Chicago, IL Office

Saraphina Peters is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, Blueprint Wealth Advisors, and other firms. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base including individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through tailored model portfolios and offers specialized services such as fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Luke Stortzum is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Merit Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, having joined in 2025. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Networks, Blueprint Wealth Advisors, Cetera, and Edward Jones. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion across 144 advisors and serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment strategy using model portfolios and modular sleeves, with oversight by a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee, while allowing advisors to customize portfolios on various platforms.

Ryan Evans is a CFP® and ChFC® with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Merit Financial Advisors and PKS Investments, having previously worked at Blueprint Wealth Advisors, LLC and Commonwealth Financial Network. Outside of his advisory roles, he owns George St. Securities, an operating LLC involved in business support activities. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios and offers specialized services such as independent fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Nadezda Scharnell is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Merit Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley for ten years before joining Merit Financial Advisors and related firms in 2025. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment strategy using model portfolios and customizable sleeves, supported by a centralized Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Thomas Clark is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Commonwealth Financial Network, Blueprint Wealth Advisors, Charles Schwab Investment Management, and Jackson National Asset Management. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving around 20,040 clients across 66 offices and managing approximately $23.9 billion in client assets. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services and employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using centrally managed sleeves and standard model allocations overseen by an internal Investment Management team.

Patrick Noonan is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors since 2025. He previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network for 11 years. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base including individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central investment team.

Nicholas Wilkins is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Chicago, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Blue Print Wealth Advisors and Commonwealth Financial Network for 13 years before joining Merit Financial Advisors and Purshe Kaplan Sterling in 2025. Wilkins is the owner of Huron Leavitt LLC, a non-investment-related business. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving more than 20,000 clients across 66 offices and managing approximately $23.9 billion in client assets. The firm emphasizes long-term, diversified portfolios managed through a combination of centrally managed models and advisor customization, offering coordinated wealth management services and specialized fiduciary and trustee offerings.

John O'Shea is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Blueprint Wealth Advisors LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Slalom. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and modular sleeves, with oversight from a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee.