Christopher Mcdonald is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2016 and holds securities registrations through Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co. His other business activities include insurance brokering for non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored advice across multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Samuel Strum is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles with Eagle Strategies, New York Life Insurance Company, Nylife Securities LLC, and Broadway Asia International. Outside of financial services, he is involved as a partner in producing Broadway Goes A Cappella concerts and serves on the boards of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s 20s and 30s group and Cadence Music NFP, a nonprofit focused on music education and development. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and advisory services primarily linked to insurance and annuity products. The firm provides tailored advice through multiple program types, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Renate Knippen is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having three years of industry experience. She has worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC, Evelin Flaherty Freytas, Mastermind Wealth Strategies LLC, and operated Knippen Enterprises Inc. outside of her current role. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, delivering advice through various program types tailored to client objectives.

Edward Hawley is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies and New York Life entities since 2012 and currently operates under the Alpha Solutions Group for brokering insurance products. Hawley is a minority investor in a restaurant and holds a passive investment in cryptocurrency. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated representatives. The firm offers multiple program types and focuses on tailored recommendations across both discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary asset management.

Darinka Lora Stepan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Chicago, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. She has held roles at New York Life Insurance Company and Nylife Securities LLC since 2015 and operates her own advisory and insurance solutions firm. Outside of advisory work, Stepan serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations focused on first-time homebuyer education and youth tennis scholarships. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through various program types and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Evelin Freytas is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with New York Life Insurance Company and related entities since 2009 and currently operates Mastermind Wealth Strategies LLC. Freytas serves as President and Advisory Board member of the Ecuadorian Volunteers Association (EVA), a nonprofit focused on education, social, and health programs in Ecuador. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional investors, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of program types emphasizing tailored advice and manages assets primarily on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Scott Edmiston is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee based in Chicago, IL, with one year of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2026 and previously held roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company starting in 2024, following 21 years at Aon plc. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple advisory programs tailored to client objectives and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Jason Spears is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience, currently with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2018. He has prior experience at NYLife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company dating back to 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Spears is involved in logistics through Sphere Global Logistics, LLC and participates in real estate investment and rehabilitation via Spears & Co., LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers a range of programs tailored to client objectives and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management within a large affiliated network.

Ellis Lora Arceo is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Ellis currently operates under the DBA Darinka Lora-Stepan & Associates Financial and Insurance Solutions, selling New York Life products and services. Her prior work includes roles at Anixter Inc. and Lake Forest College. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and corporate and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and predominantly managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Joanne Litman is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and also holds roles at NYlife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2015. Outside of her advisory work, Litman serves as a board member for Women Belong, a business networking organization, and for the BNI 5 Star Chapter in Chicago. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a broad network of affiliated representatives. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and Plan Sponsor criteria, with a significant portion of its assets under management handled on a non-discretionary basis.