Larry Pershing

Oak Wealth Advisors was founded to provide families with special needs members with experienced and objective financial advice and investment management services that have traditionally been available only to very wealthy families and institutions. I first met Oak Wealth Advisors founder, Mike Walther, when Mike guest lectured about special needs financial planning in one of my classes at the University of Wisconsin. In the decade that has followed, I have taught courses at the University of Wisconsin while deepening my knowledge and experience in financial planning and wealth management. I am a CFP® practitioner. I also obtained the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation issued by the Investments & Wealth Institute after completing the course work at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In addition to my personal experiences living with a sister with special needs, I have increased my technical knowledge of special needs financial planning. I earned the Chartered Special Needs Consultant®(ChSNC®) designation from the American College in 2018, and in 2020, was admitted as a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners. I served on the Board of Directors of Wispact, Inc., an organization that manages pooled Special Needs Trusts for over 3,000 individuals in Wisconsin. At the appointment of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, I serve on the Wisconsin Board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and the state College Savings Board. At Oak Wealth Advisors, in addition to advising clients, I lead the innovation efforts to ensure that new opportunities for client service are implemented seamlessly to support the delivery of the best possible client experience with the firm.

As Director of Physician Services at Prism Planning Partners, a fee-only RIA led by CFP® professionals, I lead a dedicated division serving physicians and healthcare professionals nationwide. My team and I specialize in helping medical professionals navigate every stage of their financial journey—from residency and fellowship through practice, career transitions, and retirement. I oversee a team that includes interns, paraplanners, and operations professionals, and collaborate closely with Prism’s Director of Financial Planning and Director of Operations to deliver high-impact, client-centered planning. Focus Areas: • Comprehensive financial planning tailored to physicians and healthcare professionals • Student loan strategies, including PSLF, refinancing, and REPAYE/SAVE optimization • Contract review and benefit analysis • Investment, tax, and estate planning strategies • Risk management (disability, life, long-term care) with no product sales • Burnout prevention and work/life balance strategies • Retirement and career transition planning • Speaking engagements and financial education for medical professionals Select Speaking Engagements: Regular speaker for medical residency and fellowship programs at: Northwestern, Loyola, University of Chicago, Rush, UIC, Cook County, Barnes-Jewish/Wash U, Medical College of Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora, University of Colorado, and more. Also presented for the Illinois Society of Pediatric Dentists, Illinois Pharmacists Association, and multiple private practices and hospital systems.

Garrett Dahm is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been providing financial guidance since 2017. He specializes in developing strategies and offering advice tailored to the short- and long-term financial objectives of individuals, families, and businesses. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, Garrett manages discretionary Personalized and Defined Strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment options. His areas of focus include family wealth management, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, liquidity management, retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and strategies for sports and entertainment clients. Garrett earned a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He completed his high school education at Prospect High School and attended Harper College without earning a degree. Outside of his professional role, Garrett has a background in classical guitar, having performed solo and with orchestras worldwide since the age of four. Notably, he performed in multiple cities in Australia during the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics. He lives in Mt. Prospect with his wife Tanya and their son Jace. His personal interests include golfing, ice hockey, practicing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Michelle Place is a Wealth Management Advisor and principal of The Place Wealth Management Group based in Northbrook, Illinois. She began her career in the investment industry in 2007 with Morgan Stanley Asset Management and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Financial Advisor in 2010. Michelle focuses on serving high net worth individuals and families, providing guidance in areas such as executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, and tax minimization. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin System and has completed an Accredited Certificate Program at the University of Chicago. Michelle is a Certified Financial Planner® professional, a Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™. Her team's mission is to deliver confidence and peace of mind to clients by managing the complex aspects of their financial lives with enduring value. Outside of her professional work, Michelle's personal interests include dancing, ice skating, pickleball, yoga, and spending time with her family.

Eric Thonn is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in helping equity-compensated executives and business owners simplify their financial lives by addressing complex planning needs. His approach involves building long-term client relationships through consultative, tailored, and comprehensive strategies focused on multi-generational wealth transfer aligned with clients’ values and aspirations. Eric’s expertise includes long-term wealth strategy, equity compensation, business optimization, college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management, legacy planning, retirement income, portfolio management, small business strategies, and tax minimization. He holds the title of Senior Portfolio Advisor at Merrill, managing discretionary custom investment strategies to support client objectives. He began his financial services career in 2014 with State Farm and has served as a Financial Advisor with Merrill since 2018. Eric earned a Bachelor’s degree in financial planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Outside of his professional role, Eric volunteers as a mentor for young adults with Erie Neighborhood House. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and their dog, Chloe, engaging in activities such as golf, basketball, cooking, and attending concerts.

Blair Chozen is a Vice President Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2023. Blair has been with Fidelity Investments since 2011, progressing through various positions including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Investment Solutions Representative, High Opportunity Financial Representative, and Tax Exempt Customer Service Associate. Blair is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Practitioner with a focus on wealth planning. Blair emphasizes listening and asking pertinent questions to understand clients' needs and uses Fidelity's resources to help clients explore financial strategies tailored to their circumstances and potential consequences. This approach aims to educate clients and empower them to make informed financial decisions. Outside of professional commitments, Blair has personal interests that include art, food, football, gardening, music, and pets.