Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Naperville, IL

Nolan Clifford is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Naperville, IL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Arkadios Capital, he worked with the Colorado Rockies for one year and spent four years at Creighton University. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is a multi-team firm serving individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment plans using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, deploying them through various managed account solutions and third-party managers.

Susan Ahlfeld is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Advisors Capital Management, LLC since 2023, following a 21-year tenure at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Outside of her advisory work, she is the managing member of Taking A Siesta LLC, a real estate rental business. Advisors Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and proprietary model strategies to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and governmental entities. The firm employs a combination of top-down macro analysis and bottom-up fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative research to manage custom private accounts and model strategies.

Bharati Thakkar is a financial professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Cetera Investment Advisors LLC since 2020 and Cetera Financial Specialists since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as an assistant in accounting, tax, and financial services at Vijay Thakkar and Associates Ltd. Cetera Investment Advisors LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, financial planning services, and access to third-party money managers.

Larsa Heil is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2014 and also has a background with Fifth Third Bank dating back to 2011. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing access to multiple managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Richard Williams is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Naperville, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with four years of industry experience. He previously worked at US Bank for ten years and has been with BMO Bank NA for seven years concurrently. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by technology tools, and manages over $819 billion in discretionary assets through a network of more than 22,800 advisors.

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.

Kevin Harper is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently with RFG Advisory, LLC in Birmingham, AL, where he has worked since 2015, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Ameriprise. Harper is a co-owner of LHP Capital LLC, a commercial real estate business. RFG Advisory provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and select institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary investment strategies through model portfolios, third-party platforms, and serves as a sub-adviser to multiple ETFs, with additional specialized services for retirement accounts and alternative investments.

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.

Lindsey Egan is a financial advisor at EFS Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at First Republic Securities and First Republic Investment Management from 2016 to 2019. Outside of her financial advisory role, Lindsey is the owner of Women Who Explore, a community offering outdoor adventures and small group travel experiences for women. EFS Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to a broad client base, including individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a client-centric suitability scoring process combined with technology tools to recommend model portfolios and supports clients through discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Scott Stevens is a financial advisor at Medallion Wealth Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Morgan Stanley and American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. Stevens is also the proprietor of Stevens & Associates, LLC, a separate business. Medallion Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, and retirement plans for educators and nonprofit organizations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting with a long-term investment approach that includes discretionary and non-discretionary account management and may utilize third-party managers when appropriate.