Top elder care planning 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 66 and Series 63 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Investment Management and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Walaszek also spent two years working in the construction industry. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and integrates an ESG eligibility framework when recommending strategies.

Christopher Tucker is a financial advisor at Legacy Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Waxahachie, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Legacy Wealth Advisors since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he operates a seasonal business installing Christmas lights. Legacy Wealth Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities by providing comprehensive and modular financial plans, consultations, and discretionary asset management. The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to implement a range of investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Hunter Conley is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works closely with clients to understand their financial goals and develop strategies to pursue their short-, mid-, and long-term objectives. He serves as a resource for investment management, retirement planning, and savings strategies, providing access to a range of financial products and services including banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions offered through Bank of America specialists. Hunter brings expertise in helping individuals manage complex financial priorities such as purchasing a home, funding education, caregiving, and healthcare planning. He offers personalized portfolio strategies designed to align with clients' goals and provides ongoing advice to adapt these plans as clients' situations evolve. His professional designations include Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina System.

Austin Lastinger is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Bailard, Inc. since 2016. He holds a Series 65 license and is based in Foster City, California. Bailard, Inc. provides wealth and asset management services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and pension plans. The firm employs an active multi-asset diversification approach combining quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment, and offers sustainable investing options upon request.

Carol Gosho is a Certified Financial Planner® with 24 years of industry experience. She has been the principal advisor at Gosho Financial Group since 2011. The firm serves individuals, families, businesses, trusts, estates, donor-advised funds, and retirement plan participants by providing fee-based investment advisory services and non-discretionary financial planning. Gosho Financial Group employs a tactical allocation approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to manage custom discretionary portfolios and offers educational seminars and plan-level consulting as part of its pension services.

I believe that everyone should have access to a professional advisor who understands their needs and can help them achieve the lifestyle they desire. As a financial advisor, I am dedicated to learning about your personal goals and using them to build a retirement plan tailored to your unique situation. NexJenn Financial Services was founded in response to the demand for financial planning from my tax clients. Often squeezed between spending for their kids’ education, caring for an elderly relative and saving for their own retirement, many were anxious about their financial future. I have enjoyed helping my clients find a balance and focus on building a strong financial future. I am a CPA® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional®, as well as a Retirement Income Certified Professional®. Additionally, I am a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and the XY Planning Network. In my spare time, my husband and I volunteer at a homeless shelter. I also love to bike and travel and am an aspiring photographer. I have been married for 30 years and together with my awesome husband, we’ve raised three awesome kids.