Top financial advisors working with technology professionals 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.

Wanqiu Wu is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Wu has worked at Citigroup since 2017, including roles at Citibank N.A. prior to joining the current firm, and has prior experience in retail at Bloomingdales. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, including in-house research and operations as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Arron Thompson is a CFP® certified financial advisor with five years of industry experience, currently practicing at Edward Jones in Pittsburgh, PA. His prior work history includes two years at Alliance Rx Walgreens Prime and five years of service in the US Army. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients with a range of investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm oversees approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Zack Gutches is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience. He is the principal at True Riches Financial Planning, an independent firm based in Denver, CO. His career includes roles at Brighton Jones, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and LearnLux, where he currently provides financial well-being consulting to workplace participants. He also offers tax preparation services to clients of his firm. True Riches Financial Planning serves individuals and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management, functioning as a “Personal CFO.” The firm implements tailored financial plans and portfolios using a mix of passive and active strategies, including socially responsible options and direct-indexing, and provides tax preparation services as an affiliated business.

Dave's experience in investment management and financial planning uniquely position him to serve as his client's independent trusted advisor - a personal chief financial officer that can discreetly navigate the tides affecting your financial life. ​ Professional highlights include portfolio management on Union Bank municipal investment team which earned recognition as the best in the industry by Barron's in 2008 and 2009; lead investment management responsibility at a $300M financial planning firm; and working with amazing entrepreneurs, executives, and families. ​ David's education includes a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation, and a U.C. Berkeley bachelor's degree where he conducted a study on evidenced based investment management with Haas Professor of Investments David Distad. ​ David launched PFM to continue building upon his vision of complete personal financial management: discreet and unwavering focus on how expert financial management can help a client achieve her goals. From setting and achieving goals, to preparing you for all of life's contingencies and investing for your future - David helps his client's understand what they should be doing, and then helps them get it done.

Sawyer Sams is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Smith Conkin Dixon Wealth Management Group. He and his team focus on developing personalized wealth strategies that leverage Merrill's investment and planning resources along with Bank of America's banking and lending capabilities. Their services encompass family wealth management, legacy planning, retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and portfolio management for clients across multiple states. Before joining Merrill, Sawyer gained experience at a smaller wealth and investment management firm in Charlotte, NC, where he led the investment committee and managed asset allocation and trading activities. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification. Sawyer graduated from Furman University with a bachelor's degree in economics. Sawyer resides in Johnson City, TN, and is active in his community through involvement with First Christian Church and the Milligan University CFA Research Team. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, cooking, football, pickleball, and spending time with his family.