a mix of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases.

Michael Neill is a CFP® professional with over 41 years of experience, currently affiliated with Raymond James Financial in Carbondale, IL. He has worked with First Mid Wealth Management and various Raymond James entities since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee for the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale and is a director for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and supports municipal and public finance advisory services through a broad network of advisors.

Monte Kuhnert is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Carbondale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Kuhnert owns KUHN SQUAD, LLC, an investment-related entity. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Joel Sambursky is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Carbondale, IL, holding the Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2006. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and multiple investment strategies.

Kelly Ansinelli is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with four years of industry experience. She is currently with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. and has previously held positions at First Mid Wealth Management and First Mid Bank & Trust. Ansinelli works in Carbondale, Illinois, and is involved in brokerage sales support through her roles at First Mid entities. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm provides tailored financial planning and investment consulting, employing risk profiling and analytical tools, and supports advisory programs alongside institutional consulting and portfolio management.

Alesia Patterson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Carbondale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Daryl Murphy II is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, Edward Jones, Polar Investment Counsel Inc, and North Western Mutual. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with LCS Entertainment, providing accounting and bookkeeping services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and technology-driven approaches.

Earl Colboth is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Carbondale, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2022, he worked for 14 years at Marion CUSD #2. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Daniel Nolan is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. since 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he holds an ownership stake in a family-owned sub shop. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.