CFP®-certified, annuities financial advisors in Downers Grove, 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're considering annuities to secure steady income during retirement, you need an advisor who understands the long-term commitments and trade-offs involved. A common mistake is focusing only on immediate payouts without considering fees, surrender periods, or how annuities fit into your overall financial plan. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, which can help you navigate complex annuity products.

  • Fee structure clarity. Confirm how they explain all costs, including commissions and ongoing fees, so you know what you’re paying over time.
  • Surrender period insight. Ask about penalties for early withdrawal and how that might affect your liquidity needs.
  • Income stream options. Explore how they evaluate fixed versus variable annuities to match your risk tolerance and income goals.
  • Integration with retirement plan. Check how they coordinate annuities with your other retirement income sources to avoid gaps or overlaps.

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

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John G

Series 63, Series 65

Downers Grove, IL

Bentley Financial Group

John Gritis is a financial advisor with Bentley Financial Group and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 39 years of industry experience and has been with Bentley Financial Group since 2014. Prior to this, he worked at LPL Financial starting in 2009 and has operated his own firm, Domino, Gritis & Co., since 1976. Gritis is also a one-third owner of a manufacturing company and provides tax preparation and corporate accounting services through his accounting firm. Bentley Financial Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $393 million in discretionary client assets, employing fundamental analysis and third-party managers, while offering a range of LPL-sponsored managed account programs and a proprietary wrap program.

Options & derivatives strategies Wealth management
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Matthew K

CFP®, CFA®

Downers Grove, IL

Opus Financial Solutions LLC

Matthew Kunst is a CFP® and CFA® with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Opus Financial Solutions LLC since 2017 and previously spent eight years at MMK Financial Services. Opus Financial Solutions provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, business owners, executives, trusts, and other entities, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management. The firm emphasizes integrated tax and accounting support alongside investment management, utilizing a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with ETFs, mutual funds, and alternative investments when appropriate.

Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement income strategy Roth conversion strategy Private / alternative investments
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James C

Series 63, Series 65

Downers Grove, IL

Wells Fargo Advisors

James Cannan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 45 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network since 2016 and also owns Yorkshire Financial Advisors Inc., a financial planning practice based in Downers Grove, IL. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and investment services, including specialized planning for business-owner transitions, special-needs analysis, and divorce planning, delivered through a network of financial advisors.

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

Ryan K

Series 66

Downers Grove, IL

Edward Jones

Ryan Knudsen is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Downers Grove, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he participates as a member of the Center Of Influence in Darien, IL. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a broad network of financial advisors and branch offices, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions under a fiduciary standard.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Multi-generational wealth transfer Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Lisa M

Series 63, Series 65

Downers Grove, IL

LPL Financial

Lisa Mccarthy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 12 years of industry experience. She worked at Wayne Hummer Investments L.L.C. for 10 years before rejoining LPL Financial in 2025. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that offers advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm provides financial planning and a variety of investment management options, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by technology tools for operational and research purposes.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Craig M

Series 63, Series 65

Columbia, SC

Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC

Craig Mcdaniel Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Columbia, SC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and The McDaniel Corporation since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance sales and serves as an independent agent for annuities and related products. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a blend of analytical methods with ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Active portfolio management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Options & derivatives strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Annuities Self-Employed
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Cassandra S

Series 63, Series 65

Plano, TX

Financial & Tax Architects, LLC

Cassandra Sanchez is a financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, TIAA, US Health Advisors, and various other firms. Sanchez also had involvement with Drunken Donkey, reflecting experience outside the financial sector. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm offers proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” that use ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies to meet client needs.

Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Annuities Income planning General tax planning Retired
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Marshall B

Series 66

Cabot, AR

Paladin Investment Advisors

Marshall Butler is a Series 66-registered financial advisor at Paladin Investment Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He has held roles at several firms including Veritas Independent Partners, Pinnacle Wealth Management, and Edward Jones. Butler is a part owner of Pinnacle Consultants, where he is involved in the sale of insurance products. Paladin Investment Advisors provides customized investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, business owners, nonprofit charities, foundations, and sponsors of ERISA-qualified retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $49.5 million in discretionary assets and employs a holistic wealth management approach using active, passive, or blended strategies.

Real estate investing Annuities Options & derivatives strategies
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Isaiah E

Series 63, Series 66

Tulsa, OK

Eagle Strategies (NY Life)

Isaiah Edison is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Tulsa, OK, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2013 and operates Edison Financial Group, LLC, through which he manages insurance and advisory services. Edison is also involved as a shareholder in NYLARC Holding Company, which reinsures life insurance policies he writes, and he holds a personal investment in cryptocurrency. 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 multiple program types and emphasizes customizing recommendations to meet client and plan sponsor objectives, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advisory services. She currently works at Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously held positions at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella is based in Boston, MA. Santander Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base with approximately $3.14 billion in regulatory assets under management across 10,800 client relationships. The firm offers investment advisory services, portfolio management through wrap-fee programs, and financial planning, operating both as a registered investment adviser and a FINRA-registered broker-dealer.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with six years of experience, currently advising at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cleveland, OH. Her background includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center, as well as academic experience at The Ohio State University. She is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm provides a range of portfolio management options, proprietary and third-party strategies, and various custody platforms tailored to client objectives.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Annuities Self-Employed
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran financial advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and has previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and operated Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multi-disciplinary investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, manager search, and tax-lot accounting services.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Jace H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Rockwall, TX

Rockwall Wealth Management

Jace Hart is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience and currently serves as a financial advisor at Rockwall Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Leo Wealth, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Rockwall Wealth Management provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes diversified, low-cost ETF model portfolios with a focus on tax efficiency, liquidity, and systematic macro tilts, offering both traditional and advanced investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy
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Jeffrey M

CFP®, ChFC®, Series 66

Greenville, DE

Investment Management & Planning LLC

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Investment Management & Planning LLC and LPL Financial since 2010, following two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed-income securities, employing fundamental analysis and continuous supervision, and operates as both a wrap program sponsor and affiliated registered representatives of LPL Financial.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Mid-Career Professionals Approaching retirement

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