Top equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) financial advisors in Illinois
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), stock options, or ESPPs (employee stock purchase plans), you need an advisor who understands how to manage these assets alongside your broader financial picture. A common mistake is treating equity as just another investment, ignoring its unique tax timing and risk factors.
- Tax timing insight. Equity awards often trigger taxes when they vest or are exercised; ask how the advisor plans around these events to avoid surprises.
- Diversification strategy. Holding too much company stock can be risky; check how the advisor balances your portfolio to manage concentration.
- Exercise and sale planning. Timing when to exercise options or sell shares affects taxes and cash flow; confirm the advisor’s approach to sequencing these moves.
- Integration with overall goals. Equity decisions should align with your retirement, home buying, or other life plans; see how the advisor connects these dots for you.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
-
Benjamin C
Series 63, Series 65, Series 66
Chicago, IL
Merrill
Benjamin Crowder specializes in advising equity recipients in Illinois, offering expertise in managing RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs alongside broader financial goals. With 19 years of experience at Merrill, a large firm, he serves executives and founders, focusing on liquidity event planning and retirement strategies, and charges a 1.10% AUM fee for managed strategies under $2 million, distinguishing him through his comprehensive approach and client focus.
Experience: 19 years
Avg account: $860,085
-
Donovan S
CFP®, Series 63, Series 65
Wheaton, IL
Model Wealth
Donovan Sanchez specializes in advising equity recipients in Illinois, offering expertise in managing RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs with a focus on tax-loss harvesting and cash flow planning. His firm, Model Wealth, serves high-net-worth clients with a flat-fee, independent approach emphasizing passive, tax-efficient investment strategies and virtual service delivery, distinguishing him from advisors with traditional fee structures or less specialized equity compensation experience.
Experience: 10 years
Avg account: $2,026,490
-
Brett W
CFP®, EA
La Grange Park, IL
Wysopal Wealth
Brett Wysopal specializes in managing equity compensation complexities such as RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs, with a focus on tax timing and diversification strategies tailored for high-net-worth clients. His firm offers a tiered AUM fee structure with discounts for larger portfolios, serving primarily Millennial technology professionals in Illinois, and emphasizes personalized, values-driven planning with a small client base for dedicated attention.
Experience: 9 years
Avg account: $610,455
-
Michael K
Series 63, Series 66
McHenry, IL
Edward Jones
Michael Kline specializes in advising equity recipients in Illinois, offering expertise in managing RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs alongside retirement income and estate planning strategies. Based in McHenry, IL, he operates within Edward Jones, a large firm with over $1 trillion in assets, providing a range of advisory programs with fees up to 1.35% annually, which may suit clients seeking comprehensive wealth management within a national network.
Experience: 5 years
Avg account: $246,728
-
Michael W
Series 65
Evanston, IL
Blue Sky Investment Partners, Inc.
Michael Willman specializes in managing equity compensation such as RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs, integrating these assets with broader financial goals like retirement and cash flow planning. Based in Evanston, IL, he offers independent wealth management services with 18 years of experience, serving high-net-worth clients through Blue Sky Investment Partners, which emphasizes diversified portfolios using mutual funds and ETFs and charges a 1% AUM fee.
Experience: 18 years
Avg account: $1,932,705
Want help finding the right advisor?
Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.
Advisors focused on
People also searched
Popular in Illinois
Find advisors by type
Not sure where to start?
We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.
For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.
Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.
By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev
© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)