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.

Curtis Bergquist is a CFP® with 49 years of industry experience and is the sole advisor at Ameribanc Corporation in Hoffman Estates, IL. He has been associated with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Ameribanc, where he engages in asset management. Ameribanc provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and families, primarily through its Capital Management Service (CMS), which incorporates market-timing signals and a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to manage risk and adjust portfolio exposure.

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 designations with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at JVM Securities LLC and JVM Realty Corp prior to his current role since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he manages commercial real estate property leased to his firm. Directional Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of charting, fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and utilizes strategies including leverage, derivatives, and options within separately managed accounts.

John Piershale is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Piershale Wealth Management, LLC in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and has held prior roles at Origin Financial, Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., Piershale Financial Group, Inc., and Triad Advisors, Inc. Piershale Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and a variety of financial planning services to individual clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, offering specialized tax and estate planning within a modest, single-advisor model.

David Grant is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with Retirement Matters, Inc. since 2013 and previously worked at Clarus Financial Planning, Inc. for one year. Retirement Matters, Inc. is a state-registered independent advisory firm managing approximately $25 million for about 21 clients. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, offering discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning with a focus on fundamental analysis and customized investment policies.

Matthew Nordman is a financial advisor with Crown Financial Group, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He operates as the sole advisor at an independent firm. Crown Financial Group provides investment supervisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as corporate pension plans, charitable institutions, and municipalities. The firm employs a multi-method investment process incorporating technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis and offers a range of strategies from long-term buy-and-hold to short-term trading.

James Richter is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Monotelo Wealth Partners in Elgin, IL. He previously worked at Hd Vest Advisory Services and Hd Vest Investment Services before founding Monotelo Wealth Partners in 2017. In addition to his advisory role, he owns and operates Monotelo Advisors, an accounting and tax preparation practice. Monotelo Wealth Partners is an independent firm that provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advisory services to a select client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages balanced, diversified portfolios with a focus on exchange-traded funds and employs multiple methods of analysis to implement tax-efficient investment strategies.

I'm Matthew, the founder of Maplewood Wealth, and I'll admit it—I'm a financial planning nerd. While I geek out over optimizing finances and taxes for my clients, what truly excites me is witnessing the transformation in their lives as they gain confidence in their financial decisions. At Maplewood Wealth, I've created a fresh approach to financial planning that resonates with fellow millennials who've found success early in their careers. I understand that for our generation, true financial confidence goes beyond mere numbers—it's about aligning our money with our values and goals to design the lifestyle we want. My approach allows you to enjoy life now while also securing a fulfilling future. Based in the Chicagoland area, I bring both professional expertise and relatable life experience to my practice. As a young father balancing career and family life, I intimately understand the challenges and aspirations you face. Whether you're a young professional building a strong financial foundation, a "surprised affluent" navigating sudden wealth, or part of a growing family juggling multiple financial priorities, I tailor my approach to your unique situation. With Maplewood Wealth, you're not just getting a financial planner—you're gaining a dedicated partner in navigating life's changes and achieving your dreams without stress. Let's work together to create a financial plan that empowers you to live your best life, both now and in the future.

Patrick Mcrae is the principal of Kintail Holdings d/b/a Kintail Advisors and holds a Series 65 designation. He has over eight years of experience in the financial industry, including roles at Kapco Futures, Inc. and CGB Diversified Services, Inc. Mcrae maintains an ongoing role with a registered introducing broker/futures firm alongside his advisory work. Kintail Advisors is a recently formed firm that provides discretionary portfolio management through model portfolios designed for high-net-worth individuals, qualified companies, and institutions. The firm uses a combination of technical and fundamental analysis within a long-term investment framework, offering strategies that include ETFs and spot cryptocurrency ETFs with varying risk profiles.

Patrick Crowley is a financial advisor at Crowley Capital Management LLC with 19 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his independent firm in 2024, he worked for 11 years at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. He holds a Series 66 designation. Outside of his advisory role, he is listed as treasurer and vice president of a family-owned real estate company. Crowley Capital Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, small businesses, and estates. The firm customizes portfolio management based on client objectives and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental and technical analysis, and may employ third-party sub-advisors.

Philip Statz is a financial advisor with Insight Financial Group, Inc. in Arlington Heights, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments since 2005 and has been with Insight Financial Group since 2003. In addition to his advisory role, Statz operates as an independent insurance agent. Insight Financial Group serves individual clients, including high-net-worth families, and small-business owners by providing comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and business consulting. The firm employs an investment approach centered on asset allocation and behavior coaching, using model portfolios primarily composed of ETFs, and offers unique services such as the Virtual CFO Solution™ and a fixed-price fee model.

Steven Peshek is a financial advisor at Altruity Wealth in Palatine, Illinois, holding a Series 65 designation with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Altruity Investment Advisors, LLC since 2018 and is also the president and CEO of Texture Graphics, LLC, a print and marketing firm he founded in 2002. Altruity Wealth offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement and pension consulting, and limited financial planning for individuals, trusts, ERISA plans, pension plans, investment companies, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment approach combines technical, fundamental, and sentiment analysis to manage portfolios ranging from aggressive equity strategies to conservative income and preservation, and it provides services to pooled investment vehicles and institutional clients alongside its Schwab-based automated investment program.

Ivan Havrylyan is a financial advisor with Outside The Box Financial Planning, LLC in Wheeling, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2017, he worked at Securities America Advisors and Personal Financial Strategies, Inc. Outside The Box Financial Planning primarily serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals and business entities, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach using index funds and ETFs, integrating ongoing financial planning with portfolio oversight.

Chetan Notaria is a financial advisor with Investment Resources Center in Palatine, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 16 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Planning Resources Center since 2001, where he also serves as president of an insurance agency and is involved in technology and business development consulting. Investment Resources Center provides personalized financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals and business entities, including corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, estates, and trusts. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and offers proprietary model portfolios alongside customized management, with services that include retirement planning, tax-efficiency analysis, and estate-related investment guidance.

Henry Glodny is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience, operating as the sole advisor at Castling Financial Planning, Ltd. in Hoffman Estates, IL, where he has worked since 2007. He is also the principal and founder of Terra Nimbus Systems, Inc., an IT consulting business focused on developing software tools for his financial planning firm. Castling Financial Planning, Ltd. is an independent advisory firm serving primarily middle-class individual clients with hourly, fee-only financial planning and investment advice. The firm utilizes an evidence-based, data-driven investment process supported by a proprietary Asset Allocation Database to deliver non-discretionary advice and emphasizes written client-specific research and virtual education.

Hi, I'm Larry Pershing, CFP® RMA®, a flat fee financial advisor. I focus on helping people age 55+ with their retirement planning and investment management needs for a FLAT fee. Having worked in various wealth management firms in my career, I was surprised to discover many firms try to service everyone, which leads them to being average for all. Some are more concerned with amassing client assets than providing customized recommendations. I started Optimum Retirement Planning because I saw a need for specialists to help clients navigate the complex and challenging financial aspects of retirement. Our offering is different. We don’t work with everyone. We specialize in helping those who are close to and in retirement. We apply the latest financial research for retirement to help answer your complex financial questions. Optimum Retirement Planning is a flat fee financial advisor. This means we charge differently than most financial advisors. We offer retirement planning and investment management for a flat fee. For too long retirees have been overpaying for financial advice due to large commissions and/or being charged a percentage of their assets. When I’m not in the office, I’m on a tennis court, reading a book (finance or science fiction), or spending time with family and friends. I also volunteer for AARP sponsored events that help seniors receive complimentary financial advice. While I live in Chicago, I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I return often, especially during winter. You can take the guy out of California, but you can’t take the California out of the guy!