Our team

Professional, courteous, and independent on your behalf.

• Chad Coe, RFC, CWS®

  President

  Chad L. Coe, founder of Coe Financial Group, Inc., is recognized as a visionary in the field of wealth management by building his full-service wealth management firm as a values-based business. His focus is on the personal well being and financial security of high net worth individuals coming to terms with their financial futures at various turning points in their lives. By becoming familiar with their personal values and disciplines, Chad becomes better equipped to customize plans with protection strategies and continued growth of their portfolios drawing upon what he learns of their goals and individual tolerances.

  Chad is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), who champions the cause of women faced with making critical financial decisions during the stressful periods pre- and post-divorce. He safeguards their financial settlements by guiding them with investment strategies as they become newly responsible for their own financial independence. In addition, Chad specializes in assisting medical professionals striving to help them maximize their wealth potential. Through custom designed programs, he seeks to help doctors shelter their assets while formulating solid choices for long-term growth.

  Chad received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois. He is Series 6, 7, 24, 51, 63 and 65 licensed and is an Investment Executive with First Allied Securities. Chad has been selected for the distinction of Outstanding Advisor of the Year by Registered Rep magazine in 2008. Chad is one of 10 financial advisors honored out of a field of several hundred nominees. He ranks among the 2006 Ten Most Dependable Wealth Managers of the Central Region as awarded by Goldline Research, and is recognized in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals 2005-2006. Chad has been featured in numerous publications, including Investment News, Boomer Market Advisor, PCMA Convene, Checklist, MPC World, Registered Rep & Business Leader. Chad is also a member of Vistage International.

  As a reflection of Chad's concern for people is his commitment to not-for-profit organizations. Founder/President of Special Kids Network, which raises money for various charitable organizations that assist children with special needs; Board of Trustees of Keshet, an educational program for children with disabilities; Founders Board of Directors for Rainbows, which fosters emotional healing among children grieving a loss from a life-altering crisis; and co-founded the Second Saturday Group, that helps women handle divorce with dignity.

• Robert Bernstein, CWS®

  Financial Consultant

  Robert Bernstein brings more than 17 years of financial planning and management to Coe Financial Group. His strategic approach to investing supports the belief that asset allocation is the best way to manage risk by maximizing return.

  Coming to Coe Financial from Wachovia Securities in Deerfield, Robert was part of a team managing over $400 million in investments through research, trading and marketing. Due to his entrepreneurial spirit, Robert became independent and he now creates, maintains and implements investment plans at Coe Financial for individuals as well as businesses, specifically in retirement planning. His experience also includes working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he handled French francs and Deutschmarks for institutional clients.

  Robert will meet with clients to complete a needs analysis, including both investment and insurance goals, then determine the capacity to fulfill these goals. This results in the creation of a unique Investment Policy Statement (IPS) for separate account management or mutual funds. Almost all assets are utilized through a managed money approach with little to no transactional costs.

  Robert and his wife have adopted a daughter from China, who is now almost 3, they also have a 2-year old biological son. Thanks to his experience with international adoption, Robert is very involved in the local adoption community. His concern for children is also demonstrated by his involvement in the Special Kids Network, which funds projects that assist children and young adults with special needs. He also considers himself a music aficionado.

  Robert holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

  Robert Bernstein is Series 7, 63 and 65 offering securities through First Allied Securities. In addition, he is life insurance registered in many states.

• Trevor Brody

  Financial Consultant

  As a Coe Financial Group affiliate, in all situations Trevor strives to make recommendations with the clients best interest in mind.

  Trevor takes the time to get to know you and your preferences. He can help you anticipate and prepare for the best and worst scenarios. The relationship established with you enables him to focus on your needs, the needs of your family and/or your business.

  Outside of Coe Financial Group, Trevor serves on the Board of Directors of Special Kids Network, an organization that was created to provide funding for programs that help children with special needs; In addition he serves on the Board of Trustees of Helping from Heaven, an organization dedicated to improving the comfort and quality of life for children with special needs.

  Prior to joining Coe Financial Group in 2003, Trevor obtained his Bachelor of Business degree in Computer Information Systems from Western Michigan University. Currently Trevor lives in Chicago with his wife Jennifer, who he met while attending Western Michigan University.

  Trevor Brody is a Series 6, 63 & 65 offering securities through First Allied Securities. In addition he is licensed in Accident, Health, Casualty, Fire, Life & Long Term Care.

• Melanie Duguid, CFP®, CWS®

  Financial Consultant

  Planning is the first step toward financial independence and Melanie begins by exploring her client's personal values, needs and commitments. By adhering to a disciplined investment philosophy, she focuses on long term performance while managing risk. Through a systematic process and discussions with her client, an appropriate financial strategy is developed.

  Melanie joined Coe Financial Group in 2006. Prior to joining Coe Financial Group, she provided investment advice to individuals and corporations as an Account Executive with Merrill Lynch and Rose and Company Investment Brokers. She has over 17 years of experience in the financial industry with 9 years as an investment advisor and more than 10 years as an Illinois Certified Real Estate Appraiser. Melanie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, and in June of 2008 received the Certified Wealth Strategist® designation through Cannon Financial Institute. She graduated from the University of Southern California and completed Northwestern University's Certificate Program in Financial Planning. She is a Certified Divorce Financial Practitioner (CDFP), and holds the Series 7 and 66 securities industry licenses as well as Illinois accident, health and life insurance licenses, offering securities through First Allied Securities.

  Outside of the Coe Financial Group, Melanie is a member of the Board of Directors of United Way of the North Shore, Tri Con Child Care Center and the North Shore Council of the Illinois Financial Planning Association.

• Alan Wolan, CWS®

  Financial Consultant

  Alan Wolan is a wealth manager who specializes in working with doctors, small business owners and successful individuals. He strives to provide an integrated solution to help clients achieve their goal of reaching financial independence by using a disciplined and organized approach to wealth management.

  Our research shows that there are 13 issues critical to building and protecting a client's wealth and families' well-being, which include estate, investment, retirement, and insurance planning. Over the course of our relationship, we will do a thorough review of each of these issues. In addition to our house specialties, we work with a vast array of partners who offer expertise in insurance services, pension planning, and estate planning.

  Coe Financial Group is an independent wealth management firm with over 11 years experience and manages over $100 million in investments. The principal of our firm, Chad Coe, was recently selected as one of the top ten advisors in the country for both professional and charitable accomplishments by Registered Rep Magazine. Through our parent firm, Advanced Equities, we can deliver a number of high level services for our clients including access to institutional money managers, private equity, sophisticated insurance services and financial planning specific for doctors and dentists.

  Coe Financial Group has developed a network of professionals, the Affiliated Medical Network of Illinois (AMNI), which exists to provide professional service providers for doctors and dentists. Our group currently consists of professionals in banking, real estate development, architecture, estate planning, mortgages, office decoration and design, practice management consultants, marketing, and professional publications. When a client has a need for such a professional, we can provide a reference and help coordinate the services as a complimentary service for our clients.

  Many clients have said that they appreciate Alan's approach to helping them to resolve their financial problems, help them develop a plan to reach their goals, his availability and follow-up and the personal service that he provides. Alan limits the number of clients that he works with so that he will always be able to provide personal service. He welcomes the opportunity to meet new people who can benefit from his comprehensive approach to wealth management.

  Alan received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and his Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois. He spent twenty years of working in the health care industry as a marketing and sales executive in managed care prior to moving into a new career in Wealth Management in 2001.

  Alan received the Certified Wealth Strategist designation through Cannon Financial Institute in December 2008 and he holds several securities industry licenses including the Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 as well as Illinois accident, health and life insurance licenses.