CFP®-certified, equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) 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 have equity compensation like RSUs (restricted stock units) or ESPPs (employee stock purchase plans) vesting soon, you need an advisor who understands how to time sales and tax impacts. Without this expertise, you might sell too early or late, missing out on potential gains or facing unexpected taxes. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including tax and investment strategies.

  • Tax timing insight. Ask how they plan sales around your vesting schedule to manage tax brackets effectively.
  • Equity type knowledge. Confirm they differentiate strategies for RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs, as each has unique tax and exercise rules.
  • Integration with your goals. See how they align equity decisions with your broader financial plans, like retirement or home buying.
  • Risk management approach. Understand how they help balance holding company stock versus diversifying your portfolio.

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 in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Bentley Financial Group since 2014 and has prior experience at LPL Financial LLC and Domino, Gritis & Co. Gritis is also a one-third owner of a manufacturing company and provides tax preparation and corporate accounting services through his firm, Gritis & Associates, Ltd. Bentley Financial Group offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $393 million in discretionary client assets, employing fundamental analysis, hedging strategies when appropriate, and third-party independent managers, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and formal annual reviews.

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

Daniel M

Series 63, Series 65

Canfield, OH

Merrill

Daniel Memo is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 1998 and began his career with Smith Barney. Daniel focuses on serving high net worth individuals and business retirement planning. He holds FINRA Series 7, 66, 3, and 31 registrations. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from John Carroll University. He also holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His areas of expertise include college education planning, corporate benefits, equity compensation services, retirement income, and small business strategies. Daniel is active in the Poland community where he resides with his wife, Erin, and their four sons. He participates in organizations such as the Poland Community Baseball Association, Poland Flag Football, and St. Vincent De Paul. He has served as a board member of the Rich Center for Autism and is affiliated with Magic of Michael. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys baseball, basketball, football, golfing, swimming, table tennis, traveling, and spending time with his family.

General retirement planning Retirement income strategy Business ownership considerations Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP)
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Jorden B

Series 65

Claremont, CA

LifeSteps Financial

Jorden Bastien is a financial advisor at LifeSteps Financial with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with LifeSteps Financial, formerly Foothill Financial Advisors, since 2012. LifeSteps Financial is a team-based registered investment adviser with seven advisors managing approximately $443 million in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, businesses, and retirement plan participants, offering investment advisory and financial planning services alongside bill payment and reconciliation and a short-term cash management program for high-net-worth clients.

Stock option exercise strategy Cash flow / budgeting

Kenneth M

Series 63, Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Empower Advisory Group

Ken Mason is an Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2025. In this capacity, he works closely with clients to develop wealth strategies that incorporate their workplace benefits, aiming to support them in pursuing their financial goals. Ken emphasizes building trust through a consultative approach, ensuring clients receive personalized and understandable financial plans. He is committed to helping clients achieve peace of mind by focusing on what matters most to them. Specific details about his education, credentials, or personal interests were not provided.

Wealth management Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Exec comp design Retirement income strategy Income planning Executive Consultant

David S

ChFC®, Series 66

Thomasville, NC

Edward Jones

David Snapp is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Thomasville, NC, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and the Series 66 license and has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including households across the wealth spectrum, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory strategies alongside affiliated mutual funds and specialized investment services.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Charitable giving & philanthropy Divorce financial planning Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) General estate planning guidance Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Michael E

CFA®

Tysons Corner, VA

Harbour Capital Advisors, LLC

Michael Elliott is a CFA® charterholder with two years of experience in the financial industry. He currently works at Harbour Capital Advisors, LLC, where he has been since 2024. Prior to this, he held roles at CFRA Research, Avascent, Raymond James & Co., and Marriott & Co Investment Banking. Harbour Capital Advisors serves ultra-high-net-worth families and charitable organizations, managing approximately $701 million for around 55 clients. The firm uses customized investment policy statements, mean-variance optimization, and a core-satellite investment approach that includes both liquid public securities and alternative investments, alongside wealth-transfer and family-governance services.

Wealth management Family Business Business succession planning Charitable giving & philanthropy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Founder/Business Owner Established Professionals
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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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