Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Elgin, 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 work in education or academia, you might face unique financial challenges like managing irregular income cycles or planning for retirement without state income tax on your pension. A common mistake is overlooking how your specific career path affects your cash flow and long-term savings.

  • Income timing awareness. Confirm how the advisor plans for your pay schedule, including summer breaks or sabbaticals, to keep your budget steady.
  • Retirement tax planning. Since Illinois doesn’t tax retirement income, ask how they leverage this to optimize your withdrawal strategy.
  • Education benefits integration. See if they incorporate teacher-specific benefits like pensions or loan forgiveness into your overall plan.
  • Property tax impact. High local property taxes can affect your housing costs; check how they factor this into your budget and net worth projections.

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

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Michael E

Series 63, Series 65

Elgin, IL

Ameriprise

Michael Ellsworth is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Elgin, Illinois, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he has real estate ownership interests unrelated to investment activities. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, delivering non-discretionary, research-driven recommendations that integrate tax-efficient strategies and Social Security options. As a large institutional firm, Ameriprise offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated companies.

Retirement income strategy Income planning Social Security optimization Retirement withdrawal strategies Approaching retirement
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Kevin S

Series 65

Elgin, IL

AE Wealth Management, LLC

Kevin Sanders is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 11 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of The Sanders Law Firm, where he provides legal services including real estate closing advice and estate planning. His work history includes roles at Guardian Wealth Advisory Group and Sanders Financial Services Inc. AE Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered investment approach that combines model portfolios from multiple sources with discretionary management and financial planning services.

Tax-loss harvesting Options & derivatives strategies Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner
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Joseph H

Series 66

Elgin, IL

PNC Wealth Management

Joseph Holakovsky is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Elgin, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and manages investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Wealth management Executive
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Raymond E

Series 66

Elgin, IL

Edward Jones

Raymond Ercoli is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Elgin, Illinois, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

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

Series 66

Elgin, IL

J.P. Morgan Securities

Alexander Lenz is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2015. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities, delivering non-discretionary advisory programs supported by a centralized due-diligence framework.

Wealth management Executive Founder/Business Owner
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Arjun S

Series 66

Frisco, TX

TIAA-CREF

Arjun Swarup is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Frisco, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and has an academic background from NYU College of Arts and Sciences. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing managed account services within a fiduciary framework, including acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

General estate planning guidance Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Educators, Teachers, and Academics Founder/Business Owner Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals
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Kevin H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Birmingham, AL

RFG Advisory, LLC

Kevin Harper is a CFP® with 29 years of experience in the financial industry, currently serving at RFG Advisory, LLC since 2015. He has prior experience with Private Client Services and LPL Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is a co-owner of LHP Capital LLC, which manages commercial real estate. RFG Advisory is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 178 advisors managing about $8 billion for over 17,000 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm employs a mix of actively managed and passive strategies, direct indexing, and tax-aware approaches, and is notable for its sub-advisory role with the Bluemonte family of ETFs.

Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Founder/Business Owner Educators, Teachers, and Academics Doctor or Medical Professional Executive Women Professionals

Jacob H

Series 63, Series 66

Charlotte, NC

Edward Jones

Jacob Heinz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His previous positions include roles at Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE Capital Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of thousands of financial advisors and branch offices.

Divorce financial planning Retirement income strategy Wealth management Real estate investing Educators, Teachers, and Academics
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Robert O

CFP®, Series 66

Lutz, FL

Lincoln Investment

Robert Ouimet is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently advising at Lincoln Investment. His prior experience includes roles at Capital Analysts, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., and Russell Investments. He also assists clients with evaluating insurance-based products as part of his advisory services. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a particular focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and retirement plan advice, utilizing both strategic and dynamic investment approaches and managing approximately $22.9 billion in advisory assets.

ESG / Sustainable investing Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Educators, Teachers, and Academics Self-Employed Executive Retired Mid-Career Professionals
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Marne D

Series 63, Series 65, Series 66

Fort Washington, PA

Lincoln Investment

Marne De Santis is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Fort Washington, PA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2019, she worked at Rice Financial Products Company, CV Brokerage, Valdes & Moreno, Bluestone Capital Management, and Dautrich Seiler Financial Services. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and a range of managed portfolio programs, employing both strategic and tactical investment approaches overseen by an investment management and research team.

ESG / Sustainable investing Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business succession planning General estate planning guidance Educators, Teachers, and Academics Self-Employed Executive Retired Mid-Career Professionals
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