Barrington wealth adviser named to 40 under 40 list

Barrington resident Chris Bilton, a private wealth adviser for Merrill Lynch, was recently named to the 2022 Financial Planning "Top 40 Advisors Under 40" list. He is one of just three advisers in Illinois named to the prestigious list.

This national listing recognizes the industry's top-producing young brokers among wirehouses and regional firms. On a combined basis, these Top 40 brokers generate more than $203 million in annual production - an average of $5.1 million per year - and oversee $46 billion in client assets. The group's production rose 22% from last year's class, while the assets surged by 24%.

Bilton, 38, co-founded PLB & Associates, one of the largest wealth and investment management teams in the United States that oversees client assets of more than $3.2 billion.

As a private wealth adviser, Bilton provides specialized services and investment strategies to family offices, institutions, endowments, foundations and multigenerational families. For more than 15 years, he and his team have built a practice that emphasizes intellectual rigor, in-depth customization and committed service.

When he's not at work, Bilton serves as an executive board member for Barrington Children's Charities. He earned a degree in economics from the University of Colorado and his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and granted by the Investment & Wealth Institute.