Oak Brook, IL Spring Rd Office

Matthew Ibrahim is a Financial Advisor specializing in wealth management strategies, currently affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with individuals, families, corporate executives, and business owners to navigate critical financial decisions and pursue long-term goals such as building wealth, preparing for retirement, and creating a legacy. His areas of expertise include corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, education planning, employee benefits planning, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, and tax minimization. Matthew holds professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois System. Outside of his professional role, Matthew speaks both English and Arabic and is involved in community service through organizations such as Feed My Starving Children. His personal interests include basketball, billiards, boxing, fishing, golfing, music, soccer, spending time with family, traveling, and watching movies.

David Kaunelis is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2002. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Jonathan Ruiz is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He is bilingual and serves as a resource for general investing, retirement planning, and saving for unexpected events. He also provides access to Bank of America specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. Jonathan's expertise covers a range of client focus areas including education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and retirement income. He holds professional designations such as Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Outside of his professional work, Jonathan has personal interests in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and traveling.

Vanessa Gizzi is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been dedicated to serving clients at Merrill since 2007. Vanessa applies the Goals-Based Wealth Management Process along with the research and technological resources of Bank of America and Merrill to assist individuals, families, and business owners in simplifying their financial lives. She focuses on wealth planning and relationship management to provide tailored guidance and strategy that align with her clients' unique needs and goals. Vanessa's areas of expertise include education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University and earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Additionally, Vanessa holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and is affiliated with the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Outside of her professional work, Vanessa is actively involved in her community through organizations such as the Lockport Women's Club Artisan Market at Old Canal Days and the Lockport Women's Club Financial Literacy Initiative. She enjoys running, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.

James Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1997. Merrill serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charities, and institutional clients, offering managed account programs, third-party manager selection, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage execution services through multiple program strategies governed by the firm’s CIO and platform oversight.

Susan Pedersen is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 1991 and focuses on helping clients develop potential solutions and provide investment guidance for individuals, families, and businesses by understanding their short- and long-term financial objectives. Susan holds the designations of Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). She is a graduate of DePaul University. Susan specializes in areas including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, and retirement income. She follows a disciplined process that begins with getting to know her clients and their financial situations to craft customized financial strategies aimed at helping them pursue their goals. Susan lives in DuPage County with her husband and two sons. She and her family are active in the community, supporting Christ Church and participating in local missions. She has committed to giving 10% of her time to help others with their financial goals without obligation or cost.

Michael Lee is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in delivering personalized wealth management strategies that address the complex needs of high net worth individuals. Michael takes a systematic approach to develop customized financial plans aligned with each client's unique circumstances, focusing on simplifying the complexities of financial lives through time-tested, goal-based principles. Michael's areas of expertise include college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree and earned his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University. Before joining Merrill in 2005, Michael practiced as a corporate and securities attorney for 11 years. He holds professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the CFA Society of Chicago. In addition to his professional work, Michael participates in community volunteering inspired by the Merrill tradition of serving local communities. His personal interests include chess, genealogy, hunting, and watching movies.

Meagan Fitzgerald is a financial advisor with Merrill based in Oak Brook, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 1993 and concurrently associated with Bank of America, N.A. since 2014. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Ryan Maloney is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works directly with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies aimed at helping them achieve these objectives. Ryan provides ongoing advice and adjusts portfolios as clients' situations evolve. With a focus on personalized investment guidance, retirement planning, and comprehensive wealth management strategies, Ryan is dedicated to building long-term relationships and delivering advice tailored to individual client needs. He holds the Professional designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Ryan earned his High School Diploma from Joliet Catholic Academy.

Scott Webb is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of the Elmhurst Baseball and Softball League and acts as a commissioner for one of its leagues. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Samuel Raheem is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on helping clients identify their priorities to build strategies aimed at achieving their financial goals. He holds professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Samuel earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Alan Madej is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a partner at Pierce, Madej & Associates. Since beginning his career in May 2007, Alan has specialized in developing customized wealth management strategies and portfolio management services, with a particular focus on education planning, legacy planning, and personal retirement planning. He evaluates and designs asset allocations mindful of tax consequences within comprehensive financial plans. Alan holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and maintains professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®). He was recognized in 2023 by Forbes as a “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisor Best-in-State.” Residing in Hinsdale, Alan is involved in his community as a volunteer basketball coach for the Gateway Gators Special Olympics team and participates in the Golfview Hills Men's Golf League. He also enjoys playing paddle tennis and golfing.

Dillon Kane is a financial advisor with Merrill in Oak Brook, IL, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His work history includes positions at Northern Trust Securities and Raymond James Financial Services, in addition to multiple terms with Merrill. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Humberto Raya Vazquez is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in bespoke wealth strategies, multidisciplinary financial planning, and customized investment solutions for individuals and families. He combines a foundational background in retail banking with an international perspective to assist clients in navigating complex financial landscapes. Humberto began his career in financial services as a bank teller and progressed through various operational and client-facing roles before transitioning to financial advising. This experience has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of banking, lending, and advisory processes. With over eight years in the financial services industry, Humberto holds professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He approaches wealth management by understanding each client's unique goals, values, and life priorities, creating tailored strategies aligned with their specific risk tolerance and long-term objectives. Humberto emphasizes discipline, patience, and a long-term perspective to help clients achieve financial freedom and lasting success. Humberto's personal interests include football, hunting, soccer, spending time with his family, swimming, and traveling. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and holds a High School Diploma from Parkway High School.

Hani Atassi is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has over 25 years of experience in financial services, having begun his career in 1996. Hani specializes in creating customized wealth management strategies that address individual client needs, with a focus on portfolio management, annuity strategies for retirement income, ERISA retirement plans, and college education planning. He also provides services related to socially responsible and values-based investing, including faith-based and Islamic-compliant strategies. Hani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (1991) and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University Chicago (1994). He has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Hani serves clients such as health care professionals and offers expertise in areas like divorce transition planning, tax minimization, and investment consulting for defined contribution plans. Outside of his professional work, Hani is involved with The Mecca Center and enjoys hiking, running, and swimming. He resides in Burr Ridge with his wife and two sons. He is fluent in both English and Arabic.