What many people don’t expect when they work with us — we are human too and continuously use the lessons we've learned throughout our lives to provide guidance insight for our clients.
Without these lessons, we would be left referencing textbook material and subjective news commentary. Our hope for every one of our clients is that after each meeting, you’ll feel more confident and rest assured that your money is here to be an engine of opportunity to fuel your goals and objectives.
My passion for financial planning all began at a large regional insurance company in my hometown. After working there for many years, I decided that while I was in the right industry, I needed to be able to make recommendations that truly served my clients’ best interests.
Upon having this realization, I decided to leave the insurance world and pursue a variety of positions at several investment management firms, eventually deciding to branch off and form my own firm. Since then, I’ve worked with individuals, couples and families of all backgrounds and ages.
Every day, I find new ways to better serve our clients. And with a team that shares the same values and vision as I do, I have no doubt Waterside Financial Advisors will continue to grow and make a real difference in our communities. Outside of work, my wife, Kristy, and I enjoy spending time with our children boating and traveling. When we’re not doing that, we enjoy visiting wineries, breweries and unique restaurants.
If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would buy a vacation house by the ocean and embark on a year-long sailing tour of Europe and Asia.
What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
On my boat or near water with my family and friends.
Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
Live on the beach in the summer and near the mountains in the winter.
Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
I’d wish for a rocket-fast metabolism, an amazing memory and perfect health.
If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Slow down — the faster you go, the more you miss out on.
Check out the background of our investment professional’s on FINRA’s BrokerCheck
As a Partner and Manager of Tax and Financial Planning at Waterside Financial Advisors, Kristy values the time she commits to creating a personal relationships with each client. By truly understanding where a person comes from and where they want to go, Kristy can utilize her 20+ years of experience in financial services and planning to help better plan for each client's financial situation. She is a graduate of Western Illinois University. She also holds the highly regarded industry designation of Certified Financial Planner™
Kristy enjoys playing volleyball and spending time watching her children play high school volleyball and hockey, traveling and spending quality time with her husband.
If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would invest some, spend some and give some to my favorite charities.
What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
With my family and friends enjoying the spirit of the moment and making memories.
Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
Living on the beach!
Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
I would wish for a life of health for my family, the ability to see 5 minutes into the future and the ability to complete a tax return in 5 minutes!
If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Live in the moment, follow your dreams and enjoy the ride.
Check out the background of our investment professional’s on FINRA’s BrokerCheck
As a Partner of Waterside Financial Services, Mark is driven to provide each client with the highest standard of quality with their financial experience. With 38 years of service focusing on retirement income planning and insurance analysis, he understands that each client requires a personalized level of care to achieve their individual goals and objectives.
Mark is a graduate of Boylan Catholic High School, where he had an extensive athletic career playing basketball and baseball. In addition, he was named the 1972 NIC-9 Male Athlete of the Year award. Mark is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was a member of their NCAA Basketball team from 1972 to 1976.
If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I wouldn't spend it all. I would give some of it to my children, donate some to my favorite charities and would buy my dream house with the rest.
What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
Attending 4:30 Mass at our church with my wife and a nice dinner out afterwards.
Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
I would rather live by the mountains year round as I enjoy the beauty and change of the seasons.
Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
Good heal for my family, eternal life in heaven and regularly scoring in the 70's golfing!
If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Be good to all people and act responsibly as your behavior towards others is your legacy as to how others will remember you..
Check out the background of our investment professional’s on FINRA’s BrokerCheck
Operations Supervisor
Joined: February 2020 - 11 years of previous industry experience in legal field as a paralegal.
Education: Attended Rock Valley College and Western Illinois University.
Industry Credentials: FPQP™ Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional designation from the College for Financial Planning®
Specialty: Operations; Antoinette assists advisors in online account opening, online account access, product research, maintenance of client accounts, updating client records, and the processing of cashiering requests . She also communicates with clients and company representatives to ensure deadlines and client needs are met.
Get To Know Me: Antoinette lives in Machesney Park with her husband Grant , and their daughters Audrey & Natalie and their son Jacob. Much of her spare time is spent watching her daughter compete in gymnastics and her son play travel baseball.
Client Services Specialist
Joined: February 2020 - previously worked in the real estate field at a title company with responsibilities for various administrative functions.
Education: Attended Northern Arizona University; Graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. Member of Sigma Alpha Pi / National Society of Leadership and Success.
Industry Credentials: Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional FPQP designation from the College for Financial Planning.
Specialty: Rachel assists the financial advisors by ensuring a positive client experience within every aspect of the firm. She updates client records and manages client appointments and correspondence. As the firm's paraprofessional, she creates all client review content and deliverables as well as follow-up. She greatly enjoys being a member of the financial planning team.
Get To Know Me: Rachel is a beekeeper and aspiring photographer. Her dog, Annabel Lee, is a rescue from Care for Pets. Rachel's long-term goal is to run a marathon, but she currently likes 5K races, hiking with her dogs, reading, and spending time with family.
Office Assistant
Joined: September 2022 - previously worked in the customer service industry with responsibilities for various administrative functions.
Specialty: Sarah assists financial advisors by greeting clients, handling incoming phone calls, updating client records, and managing various administrative functions.
Get To Know Me: Sarah loves her family and enjoys every precious moment with her children. She also enjoys coffee and warm summer nights.
Joined: March 2019
Current Role and Background:
As Integrator at Waterside Financial Advisors, Linda focuses on strategic integration of the firm’s business units, applying innovative concepts, solutions and improvement to our business processes. Linda has more than 25 years of successful leadership experience as an operations leader, business strategist and client accounting director at a national software company.
Get To Know Me:
I am a mother to my 2 adult children and proud grandmother to 2 grandchildren and 1 grand dog. I grew up in the Galena IL area and still visit regularly.
