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.

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.

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® 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.

Michael Vodicka is the principal of Vodicka Group, Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Highland Park, IL. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 16 years of industry experience. Vodicka has led his firm since 2011, with prior experience as a portfolio manager and derivatives trader. Vodicka Group, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and small corporations. The firm offers discretionary account management and customized investment strategies that incorporate asset allocation, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading, serving a client base that includes small corporate clients as well as individual households.

Michael Zales is the owner and sole advisor of Zales Investment Management, Inc., an independent firm based in Colorado Springs, CO. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 27 years of industry experience. Zales has operated his firm since 1982. Zales Investment Management provides discretionary, fee-only portfolio management to individuals and trusts. The firm employs a concentrated, long-term investment approach based on fundamental analysis, typically holding no more than ten companies with positions maintained for at least ten years.

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.

William Utes is the sole advisor at UTES Wealth Strategies in Antioch, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 56 years of industry experience. He has been managing his own advisory business since 2019 and has worked with Securities America Advisors, Inc. since 2007. In addition to investment advising, he occasionally offers insurance reviews to clients through approved vendors. UTES Wealth Strategies provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and other entities. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with selected outside money managers and offers educational newsletters and seminars to clients.

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!

Joshua Kortenkamp is a financial advisor at Kortenkamp, Joshua F, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Lawrence E Grandt and Powers & Moon, LLC, as well as experience outside the financial sector at Uline Shipping Supplies and The University of Alabama. Kortenkamp, Joshua F is an independent advisory firm providing discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as trusts and estates. The firm employs a top-down macroeconomic approach combined with growth, value, and momentum styles, incorporating market-timing and technical analysis, and often uses closed-end funds to address cost and liquidity considerations.

Timothy McDonald is the sole advisor at Timothy J McDonald CPA CFP, an independent firm based in Lake Barrington, IL. He holds CFP® and Series 63 designations and has 27 years of industry experience. He is also a partner in the CPA firm McDonald Doherty & Co., where he has been active since 1988. The firm provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals and families, integrating tax planning with investment strategies. It employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and asset allocation tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and goals, managing approximately $65 million across about 60 client relationships.

Peter Wright is the principal of Wright Benefit Advisors Inc. in Lake Bluff, IL, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors, Edwin C Blitz Investments, and Wright Benefit Strategies. He is also president of Wright Benefit Strategies, an insurance brokerage and consulting firm licensed for life, health, and property casualty insurance. Wright Benefit Advisors provides investment advisory and pension consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and education seminars, employing a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical analysis, and modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading orientation.

Nathaniel Gandy is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal of Obar Wealth Management LLC. Prior to founding Obar Wealth Management in 2024, he worked at Wealthfront Brokerage LLC and USAA in various investment and financial planning roles. He also owns Gandy Fintech Solutions LLC, through which he consults businesses on fintech and technology solutions. Obar Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and tax-preparation services to individuals, including non-high-net-worth clients, as well as high-net-worth individuals and corporations. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and modern portfolio theory, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and passive strategies, and offers socially responsible investment options upon request.

Roy Brown is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience and has been with Trueman Brown since 2007. He holds a Series 63 license and is based in Lake Zurich, IL. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner and vice president of RVTV Properties. Trueman Brown provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to create growth-oriented portfolios while focusing on capital preservation.

Edward Leszynski is a financial advisor at KGL Financial Advisors, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Praetorian Wealth Management Inc for ten years. Outside of advising, he is a CPA involved in individual tax preparation and holds a significant ownership interest in a sports and events center. KGL Financial Advisors is an independent wealth management firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with combined financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $30 million in assets and employs a long-term investment approach using diversified portfolios of mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and options.

Michael Mc Clain is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He is currently the sole advisor at PAC Capital, LLC in Lake Forest, IL. Prior to founding PAC Capital, he worked at Hedeker Wealth LLC and Hedeker Capital, LLC from 2016 to 2019. PAC Capital provides discretionary and occasional non-discretionary investment management through separately managed accounts, sub-advisory services, and institutional consulting. The firm serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, employing a multi-strategy approach that includes hedge-style strategies such as convertible arbitrage and active shorting, combining fundamental and systematic analysis tailored to client mandates.

Gary Hart is a financial advisor with Wealth Management Associates, Inc. in Lincolnshire, Illinois, holding a Series 63 designation and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at GSH Advisory Services, Inc. for over three decades and has been with Mowery & Schoenfeld, LLC since 2016, where he provides tax and financial consulting services. Wealth Management Associates offers discretionary portfolio management and asset-allocation services to a select group of clients, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional entities. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies and continuous portfolio supervision, serving a concentrated client base with approximately $78.8 million in assets under management.

Gregory Smith is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience and has served as an independent consultant since 2009. He is the sole advisor at Long Run Investment Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Long Grove, IL. Long Run Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, corporations, and unaffiliated advisers. The firm emphasizes pension consulting and retirement-plan fiduciary services, implementing portfolios using a combination of fundamental, charting, and cyclical analysis within a Modern Portfolio Theory framework.

John Choi is a financial advisor with Epiphany Capital in Vernon Hills, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Epiphany Capital since 2006. Outside of advisory services, Choi is an independent insurance agent licensed to sell fixed and indexed annuities as well as health insurance. Epiphany Capital provides financial planning, coaching, and investment management by coordinating with third-party portfolio managers for pooled and institutional accounts. The firm serves individual investors, families, and small business owners, offering services that include retirement, estate, tax, college, and insurance planning.