Top stock option exercise strategy 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 stock options nearing their expiration or a planned job change, deciding when and how to exercise them can significantly impact your financial outcome. A common mistake is exercising too early or too late without considering tax implications and market conditions.

  • Tax impact awareness. Illinois doesn't tax retirement income, but property taxes can be high. Confirm how your advisor factors this into your exercise timing.
  • Market timing insight. Ask how they evaluate stock price trends and volatility to optimize your exercise strategy.
  • Exercise method options. Different approaches like cash exercise or cashless exercise have distinct pros and cons; ensure your advisor explains these clearly.
  • Integration with broader goals. Effective advisors align your stock option decisions with your overall financial plan, not just isolated gains.

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

Andrew G

Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Merrill

Andrew Grombala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on serving corporate executives and high-earning professionals who have complex compensation structures, including equity awards such as RSUs, stock options, ESPP programs, deferred compensation packages, and performance awards. In his role, he helps clients manage concentration risk, reduce tax implications, and align their equity compensation with long-term, goals-based wealth strategies. Since entering the industry in 2017, Andrew has adopted a structured, plan-first approach that incorporates compensation, cash flow, family priorities, retirement planning, and overall risk management. He guides clients through various financial events, including vesting, diversification, liquidity management, and retirement income planning. His expertise extends to executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and tax minimization. Andrew holds FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and is licensed in Accident & Health, Life, and Variable Insurance. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he also competed as a student-athlete in football and lacrosse. He resides in Anderson Township with his wife and two children. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys boating, golfing, football, ice hockey, music, and spending time with his family.

Exec comp design Stock option exercise strategy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Liquidity event planning Concentrated stock management Executive Parents
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Tyler M

Series 65

Vienna, VA

Rembert Pendleton Jackson

Tyler Morris is a financial advisor at Rembert Pendleton Jackson with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining RPJ, he worked at Clarendon Wealth Management and has experience with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Brambleton Bettas. Rembert Pendleton Jackson provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and business consulting to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Stock option exercise strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy General tax planning Founder/Business Owner Retired

Eric B

CFP®, Series 66

Santa Maria, CA

Edward Jones

Eric Bravo is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2007. He is based in Santa Maria, CA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Retirement income strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Wealth management Founder/Business Owner
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Robin C

Series 63, Series 65

Knoxville, TN

Knox Wealth Partners Advisory

Robin Clark is a financial advisor with Knox Wealth Partners Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with LPL Financial since 2008 and has been with Knox Wealth Partners Advisory since 2018. Outside of advisory services, he operates an independent insurance agency specializing in fixed insurance products. Knox Wealth Partners Advisory serves primarily high-net-worth individuals and business owners, managing approximately $231 million across a seven-advisor team. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach that includes a variety of asset classes and strategies, and it offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside financial planning and consulting services.

Business ownership considerations Business succession planning Stock option exercise strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Arriana N

Series 65

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

LRI Investments

Arriana Neese is a financial advisor at LRI Investments with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Advanced Insurance Strategies, Inc and Retirement Income Strategies, Inc. Neese also serves as a marketing associate at Lindberg & Ripple through M Holdings Securities. LRI Investments, LLC provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, financial institutions, and certain government entities. The firm manages approximately $2.78 billion with a team of 25 professionals, focusing on customized asset allocation and a long-term investment approach across mutual funds, ETFs, and equities.

Stock option exercise strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Tax strategies for small businesses Charitable giving tax strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired Self-Employed Executive Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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