COMPASS FINANCIAL PARTNERS - Key Persons


Aaron Thill

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Aditi Javeri Gokhale

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Senior Leadership Team
  • Executive Vice President - Chief Strategy Officer, President of Retail Investments and Head of Institutional Investments

Alan L Nero

Job Titles:
  • Financial Representative
Alan began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 1968 as a college intern. After graduating from Springfield College, he became a full-time Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative. While he was starting his financial services career, Alan also became the head Wrestling Coach for the University of Rhode Island. There Alan was recognized as New England Coach of the year three times and was inducted into the URI Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Alan is proud to have been with Northwestern Mutual for over 50 years. He prides himself on always doing the right thing and helping clients achieve financial security. In 1984, Alan's career took an interesting turn. He developed some innovative ways to advise, insure, and negotiate on behalf of professional athletes. Alan continues to achieve recognition for his innovative style of representation in the sports marketing world. The Sporting News voted Alan one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Figures in Baseball. Street and Smiths named him one of the Top 20 Most Influential Sports Agents. While continuing his work at Northwestern Mutual, Alan is also the Managing Director of Octagon's Baseball Division. Alan has been married to his wife Lia since 1978 and spends most of his free time with his family. Alan has two children, Alana and Lou, and five grandchildren, Julia, Brody, Cooper, Emory and Maizy. While Alan and Lia call Chicago home, they are lucky enough to escape the harsh winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Alan and Lia spend their summers in Narragansett, Rhode Island, back where it all began!

Alejandro (Alex) Esquivel

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Management Specialist, Private Client Services

Bernadeta A Jelinek

Job Titles:
  • Director of Insurance
Bernadeta joined the firm in 2017 after more than 13 years in the Northwestern Mutual family. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and holds an Illinois Life and Health Insurance license. As Director of Insurance, Bernadeta is responsible for: Generating client reports Providing account balances Providing quotes for Life, Disability, Long Term Care Insurance Providing In-force Illustrations Scheduling medical exams and overseeing the underwriting process Submitting applications for life, disability, and long-term care insurance Assisting clients with questions on insurance billing accounts, insurance values, and other service needs Assisting with policy owner service-related issues, such as loans and policy maintenance Outside of work, Bernadeta enjoys traveling and long walks with her husband, Ken. Fishing is one of the passions she shares with her father and brother, and can frequently be found near the Chain-of-Lakes. During winter months Bernadeta likes to read with her cat Maya curled up next to her.

Bonnie Tomczak

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Investment Products, President, Mason Street Advisors

Brendan Van Egeren

Job Titles:
  • Associate Wealth Management Advisor
Brendan joined the firm in 2016 as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor. He was no stranger to Northwestern Mutual, as he spent the previous four years as a Financial Representative, where he was responsible for new client acquisition and delivering customized financial solutions to clients. A graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Brendan holds his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification, Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designations, as well as his Series 6, 7, & 63 registrations and Life and Health Insurance license. Brendan is responsible for: Facilitating client review meetings and plan updates Executing trade orders Discussing investment strategies with clients Opening new accounts Updating account information (address changes, beneficiary changes, changes to account registration, etc.) Processing account transfers and IRA rollovers Providing account balances and consolidated reports Outside of the office, Brendan and his wife are thoroughly enjoying their newborn daughter. Brendan loves golf and fishing, and occasionally, you may also catch him on TV attending a Chicago Blackhawks or Cubs game.

Christopher Moser

Job Titles:
  • Investment Consultant

Craig Kasap

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Fixed Income Team

Dan Amiri

Job Titles:
  • Senior Research & Portfolio Analyst, NMWMC Research

Daniel Baumgart

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Daniel J. Adams

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Private Client Services Team
  • Senior Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

David Andrzejewski

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Private Client Services Team
  • Senior Director / Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Douglas H. Peck

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Private Client Services Team
  • Senior Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Eileen Swartout

Job Titles:
  • Client Service Coordinator
Eileen joined the team in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of office and project management experience. As Client Service Coordinator, she will work with the team to provide operational support and exceptional client service. She attended Carleton College for her undergraduate degree, and continued her academic career at the University of Chicago, where she earned her Master's Degree. Eileen is responsible for: Scheduling client meetings Service support for insurance products Leading community outreach & philanthropy projects Assisting with special business developments Managing marketing and product campaign initiatives Eileen and her husband Jim live in Lake Forest with their four children - James, Thomas, Viola, and Philip. Outside of work, Eileen enjoys spending time with her family, walking with friends, working out, and cooking. Her happy place is the Florida Keys!

Erin Wunrow

Job Titles:
  • Director of Client Relations
Erin joined the firm in 2019 with 25 years of experience in corporate sales, support, and training. As Director of Client Relations, she provides operational support to the team and serves as the primary contact for client relations and helps ensure a white glove experience.

Erjola Borici

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Management Specialist, Private Client Services

Garrett D. Aird

Job Titles:
  • Vice President - NMWMC Investment Management & Research, Vice President - Mason Street Advisors

Jack Gorski

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Manager, Equities

Jarodd White

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Jeffery S. Nelson

Job Titles:
  • Senior Director / Senior Portfolio Manager, Equities

Jenna Koenings

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

Jennifer Stell

Job Titles:
  • Senior Investment Consultant Advisor Recruiting

Jim Murray

Job Titles:
  • Senior Research Analyst, NMWMC Research

John E. (Jeb) Bentley

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Senior Leadership Team

Joseph G. Guin

Job Titles:
  • Co - Founder and Partner, Private Wealth Advisor
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Human Behavior from Millikin University, Joe began his wealth management career in 1990 with a boutique financial planning firm. He then launched his own practice with Northwestern Mutual in 1999 and built a highly-credentialled team of financial professionals serving clients across the country. Joseph G Guin, Timothy George Hender, Lucas Andrew Baschnagel, Michael Stefan Gandy, Justin Evan Mack and Brendan Van Egeren use Compass Financial Partners as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Compass Financial Partners is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Joseph G Guin, Timothy George Hender, Lucas Andrew Baschnagel, Michael Stefan Gandy, Justin Evan Mack and Brendan Van Egeren provide investment advisory services as Advisors of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank. Joseph G Guin, Timothy George Hender, Lucas Andrew Baschnagel and Michael Stefan Gandy are Agents of Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (long-term care insurance) a subsidiary of NM. Joseph G Guin, Timothy George Hender, Lucas Andrew Baschnagel, Michael Stefan Gandy, Justin Evan Mack and Brendan Van Egeren provide investment brokerage services as Registered Representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), a subsidiary of NM, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer and member FINRA (finra.org) and SIPC (sipc.org). Joseph G Guin, Timothy George Hender, Lucas Andrew Baschnagel, Michael Stefan Gandy, Justin Evan Mack and Brendan Van Egeren are Insurance Agents of NM.

Justin Evan Mack

Justin joined the firm in 2019. As Director of Investments, he is responsible for designing and managing client investment and wealth planning strategies. Prior to this, Justin spent 14 years working with high net worth families and individuals in the banking industry. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He is also a CFA® charterholder and a member of the Chicago CFA® Society. Justin is responsible for: Facilitating client review meetings Designing and managing investment strategies within client portfolios Developing wealth planning strategies implemented within client financial plans Developing and managing retirement income plans Answering questions about the investment process and strategy utilized in client portfolios Overseeing initial and on-going due diligence of specific investment strategies held within client portfolios Implementing new client investment strategies Justin and his wife, Kate, live in Park Ridge with their two children, and he is a lifelong Chicagoland resident. When not in the office, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, loves reading, being outdoors and supporting his Wisconsin Badgers.

Karissa Zanoni

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Katie Wood

Job Titles:
  • Senior Investment Consultant

Keith Dickerson

Job Titles:
  • Senior Investment Research Analyst, NMWMC Research

Lori Evans - COO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Operations
Before starting her career with Northwestern Mutual, Lori graduated on the Dean's List from the University of Chicago with a degree in Human Development. She continued her academic studies at the University of New Haven where she earned her master's degree in Sports Management. While there, she served as the Assistant Coach for their Women's Basketball Team. Lori then joined Northwestern Mutual in 2011 and has held several leadership roles within the organization. In her role working with Tim Hender at the Hender and Nero Financial Group, she led insurance underwriting, client service and scheduling. As Director of Human Resources and Integration for Compass Financial Partners, Lori is responsible for: Office management Generating business reports Applying for and renewing licenses Technology assistance Bookkeeping Human resources Implementation of new practices She is married to her husband Poitier, and they have 2 sons, Paxon and Parker. Lori enjoys playing and watching as much basketball as possible, binge watching a good Netflix series, and hanging out with her family.

Lucas Andrew Baschnagel

Luke started with Northwestern Mutual as a college intern in 2009. He majored in Finance at The Ohio State University, graduated in 2010 with Cum Laude honors and led his own financial planning practice before joining forces with Tim in 2012. In that role he led financial planning, investment implementation and insurance design. Luke currently holds his Life/Health, Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 and is a Certified Investment Management Analyst. As Director of Financial Planning for Compass Financial Partners, Luke is responsible for development and oversight of Financial Plans and facilitating client review meetings. Luke has the expertise to: Discuss investment strategy Analyze investment accounts/proposals Execute trades Open & update investment accounts Process account transfers and asset movement Review and discuss in-force insurance policies/proposals Outside of the office, Luke enjoys spending time with family, being outside as much as he can, working out and watching sports. Luke lives in Glenview, with his wife Rachel and their daughter, Frannie.

MacKenzie Schill

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Manager Specialist, Fixed Income

Marisol Garcia

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Matt Sobocinski

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Matthew D. Wilbur

Job Titles:
  • Member of the NMWMC Investment Consultant Team
  • Senior Director, Advisory Investments

Michael A. Helmuth

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Fixed Income Team
  • Chief Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

Michael Gandy

Job Titles:
  • Investment Operations Associate
Michael joined the firm in 2022 as an Investment Operations Associate. Prior to this role, he spent the previous eight years in client-facing position where he delivered knowledge-based service and support to sophisticated clientele. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Parkside, Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Business Management and holds his Series 7 and 66 registrations, along with his Life and Health Insurance license. Michael is responsible for: Plan updates Executing trade orders Opening new accounts Updating account information (address changes, beneficiary changes, changes to account registration, etc.) Processing account transfers and IRA rollovers Providing account balances and consolidated reports Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and friends, working out, working on cars, and attending automotive events.

Nicholas Creech

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Peter J. Sauer

Job Titles:
  • Senior Investment Research Analyst, NMWMC Research

Shayla Martin

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Large Cap Equity Team
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Equities

Stefanie Cheske

Job Titles:
  • Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services

Steven M. Bruce

Job Titles:
  • Member of the NMWMC Investment Consultant Team

Timothy George Hender

Job Titles:
  • Co - Founder and Partner, Private Wealth Advisor
Tim Hender has devoted his career to growth-oriented strategies and has a mission to help families navigate their journey to financial security. Prior to his 11-year career with Northwestern Mutual as a Private Wealth Advisor, he traded stock options for 15 years at the American Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Tim started as a clerk with a firm called Botta Capital Management his freshmen year in college. Shortly after college graduation, he worked his way up to Managing Director for the firm's New York City location. While trading in New York City, Tim was also responsible for managing a team of 15+ market makers. For the last ten years as a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, Tim's mission has been to help successful people create peace of mind by delivering personalized wealth management solutions. He engages clients in courageous and passionate conversation to help them achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. He and his team use their collective 75+ years of investment and insurance experience to help clients manage their risk, build wealth, and create lasting legacies. Tim is a graduate of Lake Forest High School in Illinois and the University of Vermont. He married his high school sweetheart, Alana, and together they raised their three kids - Julia, Brody, and Cooper - in Lake Forest, the same small town in which they grew up. While work is important to Tim, so is giving back to the community he loves. Tim has coached many of his kids' sports teams, served on the Lake Forest Caucus, is a board member of the Gorton Community Center, and serves on the finance committee of the Community Church of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

Tony Desrochers

Job Titles:
  • Research Specialist, NMWMC Research

Zach Freudenberg

Job Titles:
  • Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Client Services