Top stock option exercise strategy financial advisors in Naperville, 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 have stock options nearing their expiration or a planned job change, you need an advisor who understands the timing and tax impact of exercising those options. A common mistake is exercising too early or too late, which can lead to unnecessary taxes or lost gains.

  • Exercise timing insight. Look for advisors who explain how market conditions and your personal financial goals affect when to exercise.
  • Tax implications. Confirm they consider both federal and state taxes, especially since Illinois has no tax on retirement income but high property taxes.
  • Alternative strategies. Ask if they discuss strategies like early exercise or spreading exercises over time to manage risk and tax bills.
  • Coordination with your financial plan. Ensure they integrate your stock option decisions with your broader investment and retirement goals.

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

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Nolan C

Series 66

Naperville, IL

Arkadios Wealth Advisors

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.

Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Retired
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Susan A

CFP®, Series 66

Naperville, IL

Advisors Capital Management, LLC

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.

Wealth management Passive / index investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting
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Bharati T

Series 63, Series 65

Naperville, IL

Cetera

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.

Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Founder/Business Owner Executive
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Larsa H

Series 63, Series 65

Naperville, IL

FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc.

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.

Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting ESG / Sustainable investing General retirement planning
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Richard W

Series 63, Series 65

Naperville, IL

LPL Financial

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.

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

Andrew G

Series 66

Cincinnati, OH

Merrill

Andrew Grombala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on serving corporate executives and high-earning professionals who have complex compensation structures, including equity awards such as RSUs, stock options, ESPP programs, deferred compensation packages, and performance awards. In his role, he helps clients manage concentration risk, reduce tax implications, and align their equity compensation with long-term, goals-based wealth strategies. Since entering the industry in 2017, Andrew has adopted a structured, plan-first approach that incorporates compensation, cash flow, family priorities, retirement planning, and overall risk management. He guides clients through various financial events, including vesting, diversification, liquidity management, and retirement income planning. His expertise extends to executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and tax minimization. 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 also competed as a student-athlete in football and lacrosse. He resides in Anderson Township with his wife and two children. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys boating, golfing, football, ice hockey, music, and spending time with his family.

Exec comp design Stock option exercise strategy Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) Liquidity event planning Concentrated stock management 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 RPJ, he worked at Clarendon Wealth Management and has experience with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Brambleton Bettas. Rembert Pendleton Jackson provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and business consulting to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Business exit / sale strategy Stock option exercise strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy General tax planning Founder/Business Owner Retired

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 Startup equity planning 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 a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Advanced Insurance Strategies, Inc and Retirement Income Strategies, Inc. Neese also serves as a marketing associate at Lindberg & Ripple through M Holdings Securities. LRI Investments, LLC provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, financial institutions, and certain government entities. The firm manages approximately $2.78 billion with a team of 25 professionals, focusing on customized asset allocation and a long-term investment approach across mutual funds, ETFs, and equities.

Stock option exercise strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Retirement income strategy Tax strategies for small businesses Charitable giving tax strategies Founder/Business Owner Retired Self-Employed Executive Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)
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