Top planning for children with special needs financial advisors in Des Plaines, IL

The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.

If you have a child with special needs, planning for their long-term financial security is crucial to ensure they have the support they need throughout life. Without careful planning, you might overlook how government benefits and special needs trusts interact, which can jeopardize your child's eligibility for essential aid.

  • Government benefits knowledge. Confirm the advisor understands how programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income work with your child's financial plan.
  • Special needs trust expertise. Ask how they help set up trusts that protect assets without disqualifying benefits.
  • Education and care funding. Inquire about strategies to cover costs for therapies, schooling, and future care needs.
  • Estate planning integration. See how they coordinate your overall estate plan to support your child's unique requirements over time.

Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.

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Candace V

CFA®, Series 63

Des Plaines, IL

William Blair

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.

Private / alternative investments Wealth management Active portfolio management ESG / Sustainable investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive

Nancy M

Series 66

Schaumburg, IL

Fidelity

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.

General retirement planning Wealth management
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Nancy S

Series 63, Series 65

Des Plaines, IL

UBS Financial Services

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.

General retirement planning Cash flow / budgeting Equity compensation tax strategy Executive Founder/Business Owner Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement
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Krzysztof G

CFP®, Series 66

Des Plaines, IL

Prosperifi LLC

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.

Private / alternative investments Options & derivatives strategies Real estate investing Annuities
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Michal W

Series 63, Series 66

Des Plaines, IL

J.P. Morgan Securities

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.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Amanda Q

Series 66

Richmond, VA

Wells Fargo Advisors

Amanda Quicke is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has worked within Wells Fargo entities since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she has ownership interests in an investment-related business, Granite Wealth Management, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing a broad range of investment and financial planning services. The firm utilizes proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations, offering both brokerage and advisory programs.

Divorce financial planning Planning for children with special needs Business exit / sale strategy Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner

Rudenca B

Series 66

Livingston, NJ

Merrill

Rudenca Blloshmi serves as a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, she helps clients develop personalized wealth management strategies tailored to their individual financial goals. She provides access to Merrill’s investment insights alongside the banking and lending solutions offered by Bank of America. Rudenca focuses on client areas including family wealth management, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, retirement income, special needs planning, managing new wealth, and women and wealth. Rudenca holds multiple professional designations, including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She attended Pace University without earning a degree and conducts business in both English and Albanian. Rudenca is involved with the Global Albanians Foundation and enjoys baseball, biking, golfing, music, and photography in her personal time.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Planning for children with special needs Women Professionals Women's Finance

Matthew S

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 66

Baytown, TX

Edward Jones

Matthew Seale is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Baytown, TX, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and registered Series 63 and Series 66. He has 21 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2004. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Divorce financial planning Retirement income strategy General estate planning guidance Planning for children with special needs Wealth management Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Lanis W

Series 66

Laguna Niguel, CA

G. A. Repple & Company

Lanis Webb is a financial advisor at G. A. Repple & Company with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with G. A. Repple & Company since 2012. In addition to his advisory role, Webb works as an independent fixed insurance sales agent. G. A. Repple & Company provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including retail individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, employing various analytical approaches to portfolio construction and offering multiple investment program options.

Planning for children with special needs Divorce financial planning General retirement planning
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Evan H

CFP®, CFA®, Series 63, Series 65

Los Altos, CA

Mok Capital Management

Evan Hirano is a CFP® and CFA® with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Mok Capital Management since 2015 and at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments since 2017. Mok Capital Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, living trusts, charities, foundations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm employs a value-oriented investment approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios that may include individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, and limited options strategies.

Planning for children with special needs Elder care planning General estate planning guidance Charitable giving & philanthropy Options & derivatives strategies
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