At Next Phase Advisory Group, we believe in being actively involved in our community through volunteerism, sponsorships, and teambuilding.
Next Phase Advisory Group is excited to congratulate Michael Polan (Partner & Private Wealth Advisor) on 35 incredible years of service in wealth management. Michael, your dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment has made a lasting impact on countless lives. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey and the many successes still to come! Congratulations again!
Next Phase Advisory Group would like to give a huge Thank You to all the volunteers who came out to support Variety – The Children’s Charity of Illinois with all your help building bikes for kids with disabilities. We appreciate your time and hard work!
We are proud to announce that Next Phase Advisory Group’s very own Stanley Sroka was recently recognized as a Top 10 Total Financial Security Award winner within the Chicagoland NM network. Congrats Stanley!”
Our colleagues at Next Phase Advisory Group are some of the best. Their hard work has led to Forbes recognizing us as one of top wealth management teams in Illinois. Without the support of our amazing clients, this would not have been possible. Thank you!
Ranking Published 1/9/25. Data as of 3/31/24. No compensation provided for ranking. Licensing fees apply to use Forbes logo.
Thank You to the United States Marine Corps Reserve for presenting Next Phase Advisory Group with this Certificate of Appreciation. We love supporting and caring for our community.
We Are Growing Our Firm with New Partners
We are pleased to announce that RM Financial Group, an award-winning Chicagoland based Northwestern Mutual firm, along with Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Advisor Stan Sroka, have joined our team effective 1/1/2025. This merger represents a pivotal moment in our journey and underscores our commitment to providing you with unparalleled financial planning services.
Celebrating Sally Pawlak - Staff Partner of the Year Award
We are thrilled to announce that Sally Pawlak has been honored with the Staff Partner of the Year Award at Next Phase Advisory Group. Since joining Northwestern Mutual in Chicago’s Western suburbs in 1990, Sally has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to excellence, serving as an encyclopedia of information and an influential mentor to many. Congratulations, Sally, on this well-deserved honor!
Our Team Throughout 2024
We love spending time with our teammates inside and outside the office. It was a great year volunteering and supporting our charity partnerships with West Suburban Humane Society and Scoreboard Charities. Our team also enjoyed a potluck to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Forbes 2024
We are so proud to have our team once again receive the Best-In-State Wealth Management Team Award from Forbes. Every individual on our team exemplifies excellence in service, integrity, and professionalism. We are grateful that our commitment to our clients is recognized in receiving this acknowledgement.
The 2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams, 1/12/2024, data provided by Shook® Research, LLC – data as of 3/31/24. Ranking is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Neither Shook nor Forbes receive compensation in exchange for its Top Wealth Management Teams placements or rankings, which are determined independently (see methodology above). Once placed on a ranking, teams or advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and shook for premium listing features. Shook’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor or team and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Investors must carefully choose the right advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.shookresearch.com.
2023 Best-In-State Wealth Management Team
Next Phase has been recognized as a 2023 Best-In-State Wealth Management Team by Forbes. This prestigious award acknowledges our integrative, diverse Team culture and skillset. The relationships we have built with our clients are integral to the continued success of our ensemble. We are proud of our commitment to our clients to allow them to “SPEND THEIR LIVES LIVING.”
The 2023 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams, 1/12/2023, data provided by Shook® Research, LLC – data as of 3/31/22. Ranking is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Neither Shook nor Forbes receive compensation in exchange for its Top Wealth Management teams placements or rankings, which are determined independently (see methodology above). Once placed on a ranking, teams or advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features. Shook’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor or team and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Investors must carefully choose the right advisor or team for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.shookresearch.com.
Giving Back to Our Local Community
NPAG team packed 150 snack bags to donate to the children currently in residence at DuPage PADS interim housing center. DuPage PADS provides interim and permanent housing and support services to end homelessness.
Play Ball!
The Next Phase team enjoyed some fun with our families at a Kane County Cougars game to close out the summer!
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Matter
NEXT PHASE ADVISORY GROUP was proud to be a sponsor for the Rathbun Cservenyak & Kozol Law Firm Charity Golf Outing, benefitting Big Brothers & Big Sisters for Will and Grundy County.
Award-winning Advisor
We are pleased to announce that Kevin Olson has been named a 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes. This prestigious list – comprised of high-performing financial services professionals – is based on a variety of factors including revenue produced, assets under management, compliance records and industry experience, among others.
Forbes receives more than 30,000 applicants for this annual ranking, and only a small percentage are named among the best wealth advisors in their state. We are so proud of Kevin for this outstanding achievement!
Building Home Office Relationships
Presenting Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske with a painting of the 2021 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. The painting features exciting moments from the 2021 season and a number of signatures, including #34-Giannis Antetokounmpo. This painting will be proudly displayed in the Northwestern Mutual suite at Fiserv Forum.
Keeping Families Close When They Need It Most
We are proud to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Every February, we collect non-perishable goods to donate to spread the love to families in need.
Throwing Strikes
We always enjoy spending time together as a Team, and we had a great time celebrating a quality year over the holidays!
Local Community Giving
We recently sponsored the primary fundraising auction for St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Illinois. St. Francis is the Alma Mater of Kevin and Mike’s children, and this event helps raise funds to support academics, co-curricular activities and tuition assistance.
Northwestern Mutual Forum
Congratulations to Mike for once again being invited to Northwestern Mutual’s Forum Event in 2021! This elite group was invited to attend a symposium in Scottsdale, AZ, where they heard from inspiring keynote speakers and industry experts.
Forum is an accomplishment only 3% of Northwestern Mutual’s advisors achieve, and we are so proud of Mike!
Milwaukee Bucks
Mike, Kevin and Carm joined Northwestern Mutual Chicagoland Managing Partner, Ryan Kramer, and Chief Development Office, Kris Plog, for a game at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee to watch the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Atlanta Hawks!