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“Helping clients turn dreams and ideas into action that makes a difference.”

Steve is an expert connector who leverages the expertise of other top professionals in order to best serve his clients. With over 35 years of financial planning experience, he has a broad foundational knowledge that allows him to identify his clients’ unique needs, and then bring the right mix of resources to the table to meet them. He specializes in leveraging the strength of his carefully crafted network to provide clients with innovative financial planning solutions that address their wants and needs holistically.

Steve is passionate about sharing his knowledge with clients and other advisors and colleagues, and he’s been a featured speaker at events hosted by Northwestern Mutual and Forbes Media, as well as Crain's Small Business Forum.

Affiliations & Memberships

• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)
• Greater North Shore Estate & Financial Planning Council
• Association of Advanced Life Underwriters (AALU)
• Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative Association (FRA) Board—past president and board member

Awards & Recognition

In 2021, Northwestern Mutual awarded Steve with membership in its Forum group, which recognizes individuals for an outstanding year of helping clients achieve financial security. This was the 20th year that he received the Forum honor, an annual award that only five percent of Northwestern Mutual's more than 7,000 financial representatives achieve. Steve is one of only 49 active financial representatives who have qualified for this honor at least 20 times. Other awards and recognition include:

• Million Dollar Round Table Life Member (2017-2018, 2020)
• Million Dollar Round Table Qualifying/Life Member (1999-2016, 2019)
• Million Dollar Round Table Qualifying Member (1991-1998)
• Million Dollar Round Table Provisional Member (1990)
• NAIFA Quality Award (2011-2015, 2018-2019)
• National Quality Award (1989-1990, 1992-2010)
• National Sales Achievement Award (1988, 1991-2010)

Personal

Steve resides in Highland Park with his wife, Karen. Their daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Jacob, live in downtown Chicago with the family's first grandchild, Ben. David, their son, is also a graduate student at Stanford University and is married to Yeonjae. Steve enjoys theater, tennis, camping, photography and golf, and he also has a passion for supporting the community through a variety of great organizations. Click here to learn more about Steve’s philanthropic work.

Our former director of client services, Demelza’s role has expanded to support a number of Northwestern Mutual financial representatives across the country. She continues to work behind the scenes to provide top notch support for insurance service inquires for our clients, but on a limited basis and coordinated through Kelly Taylor.

How can Demelza help you?

• Help with insurance customer service to change owner, payer, and/or beneficiary
• Process insurance policy changes: policy loans, type of payment, and billing frequency
• Provide in-force ledgers, consolidated cash value, & policy reports

David graduated from Indiana University with degrees in Voice and Theatre & Drama in May of 2015 and started with Northwestern Mutual in October of that year.

When not at the office, David can be found acting on stages around the Chicagoland area, reading a good book, or baking bread, which he works off by running.

How can David help you?

• Open new investment accounts
• Assist with investment balances, purchases, & redemptions
• Access your online account & going paperless

“I love knowing that our clients count on us. We are able to build true relationships with them and support them and their families.”

Sarah joined Northwestern Mutual in 2011 and has held various roles across the company in her time here. Sarah serves as the Director of Operations for Braun & Associates and holds her Life & Health insurance license as well as the FINRA Series 7 & 66 investment licenses. Sarah is married to Lee, and they live in St. Charles, IL with their two sons, Louis & Lincoln and their Olde English Bulldog, Odin. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, the outdoors and spending time with her family.

How can Sarah help you?

• Schedule a meeting
• Help with insurance customer service to change owner, payer, and/or beneficiary
• Process insurance policy changes: policy loans, type of payment, and billing frequency
• Provide in-force ledgers, consolidated cash value, & policy reports
• Client website access