Meet your Mesirow Wealth Management team
We serve our clients through a personal, individualized approach to reaching financial goals, helping build comprehensive wealth plans and guiding important financial decisions through changing markets.
Welcome Alex to the team!
We are excited to announce that Alex Gordon has joined the team as a Wealth Advisor! Alex has seven years of experience in the financial services industry and has a background in constructing and presenting comprehensive financial plans. We are confident that Alex's expertise, combined with his deep commitment to understanding your unique needs, will add tremendous value to the financial guidance we provide.
Year-end news: Celebrating life and growth
A lot has happened since our last newsletter. From a business perspective, we navigated a dynamic market environment marked by both challenges and opportunities. While news events and the election cycle created volatility, our clients' portfolios demonstrated resilience.
Read more about our team and about Jennifer's recent regatta (photo).
Financial planning insights
What's trending
Check out some of the most popular perspectives from our Knowledge Center.
Jennifer doing good!
Jennifer Lockbaum recently joined other Mesirow employees to help pack 35,000 backpacks in a few hours with learning supplies for Chicago youth. In the next few weeks, these backpacks and more – more than 100,000 – will be in the hands of Chicago students for their first day of school.
Stephanie Feldman appears on Mesirow Monday
Stephanie Feldman joined “Your Money Matters” host Jon Hansen on a Mesirow Monday, where they discussed the Illinois estate tax, the exemption, and capital gains on stocks.
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We invest in what matters
Our commitment to mentoring
Recently, waymakerjournal.com featured Paul Trussell, a senior executive at Nike and former Wall Street analyst. The article highlighted how Trussell rose from Chicago's South Side and as an intern for Lee Gordon to become an influential leader in finance.
Read the articleHelping Chicago children
Mesirow volunteers helped pack backpacks for Chicago youth as part of the 2023 Cradles to Crayon's Backpack-A-Thon at the Daley Center.
Learn moreRecovery on Water competition
As part of Jennifer's ongoing commitment to Recovery on Water, she participated in the 2023 US Rowing Masters National Championships regatta in Indianapolis, IN. "We didn't win, but we had a blast," laughs Jennifer.
Watch the videoLINK Unlimited Scholars
Jen Lockbaum is proud to serve as part of Mesirow’s commitment to supporting Link Unlimited. Every year, Mesirow employees mentor a student to empower them as they grow within their educational and professional experiences. Through academic enrichment, college access, leadership development and, career exposure LINK Unlimited Scholar empowers Chicago-area students to succeed as the advance to, through and beyond college. Learn more >
Plan ahead
By Stephanie Feldman, CFP®, CTFA and Lee Gordon
Peace of mind for generations: How Mesirow helped a family protect their assets and legacy
John, was a 90-year-old widower with three adult children and six grandchildren. During the client and his wife’s lifetime, they established Trusts for each of the grandchildren, using a portion of their lifetime exemption. When his wife passed, her assets exceeded the Illinois state estate tax exemption and Federal estate tax exemptions (which at that time was much lower than today.) As a result, a Marital and Family Trust were funded for the husband’s benefit.
Are your philanthropic gifting strategies still up to date?
There have been changes to IRS regulations over the last few years that have, in some instances, expanded how an individual may want to consider carrying out charitable giving. If you are making charitable contributions, now is a good time to re-examine the tax benefits of doing so, and if the gifting strategies you are utilizing are best for you.
How will potential changes in the estate tax impact my planning?
Will there be an adjustment to the current estate tax and if so, what planning strategies may be helpful to think about and potentially implement?
Now, more than ever, having a formal estate plan is critical
The most common misconception is that not everyone needs an estate plan, but estate planning is for everyone.
Planning for a loved one with special needs
As our clients' families grow and assets accumulate, it is imperative that we address planning for the future to provide for both the needs of the parents and their children.
Wedding planning: Critical financial tips
Couples in the US are marrying later in life, and as a result both partners have often begun to save, invest, and accumulate assets. Premarital financial planning has therefore become extremely important.
Talking about advance health care planning
As we get older, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that our health care needs and desires are well documented and understood by our family, friends, medical providers, and professional advisors.
Now you can have greater flexibility and control in your estate plan
By using a directed trust, you can separate the role of corporate trustee and wealth advisor.
Have a trustworthy advocate in your corner
You often see the terms Agent, Trustee, and Executor in various legal documents. Each of these appointments allows for someone to care for your financial household in the event you are unable to act and upon your passing.
Mesirow does not provide legal or tax advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The views expressed above are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change, and may differ from views express by other Mesirow associates. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell the securities mentioned. Do not use this information as the sole basis for investment decisions, it is not intended as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual investor. Information herein has been obtained from sources which Mesirow believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and such information may be incomplete and/or condensed. All opinions and estimates included herein are subject to change without notice. This communication may contain privileged and/or confidential information. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing or using any of the information. If you receive this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security.
Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. ©2025, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Advisory Fees are described in Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Form ADV Part 2A. Advisory services offered through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities offered by Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC.