Michael Riordan

Advisor at Merrill

Updated today

Location

Chicago, IL 60606

Credentials

Series 63, Series 66

Industry experience

9 years

About

Michael Riordan is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Chicago. He serves as a single point of contact for his clients, coordinating with a broader team that includes Investment Analysts, Bankers, and Lending Specialists to address all client needs. This structure enables Michael to take ownership of various client situations and act as an advocate for their financial goals.

Michael's expertise encompasses employee benefits planning, executive compensation, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, he was a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Edge, where he assisted Bank of America’s high net-worth clients at the branch level.

He holds a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Business Administration and Marketing from The University of Dubuque, where he also played college baseball, and an MBA from North Park University in Chicago. Michael has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, attending sporting events, and spending time with his wife and their two Goldendoodles.

Client services

Based on Merrill

Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers Educational seminars or workshops
Performance measurement reports, allocation modeling, ips, research reports and services, see schedule d

Expertise

Wealth management Retirement income strategy General retirement planning Retirement withdrawal strategies Tax strategies for small businesses

Occupation focus

Based on Merrill

Executive Founder/Business Owner

Demographic focus

Based on Merrill

Mid-Career Professionals HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet)

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Fee options

Percentage

$0 - $2,000,000: 1.10% (for Managed Strategy with MFSA under $2 million) $2,000,000+: 1.00% (for Managed Strategy with MFSA at and above $2 million)

Other

Account minimum: $2,000,000 minimum to qualify for Premium Access Strategy per SEC data and Merrill brochure context; no other firm-wide minimum clearly stated

Location

110 N Wacker Dr

Chicago, IL 60606

Most active in

Illinois · Texas

Work history

Bank of America, N.A.

2018 - Present (8 years)

Merrill

2018 - Present (8 years)

JP Morgan Chase Bank

2016 - 2018 (2 years)

JP Morgan Securities, LLC

2016 - 2018 (2 years)

MML Investor Services, LLC

2016 - 2016 (1 year)

MassMutual Life Insurance Co

2015 - 2016 (1 year)

Hoopis Group

2015 - 2016 (1 year)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

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Richard S

Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

SRC Capital Management

Richard Smith is the founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Officer of SRC Capital Management in Chicago, IL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience. Smith has held teaching positions at several universities, including DeVry University, Southern New Hampshire University, Chicago Public School District 299, Argosy University, and University of Phoenix. SRC Capital Management provides investment and wealth management services to individual investors as well as corporate, public, and private entities. The firm focuses on separately managed accounts with a fundamental, bottom-up research approach targeting mid- and large-cap equities, emphasizing low turnover and long-term portfolio construction.

Active portfolio management Concentrated stock management
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Julia Z

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Chicago, IL

Genfi LLC

Julia Zakarias is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience and serves as the sole advisor at Genfi LLC in Chicago, IL. She has worked at Generations Family & Fiduciary Services LLC since 2011. Zakarias is also a Certified Public Accountant and provides tax compliance and limited accounting services through her affiliated tax practice, Genfi Tax. Genfi LLC serves family groups, individuals including high-net-worth and corporate executives, trusts, corporations, retirement plans, and tax-exempt entities, offering integrated investment advisory and comprehensive wealth-planning services. The firm provides tailored investment advice and implements recommendations using a range of securities and managers, with additional family-office and investment consulting services.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Equity compensation tax strategy Options & derivatives strategies Executive
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Brian W

Series 65

Chicago, IL

Bright Lantern Financial LLC

Brian Wolf is the sole advisor at Bright Lantern Financial LLC in Chicago, IL, where he has worked since 2011. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. Bright Lantern Financial LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on broad diversification with low-cost index funds and ETFs, cost management, and tax-efficient strategies.

Passive / index investing Tax-loss harvesting College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General retirement planning

Brett W

CFP®

Brookfield, IL

Wysopal Wealth

At Wysopal Wealth, we specialize in helping high-income professionals and former athletes manage the complexities of equity compensation and variable income. Our goal is to make sure your money works for you—today and for the future. We focus on creating personalized, values-driven financial plans that allow you to live fully now while planning for what’s next. I’m Brett Wysopal, a proud girl dad of two and a former minor pro hockey player. My experience in sports taught me discipline, focus, and resilience, all of which I apply to financial planning. After spending years navigating the world of equity compensation, I’ve made it my mission to help families simplify their finances, reduce tax burdens, and achieve their life goals. Our approach at Wysopal Wealth is rooted in personalized attention. We keep our client list small, ensuring every client receives the time and care they deserve. We dive deep into your financial situation, understanding your numbers, values, and what matters most to you. This allows us to tailor your financial strategy to your unique goals, whether that’s managing your equity, preparing for retirement, or planning a family legacy. Equity compensation is often the largest part of our clients' wealth, but it comes with complexities—ISOs, RSUs, stock options, and significant tax implications. Many people wait too long to make decisions about their equity, resulting in missed opportunities or unexpected tax bills. At Wysopal Wealth, we take a proactive approach, creating a strategy for when and how to execute your equity plans, minimize tax liability, and diversify your holdings. At Wysopal Wealth, financial happiness is the goal. We believe that money should support the life you want, and we’re here to help you make that happen.

Equity Recipients (RS/RSU, SOP, ESPP) General tax planning Technology Professional Gen Y/Millennials (Born 1980-1995)
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Michael C

Series 65

Chicago, IL

MJC Financial Fitness LLC

Michael Chrisler is a financial advisor with MJC Financial Fitness LLC in Chicago, IL, holding a Series 65 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He founded MJC Financial Fitness, formerly known as Flex Financial Coaching, in 2019 after 14 years with Envestnet Asset Management. MJC Financial Fitness provides financial planning and investment management services to individual clients through a "Holistic Financial Fitness" approach. The firm offers comprehensive planning analyses and ongoing portfolio supervision tailored to client goals, utilizing fundamental analysis alongside third-party managers and digital platforms.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) Cash flow / budgeting
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Sobhi B

CFP®, Series 66

Chicago, IL

Haland Wealth Management

Sobhi Baghdadi is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Haland Wealth Management in Chicago, IL. Prior to founding his current firm, Baghdadi worked at Savant Wealth Management and other financial firms. He also owns Seventwotwentythree LLC - Haland Financial LLC, through which he provides financial coaching and conducts general financial seminars and videos. Haland Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving both plan sponsors and individual clients. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, employing a portfolio-construction approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory that incorporates both passive and active strategies.

Cash flow / budgeting Debt management College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
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