I'm Matthew, the founder of Maplewood Wealth, and I'll admit it—I'm a financial planning nerd. While I geek out over optimizing finances and taxes for my clients, what truly excites me is witnessing the transformation in their lives as they gain confidence in their financial decisions. At Maplewood Wealth, I've created a fresh approach to financial planning that resonates with fellow millennials who've found success early in their careers. I understand that for our generation, true financial confidence goes beyond mere numbers—it's about aligning our money with our values and goals to design the lifestyle we want. My approach allows you to enjoy life now while also securing a fulfilling future. Based in the Chicagoland area, I bring both professional expertise and relatable life experience to my practice. As a young father balancing career and family life, I intimately understand the challenges and aspirations you face. Whether you're a young professional building a strong financial foundation, a "surprised affluent" navigating sudden wealth, or part of a growing family juggling multiple financial priorities, I tailor my approach to your unique situation. With Maplewood Wealth, you're not just getting a financial planner—you're gaining a dedicated partner in navigating life's changes and achieving your dreams without stress. Let's work together to create a financial plan that empowers you to live your best life, both now and in the future.

Colin founded Mindful Money Financial Counsel in 2010 and has over 18 years of experience talking with people about money. Prior to founding the company, he worked at Fidelity Investments for 10 years in a variety of positions: service and trading representative, retirement investment specialist, investment representative, financial planning consultant, and Vice President Senior Account Executive. He received an MBA with a finance concentration from Xavier University and a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Ohio University. Colin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Registered Investment Adviser. He specializes in providing holistic financial planning and investment advice to Chicagoland individuals and couples in their 30’s and 40’s. Colin is an early riser, an Eagle Scout, and eager to lend a hand. He was born in Dayton, Ohio and lived in Waldorf, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio before moving to Chicago in 2003.

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.

Frank Novelli is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. He collaborates with clients to understand their unique financial goals and motivations, aiming to develop tailored financial plans that address individual needs and objectives. His objective is to serve as a primary financial advisor, providing advice and service. Frank's professional experience includes roles as Vice President and Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab (2022-2023), Senior Financial Consultant at TD Ameritrade (2020-2023), and Vice President and Advisor Consultant at Nuveen Investments (2014-2020). Outside of his professional career, Frank's personal interests include concerts, fishing, parenthood, scuba diving, snowboarding, and traveling.

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.

Deejay Ijaola is Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor at Fidelity Investments. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2013, progressing through roles including Investment Consultant, Financial Consultant, Vice President Wealth Planner, and currently serving as Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor since 2024. Prior to joining Fidelity, Deejay held various positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Advantage Funds from 2008 to 2013. Since beginning his career in financial services in 2008, Deejay has developed extensive experience in creating financial plans with clients. He focuses on helping clients develop, implement, and maintain financial plans that provide confidence and composure even in challenging markets. Outside of his professional work, Deejay has interests in comedy, family activities, fitness, tennis, theater, and traveling.

Michael Parris is Vice President and Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2026. In this capacity, he collaborates with clients and their families to understand their financial situations and develop comprehensive plans aimed at growing and protecting their wealth while working toward their financial goals. He emphasizes open communication and building strong, enduring relationships with his clients. Prior to his current role, Michael served as a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2026. Before joining Fidelity, he held positions at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., including Private Client Advisor from 2017 to 2022 and Private Client Banker from 2011 to 2017. His experience spans various aspects of financial planning and client advisory services.

Samuel Bachelor serves as a Financial Solutions Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with clients to understand their financial priorities and develop strategies aimed at pursuing their short-, mid-, and long-term goals. He provides guidance on various financial matters including investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected expenses, while also connecting clients to Bank of America specialists for services in banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions. With expertise in managing complex financial situations, Samuel works one-on-one with clients to define their goals and create portfolio strategies tailored to achieve them. He offers ongoing advice and adjusts financial plans as clients' circumstances evolve. Samuel holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Case Western Reserve University. He is fluent in both Arabic and English.

Timothy Womack is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he focuses on helping clients achieve their financial and lifestyle goals. Since beginning his career in financial services in 1991, Timothy has worked closely with clients on retirement income planning, cash flow management, fixed income strategy, and a range of wealth management strategies including college education planning, executive compensation, tax minimization, and legacy planning. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and has earned several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). These credentials support his commitment to maintaining the expertise needed to guide clients through various stages of life and financial priorities. Outside of his professional role, Timothy enjoys adventure sports such as biking, ice skating, running, and skiing. He also values spending time with his family and traveling. His approach emphasizes teamwork and involvement, aiming to be a primary source for financial, retirement, and college planning while providing dedicated and diligent service at each step of the financial planning process.