CFP®-certified, multi-generational wealth transfer financial advisors in Downers Grove, IL

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lisa Mccarthy is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Downers Grove, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked for Wayne Hummer Investments L.L.C. for ten years before joining LPL Financial in 2025. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with model portfolios and research from internal and third-party sources.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Securities and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In addition to her advisory work, she operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved tools to develop collaborative, goal-oriented financial plans.

Deborah Etherton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Cape Girardeau, MO, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2005. 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 and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

George Bonikos is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on helping clients build, manage, and optimize their wealth through clear and disciplined strategies tailored to their goals. His areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. George's approach is rooted in curiosity, discipline, and a drive for continuous improvement. He aims to be a trusted partner for clients navigating complex financial decisions and planning for their financial futures. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Hunter College and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, he enjoys adventure sports, camping, chess, cooking, fishing, hiking, music, reading, rock climbing, and spending time with his family.

Carson Leydecker is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Kintra Wealth, LLC. He has held positions at Kintra Wealth and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2026 and previously worked at Loring Advisory Group and Commonwealth Financial Network. Kintra Wealth serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, pension plans, and corporations, providing wealth management, financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and portfolio management. The firm combines client interviews and document review with model-driven asset allocation and fundamental security analysis to implement tax-efficient investment strategies on a household basis.

Taylor Stanfill is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Veritas Planning Group since 2014 and is currently part of the Verisail Partners, LLC team in Chamblee, GA. Verisail Partners serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and other institutions with comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a top-down, asset-allocation first approach, emphasizing a factor-based framework informed by the Fama-French three-factor model, and manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis.

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.

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.

Ethan Siekkinen is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at J Wilson Wealth Management. Outside of financial advising, he has experience in the lawn care business with Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate-planning services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

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.

Jeffrey Macdonald is a CFP® and ChFC® with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Investment Management & Planning LLC since 2010 and is also affiliated with LPL Financial LLC. Investment Management & Planning LLC provides fee-based investment advisory and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases. The firm emphasizes ongoing account supervision and individualized asset allocation, often utilizing LPL-sponsored platforms and model portfolios.