CFP®-certified advisors focused on stock option exercise strategy 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 stock options vesting soon or are considering when to exercise them, you need an advisor who understands the tax and timing complexities involved. A common mistake is exercising options without considering tax impact or your overall financial plan, which can lead to unexpected tax bills or missed growth opportunities. CFP® certification means these advisors have formal training in financial planning, including tax implications.

  • Tax timing insight. Ask how they help you decide the best time to exercise options to manage your tax bracket and avoid surprises.
  • Exercise method guidance. Confirm if they discuss different exercise strategies, like cashless or early exercise, and their pros and cons.
  • Integration with your finances. See if they consider how exercising options fits with your broader investment and cash flow needs.
  • Risk management. Check how they help you balance option exercise with diversification to avoid overconcentration in one stock.

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

Schaumburg, IL

Merrill

Kevin Hanrahan is a financial advisor at Merrill with 31 years of industry experience. He has held positions at both Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. since 2009. Hanrahan holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Merrill serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, offering managed account programs, third-party manager selection, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage services. The firm integrates deeply with Bank of America affiliates and emphasizes managed account and manager-selection capabilities across multiple program strategies.

Tax-loss harvesting Active portfolio management Executive Founder/Business Owner Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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Kristin M

Series 66

Mt Pleasant, SC

Primerica Advisors

Kristin Manna is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. She has one year of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Consolidated Planning Holdings, Inc. Prior to entering the financial industry, she worked in education for eight years. Outside of advising, Kristin is an author and publisher of a basketball coaching notebook and works as a math tutor for high school students. Park Avenue Securities serves a broad retail client base with a range of brokerage and advisory services, utilizing proprietary and third-party investment strategies across various account types and investment vehicles.

Business exit / sale strategy Tax-loss harvesting Self-Employed Founder/Business Owner
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Charles B

Series 63, Series 65

Los Angeles, CA

LPL Financial

Charles Bachtell is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Western International Securities, Inc. for 13 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as President and Managing Partner of the Academy of California Examinations, which provides exam preparation for financial services licensing. LPL Financial offers advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm provides a variety of investment delivery options supported by an in-house Research team and accommodates both advisory and brokerage services tailored to client needs.

Wealth management Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Tax-loss harvesting Founder/Business Owner Retired
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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

Anthony L

Series 63, Series 65

St. Louis, MO

Fidelity

Anthony Lyons is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he works alongside a team of financial professionals to provide guidance aimed at helping clients achieve peace of mind and live with purpose. He focuses on actively listening to clients' concerns and suggesting courses of action to support their financial goals. Anthony has held various roles in the financial services industry since 2016, including positions as a Financial Advisor at PNCI and Edward Jones, Private Wealth Advisor at Regions Bank, and Vice President-Planning & Development Manager at Arvest Wealth Management. His experience spans several organizations, reflecting a broad background in financial consulting and wealth management. Outside of his professional work, Anthony has interests in baseball, cars, football, and social events with friends.

Charitable giving & philanthropy Active portfolio management Financial Professional

Andrew G

Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Merrill

Andrew Grombala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in serving corporate executives and high-earning professionals with complex compensation structures, including equity awards. Andrew works closely with clients to understand their personal and financial goals and helps them pursue lasting financial success. Since entering the industry in 2017, Andrew has built experience in guiding clients through liquidity events, tax-efficient strategies, and long-term planning aligned with their personal and professional objectives. His expertise includes managing restricted stock units, stock options, employee stock purchase plans, deferred compensation, and performance awards. He emphasizes reducing tax drag, managing concentration risk, and aligning equity compensation with goals-based wealth strategies through a structured, plan-first approach. 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 participated in football and lacrosse. He resides in Anderson Township with his wife and two children. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, spending time at the family lake house, and staying active through CrossFit.

Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Concentrated stock management Liquidity event planning Stock option exercise strategy Retirement income strategy 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 Rembert Pendleton Jackson, he worked at Clarendon Wealth Management and has an academic background from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Rembert Pendleton Jackson serves individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and business consulting. The firm uses diversified, customized portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, including a notable institutional client base.

Stock option exercise strategy Business ownership considerations Business exit / sale strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Founder/Business Owner Executive

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 Stock option exercise strategy 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 two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Advanced Insurance Strategies, Inc and Retirement Income Strategies, Inc. Neese is currently involved in marketing at Lindberg & Ripple through M Holdings Securities. LRI Investments is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing over $1 billion in discretionary assets and serving approximately 377 client relationships. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, retirement account advice, and retirement plan consulting, with a focus on diversified portfolios tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, as well as serving institutional clients and maintaining an ERISA fiduciary role in retirement plan consulting.

Stock option exercise strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Tax-loss harvesting Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive
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Sarah C

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Boston, MA

Santander Securities LLC

Sarah Currier Barrella is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. She is currently with Santander Securities LLC and Santander Bank, NA, having previously worked at TD Bank and Citizens Securities, Inc. Barrella holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Santander Securities LLC provides investment advisory and related services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers wrap-fee advisory programs and financial planning services, delivering investment advice through the FMAX managed-account platform with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing suitability reviews.

ESG / Sustainable investing Tax-loss harvesting General retirement planning Income planning Founder/Business Owner
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Elanna G

CFP®, Series 66

Cleveland, OH

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors

Elanna Gould is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Her prior work includes roles at PepsiCo and The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Center. She also maintains an independent insurance agency representing various insurance companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse clientele including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to third-party sub-advisers through multiple account platforms.

Retirement income strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Annuities Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Ethan S

CFP®, Series 65

Auburn Hills, MI

Plante Moran FInancial Advisors

Ethan Siekkinen is a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2023. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at J Wilson Wealth Management and has experience outside finance with Rizzo Lawn Care. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual investors, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, manager selection, and uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis supported by a proprietary equity market valuation model.

Options & derivatives strategies Concentrated stock management Private / alternative investments Wealth management Business succession planning Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Thomas M

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Irving, TX

Raymond James Financial

Thomas Mcintire is a CFP® with 33 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently affiliated with Raymond James Financial in Irving, TX. His prior roles include positions at Cadent Capital, LLC, Insurance Planners & Advisors Group, and The Guardian Life Insurance Company. He serves as a board member and finance committee member for the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation, overseeing investments and supporting the foundation’s philanthropic efforts. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and municipalities. The firm provides financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, emphasizing tailored strategies developed through client collaboration and supported by extensive research and asset-allocation analysis.

General retirement planning Business succession planning Cash flow / budgeting Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Jace H

CFP®, Series 63, Series 66

Hurst, TX

Leo Wealth, LLC

Jace Hart is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leo Wealth, LLC since 2023. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Leo Wealth provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of diversified ETF model portfolios and systematic single-stock models, utilizing sub-advisors and third-party managers to implement specialized strategies.

Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments Concentrated stock management Real estate investing Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Established Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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