Chicago, IL West Madison Street Office

Pantelis Xidias is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies, he worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing workflow at Apex Auto Care, an automotive repair business. Eagle Strategies serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated representatives. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with the majority of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis and a focus on fiduciary responsibilities to retirement investors.

Christopher Mcdonald is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2016 and holds securities registrations through Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co. His other business activities include insurance brokering for non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored advice across multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Samuel Strum is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked with New York Life Insurance Company and related entities since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is a board member of Cadence Music NFP and the 20s and 30s board at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, and he is involved as a partner in Broadway Goes A Cappella, a concert production blending theater and a cappella performances. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients with financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types, emphasizing tailored recommendations and fiduciary responsibilities, and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Renate Knippen is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having three years of industry experience. She has worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC, Evelin Flaherty Freytas, Mastermind Wealth Strategies LLC, and operated Knippen Enterprises Inc. outside of her current role. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, delivering advice through various program types tailored to client objectives.

Edward Hawley is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies and New York Life entities since 2012 and currently operates under the Alpha Solutions Group for brokering insurance products. Hawley is a minority investor in a restaurant and holds a passive investment in cryptocurrency. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated representatives. The firm offers multiple program types and focuses on tailored recommendations across both discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary asset management.

Darinka Lora Stepan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. Stepan also operates Darinka Lora-Stepan & Associates Financial & Insurance Solutions and has served with New York Life and its related entities for over a decade. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations focused on homebuyer education and youth tennis scholarships in Chicago. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tailored advice delivered through multiple program types and manages a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life structure.

Evelin Freytas is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with New York Life Insurance Company and related entities since 2009 and currently operates Mastermind Wealth Strategies LLC. Freytas serves as President and Advisory Board member of the Ecuadorian Volunteers Association (EVA), a nonprofit focused on education, social, and health programs in Ecuador. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional investors, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of program types emphasizing tailored advice and manages assets primarily on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Scott Edmiston is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee based in Chicago, IL, with one year of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2026 and previously held roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company starting in 2024, following 21 years at Aon plc. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple advisory programs tailored to client objectives and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Jason Spears is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, Illinois. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and has 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and has concurrently worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of Sphere Global Logistics, LLC, a company involved in freight transportation, and is engaged in buying and rehabbing distressed homes through Spears & Co., LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and corporate and charitable clients. The firm offers various advisory services and emphasizes tailored recommendations, primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis and maintaining fiduciary responsibilities particularly in retirement plan consulting.

Ellis Lora Arceo is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Ellis currently operates under the DBA Darinka Lora-Stepan & Associates Financial and Insurance Solutions, selling New York Life products and services. Her prior work includes roles at Anixter Inc. and Lake Forest College. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and corporate and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and predominantly managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Joanne Litman is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Chicago, IL. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 11 years of industry experience. Joanne has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and has been affiliated with New York Life entities since 2015. She serves as a board member for Women Belong, a business networking organization in Deerfield, IL, and also holds a board position with the BNI 5 Star Chapter in Chicago. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional sponsors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives and maintains a large asset base predominantly managed on a non-discretionary basis.