Brian is celebrating more than 30 years at Merrill and relationships that span three and four generations of client families. Throughout his career, Brian’s focus on the wealth and wishes of clients has never wavered. He continues to see clients as people, not portfolios – with real-world situations and ambitions that weigh heavily on the financial strategies he builds on their behalf.

Brian has been recognized by Barron’s on its “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” List in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 (*Source: The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State” list, published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year).

Brian is inspired by the stories he hears from clients – about the milestones they’ve achieved and the bumps they’ve taken along the way. In working to serve their best interests, he strives to understand how they want to live with the wealth they’ve accumulated – and how they want to transition wealth later to their children and grandchildren.

While Brian is responsible for the team’s wealth structure strategies and investment decisions, he feels most rewarded collaborating with clients’ families and watching their goals materialize. To help ensure that clients’ needs and desires are addressed in a tax-efficient manner and for generations to come, he often coordinates with their CPAs and attorneys on tax-minimization and estate planning strategies. And because clients’ wishes often go beyond “dollars and cents,” he has helped bring families together annually by creating foundations that require all to be present.

A lifetime learner, Brian holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation through the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. Brian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law.

Brian is generous with his time – holding a trustee position at Loyola University of Chicago and supporting other non-profit organizations. Married to a former elementary school teacher, Brian also enjoys playing golf and reading about history.



*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.

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

The Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” ranking considered advisors with a minimum of seven years 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. 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. Barron’s is a trademark of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

Seeing clients achieve goals he’s helped make possible is tremendously fulfilling to Sam. Since 2006, he’s been able to savor those moments. Sam began his financial services career as a Wealth Management Lending Officer in the Oak Brook office. Given his desire to enhance clients’ overall financial pictures – with strategies that span risk-managed investing, intergenerational wealth planning and liability management – Sam joined The Speers Group in 2020.

“It feels good to help clients through difficult transitions and various lifecycles – whether they’re accumulating wealth, considering an exit strategy, planning for retirement, or looking to create a legacy. If clients have questions about their portfolio, their estate plan, Social Security, a mortgage, buying a car or boat, I encourage them to call me,” Sam says.

Sam believes that being a trusted steward of clients’ long-term wealth demands that he explain rationales in clear, simple language. He also takes the time to educate clients’ children and grandchildren on being wise beneficiaries of wealth. For Sam, one conversation is never enough. As clients’ circumstances and market conditions change, so must a strategy be reviewed and possibly adjusted.

With a rewarding retirement lifestyle a common objective for many clients, Sam has received rigorous industry training. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation through the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp.

Born and raised in Chicago, Sam studied Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago. A longtime Bears fan, he and his better half, Natalie, are also avid travelers and foodies. When time allows, Sam enjoys a good game of golf.



*NMLS ID: 543284

A determined problem-solver, Patrick enjoys addressing a wide range of clients’ financial challenges – with the goal of brightening their financial picture and their outlook. He is a proud and integral member of The Speers Group, since interning with the team in 2012 and joining full-time in 2015.

Patrick finds that his rigorous industry training allows him to bring clients an extra measure of financial knowledge and work more strategically on their behalf. With the importance he places on a disciplined planning-based approach, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

Patrick pays close attention to what clients envision five, ten and 20 years down the road – and what their futures can look like, given a realistic financial strategy they can understand and follow. He works with many clients who are building wealth and other “next-generation” clients whose ages and experience align with his – making conversations comfortable, not a formality. In all client relationships, Patrick believes that clear communication is essential to building trust and strategies that offer enduring benefits.

Born, raised and living now in the Melrose Park area of Chicago, Patrick enjoys staying active, fit and exploring new destinations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University.