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Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Steven K Porter

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Barron's "Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Published annually in February - March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Barron's "America's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State" 2008 and 2009
Published annually in February. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of the prior year.

Kyle Porter

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State" 2023
Published on August 8, 2023. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023.*

Meet Our Group

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our group is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

Additional Resources

The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.

Bryant Wolfson

Alternative Investments Regional Specialist

Bank of America, N.A.

Anna Prokopenko

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Nicholas A. Beilfuss

Wealth Strategies Advisor

Bank of America, N.A.

Where do we begin? It starts with you.

At Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, your financial advisor focuses on the things you care about most- family, goals and priorities - even as they change over the years.

Understanding Your Life

Guidance Based on Decades of Experience


Since our founding in 1982, members of our team have been helping a broad spectrum of clients at various stages in their lives navigate the complexities of their wealth. With more than 125 years of collective experience, each member of our five-person, multigenerational team stands ready to help you make informed financial decisions.

Going beyond portfolio management, we offer wide-ranging strategies that can give you greater freedom to pursue the things in life you most enjoy. Whatever your goals may be, we can help you determine strategies designed to help you achieve them.

We are proud of our ability to maintain close, constructive relationships with people throughout Illinois and other parts of the country. With extensive backgrounds in administration and operations, our team members all share a dedication to enhancing your financial decision making though quality service and advice.

Dedication, Experience and Education


We’ve worked hard to build a team with knowledge and experience that upholds our commitment to outstanding wealth management. The age span of our team members gives us the ability to meet a variety of financial needs that may occur during the various stages of your life and the lives of your children, grandchildren and parents. 

We are proud that in 2022, our team leader, Steven Porter, was recognized in Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list (*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021), and Barron’s “America’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list in 2019 (*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published on March 11, 2019. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2018). We use our collective knowledge, acquired through years of real-world experience, extensive training and professional credentials, including the CRPC® designation, to stay at the forefront of industry updates and best practices. We believe our intellectual capital and disciplined, long-term wealth management approach can help you navigate financial challenges throughout ever-changing business and economic cycles.





*Source: The Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, published on April 7, 2022. Rankings based on data as of June 30, 2021.

Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC. Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual, and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices; also considered are: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK Research receive compensation in exchange for placement on the ranking.
For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC.


*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published on March 11, 2019. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2018.

The ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience and who have been employed at their current firm for at least one year. This is a list of the top advisors in each state, with the number of ranking spots determined by each state’s population and wealth. Other quantitative and qualitative measures include assets under management, revenues generated by advisors for their firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices, regulatory records, internal company documents, and 100-plus points of data provided by the advisors themselves. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Barron’s are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results, and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor.



 

How We Approach Your Needs 


Our approach to wealth management begins with a probing, in-depth review. We listen intently to get a clear understanding of your true goals, and what really matters to you. Together, we will explore a broad range of topics that are likely to influence your financial future — from your family situation to your career aspirations to the retirement you ultimately envision. What we learn will become the foundation for a strategy based on who you are and where you want to go.

No two clients are the same, and we recognize that your circumstances, needs and aspirations are exclusive to you. We firmly believe that your wealth management strategy should be inspired by your goals and objectives and customized in a way to help you achieve them. That’s why we take into account the full spectrum of your personal wants and desires to create a strategy uniquely designed for you.

Expanded Capabilities


The breadth of our practice includes services that can help meet your most complex wealth management needs.

Strategic Execution Across Generations


We take the time to build relationships with multiple generations of your family. Our goal is for them to have the continuity of advisors they can turn to for advice and guidance about their wealth management. Working with specialists from Merrill, and in coordination with your attorneys and accountants, we can help you develop a current and efficient estate planning strategy. We can advise you on trust investments, charitable giving strategies, life insurance and other sophisticated strategies to help you pass on your wealth in a desirable and tax-efficient manner.

Learning What Retirement Means To You


One of the most important functions we undertake is to help clients prepare for “what’s next.” After identifying your goals for retirement, we can help determine if your retirement assets will be able to generate enough income to support the lifestyle you desire, keep pace with inflation, meet unforeseen healthcare costs and weather downturns in the financial markets. Working together, we can help create a customized retirement income portfolio that may include stocks, bonds, cash, annuities or alternative investments*, if appropriate, to help you achieve your goals for the future. 

*Some or all alternative investment programs may not be in the best interest of certain investors. No assurance can be given that any alternative investment’s investment objectives will be achieved.

Staying on Track

We understand that both your life and the financial markets can change over time. By checking in to discuss changes in your life and revisiting your financial approach, our goal is to help you stay on track to achieve what's most important to you.



Reviews to help you
stay on track

We’ll meet with you to review your goals and the progress you’ve made toward reaching them. We’ll also discuss any adjustments needed to your financial approach to help you stay on course.



    Changes in your life
    and to your goals

    Your life and goals change. As these changes occur, we can update your approach to reflect them.

    #DigitalMerrill

    MyMerrill is your online destination for access to your financial information, secure communications, and a robust offering of tools and capabilities.

    Your advisor is a click away within our site or mobile apps

    You can manage account security with our customizable security capabilities such as touch ID, one time passcode, and other security features

    Access to your complete financial life is available with My Financial Picture, Merrill’s asset aggregation tool

      Let’s Have a Conversation

      Helping you reach your goals starts with getting to know you personally. Through understanding what matters most to you, together we can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can we offer an approach that is built around your life priorities and the advice you need to help you address fluctuations in the market and changes in your life. Let’s work together to help you achieve your goals.

      Why Merrill?

      As Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors, we will sort through the financial complexities of your life, helping you build a customized investment approach to address your needs and pursue your goals.


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      We put you first, every day.
      Learn more about the dedicated one-on-one relationship you can have with a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor.

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      Transcript of Video 

      No question too big or moment too small
      For every question you have, every decision you make and every answer you need, we are with you to listen and help guide you along the many paths your life can take. Watch this video to see some questions we can address together.


      The Power of the Right Advisor®
      Working with a dedicated Merrill advisor means you get personalized investment strategies from Merrill plus access to comprehensive financial solutions only Bank of America can deliver.

      Personalized advice from a dedicated financial advisor.

      We get to know you and your family, your financial situation and what matters most to you.

      A comprehensive approach, built around your life’s priorities.

      Drawing from our experience and the best thinking of Merrill, together we will design an approach that reflects your unique needs, priorities and financial situation.

      Adjusting your investment approach as your life and the markets change.

      We will work to help you stay on track, regardless of what the markets are doing.