F. J. PHILLIPS: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR, KILBORN PHILLIPS & ASSOCIATES, MERRILL LYNCH WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Ask F.J. Phillips the secret to his success in wealth management and he’ll tell you it’s important to work hard, work smart, and work patiently. “A fruitful career is no different than long-term investing. Control your risk, control your emotions, and be patient,” explains Phillips, who became interested in a career in financial planning after witnessing the devastation that comes from poor money management. “You have to be able to define what wealth means for you and your family in order to truly develop a plan and then be able to measure success.” He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1997 and his expertise in comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management, and retirement planning helps him make a difference in clients’ financial lives. “This results-driven process is the cornerstone of all the relationships I’ve developed over the past 27 years,” adds Phillips, a graduate of Iowa State University who earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. Phillips resides in Wilmette with his wife, Carrie, and their two sons, Everett and George. He volunteers extensively in the community, including serving as Board Chair and a team leader for the nonprofit Care for Friends in Chicago. “Gratitude drives who I am. As my success has grown, so has my desire to give back,” adds Phillips, who is also the Senior Warden at Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth and is heading on his 10th trip to lead teens rehabbing houses in Appalachia this summer. “These experiences of leadership have shaped my sense of accountability to others while helping me focus on driving outcomes with impact and purpose.”

For more information, visit fa.ml.com/illinois/northbrook/kilborn-phillips.