Melissa Osuch is a financial advisor with Strategic Advisors of Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Strategic Advisors of Illinois since 2006 and has also worked at LPL Financial LLC since 2011. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in accounting and tax preparation services through AMM Accounting Services. Strategic Advisors of Illinois provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirement and post-retirement planning. The firm offers discretionary asset management, tiered ongoing financial planning, and educational seminars, constructing customized portfolios primarily through a wrap-fee program that integrates advisory services and trade execution.

Emil Aldaddah is a Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Managing Partner at Momentum Wealth Management, with nearly two decades of experience delivering institutional-caliber investment management solutions. He specializes in developing tailored strategies for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, trustees, entrepreneurs, and private foundations. At Charles Schwab and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Emil managed portfolios totaling over $1.7 billion in assets under management, including $380 million in advisory services, serving individuals with net worths exceeding $1 billion, family offices, and public figures. His approach integrates asset management, financial planning, estate strategies, and alternative investments, helping clients preserve and grow wealth across generations. Prior to founding Momentum Wealth Management, Emil held roles at Avatar Securities, where he managed over $175 million in long/short equity exposure and developed algorithmic trading strategies applying statistical arbitrage and market-neutral equity approaches, and at Blackmore Partners, where he advised on M&A transactions and capital raises up to $500 million for C-suite leadership and private equity firms. Emil holds a BS in Finance from DePaul University and completed advanced studies at the University of Nicosia. He maintains Series 7, 66, and 56 registrations. Fluent in Arabic, he has served on the Young Visions Board of the Israel Cancer Research Fund and is a member of the Chicago Leadership Alliance.

As a CFP® professional and founder of Illuminate Wealth Management, I work with business owners, executives, and professionals who are navigating complex financial decisions. My goal is to help you understand your options, avoid costly mistakes, and create a strategy that supports the life you're working so hard to build. Over the years, I've developed a particular passion for helping clients make smart decisions around equity compensation. Whether you're dealing with RSUs, ISOs, stock options, ESPPs, or a major liquidity event, I help clients think through the tax implications, manage concentration risk, and create a plan that connects today's decisions with their long-term goals. I also work closely with business owners who are balancing the demands of running a company while trying to make thoughtful decisions about growing and protecting their personal wealth. When your business, taxes, retirement goals, investments, and family finances are all connected, financial planning becomes about much more than investments alone. While equity compensation and business planning are often what bring people to me, my role is much larger than solving a single financial challenge. I help clients think through retirement, taxes, investments, cash flow, and long-term wealth planning so they can make decisions with confidence and stay focused on what matters most. My approach is simple: bring clarity to complexity and help people make confident financial decisions. I believe good planning should help you spend less time worrying about money and more time focusing on what matters most to you.

Eric Kirste, CFP®, CIMA®, AIF® is the Co-Founder, Principal Wealth Manager at Savvy Advisors, Inc. He has been featured in Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Business Insider, GoBankingRates, and U.S. News & World Report. With a deep-rooted passion for service and enriching the lives of others, Eric found his calling as a wealth management professional early on. Eric brings over 24 years of deep experience working closely with individuals and families in transition, helping them navigate difficult changes. Compassion is important to Eric, and he helps clients who are going through a divorce or grieving the loss of a spouse or family member get through the transition to financial independence and overcome new challenges with confidence. He also helps business owners and individuals looking to retire early or nearing retirement ensure they are best prepared for their ideal retirement lifestyle. At Savvy, he strives to help his clients align their money with their values, provide integrated solutions to serve all of their needs and empower them to make a lifetime of smart financial decisions. Importantly, Eric is committed to keeping his clients’ best interests top of mind while offering ongoing guidance, encouragement and accountability. With a passion for helping others, Eric has volunteered for the Foundation for Financial Planning, AARP and is the Treasurer on the Board of Wings For Widows. Eric is a native of the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He is committed to giving back to his community and serves as the Treasurer for the Prospect Heights Park District Board of Commissioners and the Old Orchard Country Club. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Alisa, their two sons, Logan and Matthew, and their rescue dog, Bear.

Basil Alsikafi is the sole advisor at White Brook Capital, an independent firm based in Winnetka, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has nine years of industry experience, including ten years with White Brook Capital. White Brook Capital provides discretionary portfolio management through separately managed accounts and model portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and other entities such as pensions and foundations. The firm employs a primarily bottom-up, value-oriented investment approach combined with top-down industry assessment and applies socially responsible exclusions across all strategies.

David Meehan is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Maple Street Capital Advisors, LLC since 2018 and previously worked as a self-employed investor for three years. Maple Street Capital Advisors provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a fundamental, long-term investment approach focused on diversified, low-cost core equity and fixed-income funds, complemented by selected individual equities, with an emphasis on asset allocation, rebalancing, and strategic cash management including a near-constant allocation to gold via ETFs.

Shreekkanth Viswanathan is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Series 66 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has been with SVN Capital, LLC since its founding in 2018, following three years at Keeley Asset Management. SVN Capital, LLC is a state-registered investment adviser serving individual and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management, including separately managed accounts and a pooled private fund. The firm employs a bottom-up, fundamental value-investing approach focused on a concentrated portfolio and long-term horizon, managing approximately $14.3 million in discretionary assets.

Gary Byrne is a financial advisor at Carlisle Financial Management, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Great Northern Financial since 2006. Carlisle Financial Management provides portfolio management and investment supervisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis. The firm employs a range of strategies including options writing and short-term trading, managing approximately $38.2 million for about 25 clients without account minimums.

Robert Salzman is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at RB Salzman Wealth Management, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2015. The firm provides wealth and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutions. RB Salzman Wealth Management emphasizes a goal-focused wealth analysis and strategic planning approach, incorporating diversified portfolios, scenario analyses, and regular reviews to manage approximately $35.6 million in assets across 29 client relationships.

Brenda Knox is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Financial Elements, Inc. since 2008. Financial Elements, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using globally diversified portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, and operates as a small, fee-only advisory practice with multiple professional fiduciary credentials.

Daniel Short is the sole advisor at Directional Asset Management, LLC in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab and JVM Securities LLC. Outside of advising, he manages a commercial real estate property leased to his firm. Directional Asset Management, LLC is an independent, single-advisor registered investment adviser serving individual, high-net-worth, and charitable clients. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, employing a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis across various asset classes.

Nancy Doyle is a CFA® charterholder with one year of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Manage Your Financial Life in Northfield, IL. She has been associated with The Doyle Group, LLC since 2003. Manage Your Financial Life is an independent, fee-only advisory firm that provides financial consulting and planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers collaborative, hourly-based planning engagements, blending traditional investment analysis with financial therapy, and does not provide discretionary portfolio management or custody of client assets.

William Ake is a financial advisor at Van Ake Capital LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Van Ake Capital since 2017, following positions at Western International Securities, Inc. and Fort Sheridan Advisors. Van Ake Capital LLC provides fee-based portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and small business entities. The firm manages approximately $23 million across a limited number of client relationships, offering personalized asset management and employing a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside option strategies when appropriate.

James Pattie is the sole advisor at Horizon Capital Management, LLC in Lake Forest, Illinois. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 21 years of industry experience, including 22 years with Horizon Capital Management. Horizon Capital Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension or profit-sharing plans, and also offers sub-advisory asset management to other registered investment advisers. The firm’s approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing diversified allocations, a buy-and-hold strategy, and regular portfolio reviews.

Kevin Hebson is the principal and sole advisor at Kevin Hebson & Company, an independent firm based in Winnetka, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 46 years of industry experience. Since 1991, he has also owned New Cumnock Consulting Inc., providing tax planning and bookkeeping services. Kevin Hebson & Company offers investment advisory and standalone financial planning services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis, technical/charting methods, and Modern Portfolio Theory to construct and manage tailored portfolios, while also providing business-oriented planning services not commonly found at similarly sized firms.

Mark Kollar is the principal of Kollar Wealth Advisors, LLC in Northbrook, Illinois, with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked in estate planning and insurance services since 1995. Kollar is the founder and trustee of the Myositis Association Cup Golf Challenge Trust and serves on the board of Loyola Academy Sailing. Kollar Wealth Advisors provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a goal- and risk-based investment approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages approximately $12.4 million across about 40 client relationships.

Brian Rhoads is a CFA® charterholder and the principal of Checkpoint Financial Planning in Highland Park, IL, with two years of experience in financial advising. He previously worked for 18 years at Quantitative Risk Management. Checkpoint Financial Planning provides fee-only, advice-only financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses through project-based engagements, focusing on areas such as retirement strategies, estate planning, and business planning. The firm emphasizes risk-aware, tax-conscious planning and delivers written reports following video consultations, without managing client assets or charging fees based on assets under management.

Jeffrey Cohen is a financial advisor at US Advanced Computing Infrastructure, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2018, he worked at International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation for three years. US Advanced Computing Infrastructure provides non-discretionary stock analysis and quantitative research to institutional investors, accredited high-net-worth clients, and individual investors. The firm uses a proprietary quantitative algorithm called the Chicago Quantum Net Score to evaluate stocks and construct portfolios, delivering services primarily through written reports, client-directed research, and subscription-based content.

David Grant is a CFP® at Retirement Matters, Inc. in Barrington, IL, where he has worked since 2013. He has 15 years of industry experience and operates as the sole advisor at his independent firm. Retirement Matters, Inc. manages approximately $25 million for about 21 clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and ongoing wealth management services. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, and incorporates fundamental analysis and individualized investment policies in its approach.

Michael Vodicka is the principal of Vodicka Group, Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Highland Park, Illinois. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 17 years of experience in the financial industry, including 15 years with his current firm. Vodicka Group, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and small corporations. The firm manages discretionary accounts tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances, employing strategies such as asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading.