Top disability insurance financial advisors in Des Plaines, IL

Candace Vondra is a CFA® charterholder with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at William Blair since 2006. She holds the Series 63 designation and is based in Des Plaines, IL. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division provides investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs an active, research-driven approach across multiple asset classes and offers proprietary models, third-party sub-advisers, and access to private funds and co-investment opportunities.

Nancy Morales Calara is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2024. Prior to this role, she held positions including Relationship Manager and Transition Services Specialist at Fidelity Investments, as well as various roles at Merrill and Banker's Life and Casualty Co. Her career demonstrates a progressive experience in financial services and client relationship management. Nancy emphasizes the importance of listening and building trust in financial planning. She approaches financial discussions with a focus on understanding each client's unique circumstances, whether addressing retirement, investments, or unforeseen financial events. Her professional philosophy centers on providing clarity and support as clients navigate their financial situations. Outside of her professional work, Nancy has interests in art, badminton, cars, food, social events, and traveling.

Nancy Szymula is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Des Plaines, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services since 2013. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm provides fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, and access to proprietary research and capital markets services.

Krzysztof Garlewicz is a CFP® and Series 66-registered advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at ProsperiFi LLC since 2017 and previously spent seven years with LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory work, he is an author associated with the Financial Freedom Formula and has engaged in speaker and content creation activities. ProsperiFi LLC provides advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and family-owned businesses. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment approach incorporating fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, along with modern portfolio theory, and offers access to alternative investments and third-party money managers.

Michal Walaszek is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in Des Plaines, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and six years of industry experience. He has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2019 and has prior experience with Northwestern Mutual Investment Management and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Additionally, he was involved with RzConstruction from 2016 to 2018. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Phillip Rademacher is a CFP® with 33 years of experience in financial services and is the principal of Rademacher Financial, Inc. in Lawrence, KS. He has held roles at multiple firms including Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. and leads RTP, LLC as CEO. Rademacher Financial, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, insurance companies, and retirement plan participants, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs an individualized, typically discretionary investment approach and places a notable focus on retirement-plan consulting and participant education.

Gregory Smarr is a financial advisor with Smarr Financial Services Inc. in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has led his independent firm since 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he is licensed to sell various insurance products including life, fixed annuities, and property and casualty insurance through multiple carriers. Smarr Financial Services, Inc. provides financial planning and investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs a fundamental investment approach combining long-term buy-and-hold strategies with selective short-term trading, managing a diverse portfolio that includes equities, mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, fixed income, alternatives, and options.

John Hale is a financial advisor at Worth Asset Management with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 designations and has been with Worth Asset Management for 12 years. In addition to his advisory role, Hale is an attorney and owner of The Hale Law Firm, P.C., where he manages legal practice responsibilities. Worth Asset Management provides investment supervisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, uses outside managers and turnkey asset management solutions, and offers tailored portfolios with regular account reviews.

Matthew Kimberley is a financial advisor at Des Moines Investments, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Des Moines Wealth Management LLC and Royal Alliance Associates, INC. In addition to his advisory work, he operates Kimberley Tax Preparation, providing tax preparation services. Kimberley also coaches youth softball, offering private lessons in pitching and hitting. Des Moines Investments advises individuals, business owners, and trusts with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance. The firm emphasizes a forward-looking, economy-aware investment approach and manages a high volume of client relationships per advisor.

Benjamin Doernberg is a financial advisor at First Step Financial in Boston, MA, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to founding First Step Financial, he worked with Never Again Action and Escape the Room Boston. First Step Financial provides financial planning and advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients through one-off plans, ad-hoc hourly engagements, and an ongoing subscription option, focusing on modern portfolio theory and broad index mutual funds and ETFs. The firm does not custody or trade client accounts and uses a pricing model based on subscription and hourly fees rather than asset-based charges.