Leonetti & Associates

We have been managing clients’ wealth since 1982, and from the very beginning, we have considered ourselves fiduciaries of our clients’ assets. What this means to you is that we put your interests first, providing personalized financial advice and services designed to help you achieve your life goals.

Managing Director, Wealth Manager

Michael E. Leonetti, CFP®, CFS®, AIF®
Managing Director, Wealth Manager

Deborah B. Feldman, CFP®
Wealth Manager

Robin L. Stone, CFP®, MBA
Wealth Manager

Sherwin M. Lesk, CFP®, J.D., LL.M.
Wealth Manager

Matt Varner, CFP®, MBA
Analyst

Melissa A. Lazar, FPQP™, CFS®
Director of Client Services

Debbie Javurek, FPQP™
Client Service Manager

Patty Gonzalez
Administrative Assistant and Receptionist

Gail Smoy
Client Service Representative

Christine Kelley, MBA

Quick Links

Wealth Manager

Robin L. Stone, CFP®, MBA

rstone@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6531 / Download Contact

Robin joined Leonetti & Associates in 1999 and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner, an investment advisor representative and a member of the Financial Planning Association. She has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager* (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and has appeared in Chicago Magazine (2015-2020). Robin has worked in the financial planning industry since 1984. Prior to joining Leonetti & Associates, she was a financial consultant with a national financial planning firm for more than eight years. Robin received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Investments and Taxation from Drexel University.

Wealth Manager

Sherwin M. Lesk, CFP®, J.D., LL.M.

slesk@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6536 / Download Contact

Sherwin Lesk is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner, an investment advisor representative, and an attorney. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association. Sherwin received his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law and his Master of Laws degree in Taxation from John Marshall Law School. His undergraduate degree is in economics. Sherwin co-chaired the tax department and chaired the employee benefits department at a mid-size Chicago law firm prior to joining Leonetti & Associates in 2000. Sherwin has authored articles on tax, financial planning, and ERISA issues for the Illinois Legal Times and other publications. He has been quoted in financial planning, estate and tax planning articles in the Chicago Tribune, ChicagoTribune.com, FORBES.com, mPower Café, Research Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, The Journal of Financial Planning, The New York Times, NewYorkTimes.com, and WSJ.com. Sherwin has been a featured speaker at educational seminars where he spoke about estate planning, tax planning, financial planning, stock option planning and retirement planning. He consults business owners and their advisors on succession planning and tax reduction strategies. In addition, Sherwin has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager* (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). Sherwin is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, the United States District Court (Northern District, Illinois), and all Illinois state courts. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the American Bar Association (Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section; Asset Protection Planning, Financial Planning and Risk Management committees), and the Illinois State Bar Association (Sections on Employee Benefits, Privacy and Information Security, and Trusts and Estates).

Wealth Manager

Matt Varner, CFP®, MBA

mvarner@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6523 / Download Contact

Matt joined Leonetti & Associates in 1996 and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner. Prior to becoming a Wealth Manager, he managed the company’s fixed-income portfolios and equity trading Before Leonetti & Associates, he was finance manager for the central region of Reuters America, Inc. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Chicago. He passed the CPA exam in 1990.

Managing Director, Wealth Manager

Michael E. Leonetti, CFP®, CFS®, AIF®

mleonetti@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6512 / Download Contact

Michael E. Leonetti is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner, and holds the Certified Fund Specialist® (CFS®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designations. He graduated from St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Economics. Mike founded Leonetti & Associates, Inc. in 1982 and was among the pioneers in championing fee-only planning. He is a founding and current member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association and the Investment Management Consultants Association. Mike is an investment advisor representative and successfully passed the Series 7, 63 and 65 examinations. Mike was named one of the top financial advisors by Bloomberg Wealth Manager in 2004 and 2005. He is listed in Medical Economics as one of the top 150 Financial Advisors for physicians (2007, 2013, 2014, 2015) and was selected for the cover of the magazine in May 2007. He was also listed as one of the top 50 Financial Advisors in the April 2008 issue of Chicago Magazine. In addition, Mike has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager* (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). In 2010 and 2011, he was listed in the Dental Practice Report as one of the top advisors for dentists. For 11 years, Mike wrote the quarterly financial planning column for The Journal of the American Association of Individual Investors. Articles by or about him have been published in Medical Economics, Money Manager Review, Money, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Investing, Sylvia Porter’s Personal Finance, Financial Planning, and The Wall Street Journal. His book, Retire Worry-Free, was published in 1993. Mike has been involved with Omni Youth Services and Illinois Special Olympics. He was the title sponsor of the Leonetti & Associates Omni Classic to benefit Omni Youth Services, and donated all of his book royalties to the Special Olympics. His hobbies are golfing, working out and reading.

Analyst

Melissa A. Lazar, FPQP™, CFS®

mlazar@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6515 / Download Contact

Melissa joined Leonetti & Associates in 1988. She is responsible for overseeing family office special project work and provides research and analysis support. She is a Certified Fund Specialist® (CFS®) and a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™.

Director of Client Services

Debbie Javurek, FPQP™

djavurek@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6518 / Download Contact

Debbie joined Leonetti & Associates in 2003. She is a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™. As Director of Client Services, she oversees the activities of the client service staff, which provides support for both clients and wealth managers by opening new accounts and servicing accounts on an ongoing basis. She has worked in the wealth management industry since 1998. Debbie previously worked for a Fortune 500 company, where she supported the vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.

Managing Director, Wealth Manager

Deborah B. Feldman, CFP®

dfeldman@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6526 / Download Contact

Deborah joined Leonetti & Associates in 1984. She shares responsibility for implementing the practice’s strategic plan as well as providing oversight of the practice’s financial planning and asset allocation processes. Deborah is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner, an investment advisor representative, and a member of the Financial Planning Association. Deborah has received recognition for her work in the finance industry. She was named one of the 25 Influential Women in Business by Business Ledger in 2003. She has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager* (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and has appeared in Chicago Magazine (2015-2020). In 2020, she was chosen by Forbes as one of the Top Women Wealth Advisors, and also made the list of Forbes’ Top Advisors State by State. Articles written by or about Deborah have appeared in Chicago Sun-Times, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Money, Crain’s Chicago Business, Sylvia Porter’s Personal Finance and other publications. She has co-authored financial planning articles in the Journal of the American Association of Individual Investors; has appeared as a guest panelist on the finance show with Phil Ponce on WTTW Channel 11 and on WGN radio; and was a regular guest of the radio talk show “Your Money” on WJKL in Chicago. Deborah has been involved with Northwest Community Hospital, first as a volunteer, and later as a member of their Charitable Gifting Advisory Board.

Administrative Assistant and Receptionist

Gail Smoy

gsmoy@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6511 / Download Contact

Gail joined Leonetti & Associates in 2006. A big part of her job is greeting clients in person and on the phone. She works directly with and provides assistance to the Managing Partners, in addition to supporting the financial planning staff and the client service staff. Gail worked in a similar position for more than 10 years with a law firm in downtown Chicago.

Client Service Representative

Christine Kelley, MBA

ckelley@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6541 / Download Contact

Chris joined Leonetti & Associates in 2019 having worked as an Investment Associate at a private asset management firm for the previous 6 years. In her role as Client Service Representative, Chris provides support to both clients and Investment Advisors for any account changes or money movement. Before working in financial management, Chris worked at Searle Pharmaceuticals as a Research Chemist, Project Planner and independent contractor. She has her BS in Natural Science/Chemistry from St. Norbert College, and her MBA in Finance from Loyola University in Chicago. Chris is Chairperson of the St. Patrick Church Parish Council in Lake Forest, IL, and a member of the North Shore Auxiliary Board for Aid for Women. She lives in Lake Forest, IL, with her husband, John, son, and daughter who is in college. In her spare time, Chris enjoys biking with her husband, watching her son play hockey and having dinner with friends.

Client Service Manager

Patty Gonzalez

pgonzalez@leonettiassoc.com / 847.353.6525 / Download Contact

Patty joined Leonetti & Associates in 2007. In her role as a Client Service Manager, she provides support for both clients and the team by opening new client accounts and servicing accounts on an ongoing basis. Patty’s previous employment experience has been in the financial and mortgage industries. Patty earned an Associate’s degree in Business from McHenry County College in 2000. She is bilingual, and speaks fluent English and Spanish.