Mary Mermel

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.

Richard Smith is the founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Officer of SRC Capital Management in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience. Smith has held teaching positions at several universities, including DeVry University, Southern New Hampshire University, Chicago Public School District 299, Argosy University, and University of Phoenix. SRC Capital Management provides investment and wealth management services to individual investors as well as corporate, public, and private entities. The firm focuses on separately managed accounts with a fundamental, bottom-up research approach targeting mid- and large-cap equities, emphasizing low turnover and long-term portfolio construction.

John Doncaster is the principal of Doncaster Wealth LLC in Hinsdale, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual and Pacific Life, where he maintained roles from 2012 through 2025. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and servicing. Doncaster Wealth LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services tailored to clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance. The firm employs methods including fundamental and cyclical analysis, as well as Modern Portfolio Theory, and accepts discretionary trading authority to implement strategies.

Walter Ebner is the principal of Echo Prudent Capital LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at BMO Capital Markets Corp., BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp., and Bank of Montreal for 24 years. He is the founder and a board member of Cancer Calculus NFP, a nonprofit organization that assists cancer patients with economic decision-making. Echo Prudent Capital LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and nonprofit organizations. The firm utilizes a range of analytical methods to build tailored portfolios and serves a concentrated client base, including charitable organizations.

Julia Zakarias is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience and serves as the sole advisor at Genfi LLC in Chicago, IL. She has worked at Generations Family & Fiduciary Services LLC since 2011. Zakarias is also a Certified Public Accountant and provides tax compliance and limited accounting services through her affiliated tax practice, Genfi Tax. Genfi LLC serves family groups, individuals including high-net-worth and corporate executives, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, and tax-exempt entities, offering integrated investment advisory and comprehensive wealth-planning services. The firm provides tailored investment advice and implements recommendations using a range of securities and managers, with additional family-office and investment consulting services.

Brian Wolf is the sole advisor at Bright Lantern Financial LLC in Chicago, IL, where he has worked since 2011. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. Bright Lantern Financial LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on broad diversification with low-cost index funds and ETFs, cost management, and tax-efficient strategies.