Six Merrill Lynch advisors recognized by Barron's
Six locally-based Merrill Lynch advisors were recognized recently on 2017 Barron's “America's Top 1,200 Advisors: State-by-State List” published in the March 4 edition of Barron's magazine.
John “Jack” Hammond, Managing Director - Wealth Management and Wealth Management Advisor, joined Merrill Lynch in 2002. Hammond holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation. He also earned the Certified Financial Planner certification, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Actively involved with the Shedd Aquarium, Jack served as the 2011-2013 President of the Auxiliary Board and is a current board member. He also is a Loyola Academy Summer Service Leader. In his free time, Hammond enjoys playing golf, hockey, and spending time with his wife, Maggie, and daughter, Charlotte in Wilmette. He is based in Northbrook.
Thomas Kilborn, Managing Director - Wealth Management and Wealth Management Advisor, has been providing financial and wealth management strategies at Merrill Lynch since 1983. As The Kilborn Group's Team Leader, Kilborn focuses on crafting personalized asset allocations and driving the group's overall investment philosophy and strategy. With a focus on providing insightful, attentive service and customized investment strategies, his greatest reward comes from helping people pursue their financial goals. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University. He is active on his alumni board and the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund. Kilborn and his wife Katy live in Winnetka with their children, Courtney, Grace and Charlie. He is based in Northbrook.
Benjamin Klein, Managing Director - Wealth Management and Wealth Management Advisor, began his financial services career in 1996, becoming a market maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange in 1997. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2002. He leads The Klein Group and helps craft customized wealth management strategies designed to address each client's short-term needs and long-term goals. Klein holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and the Certified Financial Planner certification. He received a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He sits on the board of directors of the Jewish Community Center of Chicago and is a member of the Executives' Club of Chicago. Klein and his wife, Michelle, and their two children make their home in the Chicagoland area. He is based in Northbrook.
Rod Loewenthal, Managing Director - Wealth Management, Wealth Management Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager, joined Merrill Lynch in 1995 and has over 20 years of financial services experience. Loewenthal is a specially qualified senior portfolio manager who, in addition to providing traditional advice and guidance, helps clients pursue their objectives by building and managing their own personalized strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies. Loewenthal earned his bachelor's degree with honors in history from the University of Michigan. He resides with his wife, Tracy, and their three children in Highland Park. He is based in Northbrook.
Steven K. Porter, Managing Director - Wealth Management, Wealth Management Advisor, launched his Merrill Lynch career as a customer accounting clerk in 1987 becoming a financial advisor the following year. Porter understands all aspects of wealth management from operations, account opening, asset management, to financial planning. He takes on a customized “ground-up” approach taking into consideration the client's temperament, preferences and circumstances. He was practicing goals-based wealth management years before it became a popular phrase. Porter was raised in Lombard and lives in Lake Forest with his wife Sue. They have four grown children, two who've followed in their father's footsteps and now work for Merrill Lynch. He is based in Northbrook.
Brian Speers, Managing Director, Senior Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Manager, manages $1.130 billion in assets and has provided financial services and wealth management advice since 1989. He received a B.A. in Finance from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and earned a postgraduate degree from Loyola University School of Law. Speers has earned a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation. He was named one of the Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisors in the January-February 2010 and 2012 issues of PLAN ADVISER magazine. Speers helps clients meet their individual financial goals and objectives by providing customized wealth planning. He lives and is based in Oak Brook.