Top financial advisors working with public service employees 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 work in public service, your retirement benefits and pension options can be complex and unique to your role. Choosing an advisor who understands these specifics helps you avoid costly mistakes like mismanaging your pension or missing out on important benefits.

  • Pension plan expertise. Confirm they know the ins and outs of your specific public service pension system, not just general retirement plans.
  • Benefit coordination. Ask how they integrate your pension with Social Security and other retirement income sources to create a clear income picture.
  • Public service nuances. Look for advisors familiar with service credit, vesting rules, and potential penalties unique to public employees.
  • Long-term planning focus. Ensure they consider how your public service career impacts your retirement timeline and tax situation over decades.

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

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Kevin H

Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

Merrill

Kevin Hanrahan is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Bank of America and Merrill since 2009. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Wealth management
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Jessica S

Series 65

Aurora, IL

Rezny Wealth Management, Inc.

Jessica Stanley is a financial advisor at Rezny Wealth Management, Inc. in Aurora, IL, holding a Series 65 designation with 13 years of industry experience. She has been with Rezny Wealth Management since 2009. Rezny Wealth Management primarily serves individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, offering discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning on a fee-only basis. The firm manages approximately $506 million in client assets, utilizing a Global Tactical Opportunity Portfolios framework that combines quantitative and fundamental analysis across a range of investment styles.

Annuities Active portfolio management General estate planning guidance Retired
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Michael H

Series 63, Series 65

Downers Grove, IL

LPL Financial

Michael Hankes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 40 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2006 and previously spent seven years with UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 20% partner in an LLC related to investment activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Kristine I

Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

Morgan Stanley

Kristine Iverson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been associated with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and delivers services that include estate planning and structured investment approaches.

General estate planning guidance
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Roland S

Series 63, Series 65

Olympia Fields, IL

Valic Financial Advisors

Roland Szilard is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Olympia Fields, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2006 and is also affiliated with Agia since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, Szilard serves as a board member involved in organizing youth soccer training and play activities and acts as a youth soccer referee. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors. The firm manages approximately $29.2 billion and utilizes centralized technology and model solutions to support its client base of nearly 300,000 across more than 1,200 advisors.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting Retirement income strategy

Amanda F

Series 66

Lexington, NC

Edward Jones

Amanda Fleming is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Lexington, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she was involved with several businesses including Max Travels, LLC, a travel agency she founded and where she designed vacations for clients, primarily family. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients with a range of investment programs and advisory services supported by a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business ownership considerations Tax strategies for small businesses Founder/Business Owner Doctor or Medical Professional Public Service Employee
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Scott C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Scottsdale, AZ

Echelon Private Wealth LLC

Scott Cadieux is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors before founding Echelon Private Wealth LLC, where he has been since 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a vending machine business and works as an independent insurance agent. Echelon Private Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and goal-based financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, offering customized investment strategies including options programs managed on a discretionary basis.

Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Wealth management Retirement withdrawal strategies Military & Veterans Government Employee Values-based investing
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Jason G

Series 63, Series 65

Monterey, CA

Modern Wealth Management, LLC

Jason Gordo is a financial advisor at Modern Wealth Management, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC for eight years. Outside of his advisory role, he manages several real estate holding companies based in Monterey, California. Modern Wealth Management provides investment advisory and integrated planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporations. The firm employs a centralized portfolio management approach supported by an Investment Committee and offers a range of services such as discretionary investment management, tax and estate planning, and ERISA plan support.

Private / alternative investments Tax strategies for small businesses Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Public Service Employee Founder/Business Owner Military & Veterans Values-based investing Mid-Career Professionals
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Dawn H

Series 63, Series 65

Alameda, CA

Bcn Financial, Inc.

Dawn Hale is a financial advisor with BCN Financial, Inc. in Alameda, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at LPL Financial, Crown Capital Securities, and Quest Securities. BCN Financial provides retirement plan advisory and financial planning services primarily to participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and members of public safety associations. The firm’s investment approach focuses on mutual funds and ETFs with a mix of fundamental, technical, and sentiment analysis combined with market timing, serving a client base distinct from typical high-net-worth individuals.

Active portfolio management Public Service Employee

Timothy W

Series 66

Swansea, IL

Merrill

Timothy Warner is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services in 2003, with experience in both the banking and insurance industries. Since joining Merrill in 2013, he has worked with individuals, families, and businesses to provide a range of wealth management programs and strategies. His role involves acting as a primary point of contact for clients as their financial needs evolve. Tim holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and is also a Personal Investment Advisor. He attended Rend Lake College and the University of Illinois without obtaining a degree from those institutions, and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Mid-Continent University. He resides in Mascoutah, Illinois, with his wife and their three daughters. In addition to his professional work, Timothy is involved in community organizations including the Ainad Shriners and First Baptist Church in O'Fallon, Illinois. He is also a member of the Lookingglass Corvette Club. His approach emphasizes developing personalized financial strategies tailored to the long-term goals of his clients.

Wealth management Retirement income strategy Social Security optimization Charitable giving & philanthropy ESG / Sustainable investing Military & Veterans Public Service Employee Approaching retirement Mid-Career Professionals Parents
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