A Dedicated and Experienced Team – North Star’s culture is built on a commitment to investment excellence and customer service.
Senior Management & Portfolio Managers
Peter Gottlieb
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, North Star Financial Services Corp.;
President, North Star Investment Management Corp.
Peter has over 33 years of experience in the financial industry. In addition to working with individual clients and families, Peter acts as portfolio manager for the North Star Micro Cap Fund, the North Star Dividend Fund, the North Star Bond Fund, the North Star Opportunity Fund and the North Star Small Cap Value Fund. Peter has served as the treasurer of a number of charitable and political organizations, and as a director of a Chicago-area bank, a publicly traded business development company, and a community hospital. Peter earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan School of Business. Peter and his family live in Chicago.
Eric Kuby
Chief Investment Officer, North Star Investment Management Corp.
Eric has over 39 years of experience serving both individual and institutional clients. As Chairman of the Investment Committee, Eric is responsible for overseeing the firm’s various investment strategies. Eric acts as portfolio manager for the North Star Micro Cap Fund, the North Star Opportunity Fund, the North Star Bond Fund, the North Star Dividend Fund and the North Star Small Cap Value Fund. Eric holds an M.B.A. in Finance as well as a B.A. in Economics from The University of Chicago. Eric and his family live in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Brad Cohen
Chief Equity Strategist & Senior Portfolio Manager
Brad has over 28 years of financial industry experience. In addition to working with individual clients, Brad acts as portfolio manager for the North Star Opportunity Fund and the North Star Bond Fund. Previously he had 13 years of security experience as a member, specialist, and trader on the Chicago Stock Exchange. Brad graduated from the University of Maryland and received his J.D. from Marquette Law School. Brad and his family live in Highland Park, Illinois.
In Memoriam
Sheldon L. Goodman
July 9, 1940 – November 10, 2022
It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Sheldon Goodman passed away after heroically battling multiple illnesses throughout the years.
Shel had a long and distinguished career in the financial services industry, starting at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Open Market Trading desk in 1964. He later joined the high-yield trading division at Goldman Sachs, was a Partner, Compliance Officer, and Sales Manager at Bear Stearns; a Director of Commodities and Futures at Gruntal & Co., and a Director of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. He held a Masters in Economics from The City University of New York. Throughout his career, Shel advised countless clients and financial professionals and was one of the most savvy bond market investors.
Most importantly, Shel was a loving husband to his wife of 57 years, Valerie, and a kind and gentle presence in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Shel’s relentless optimism and sound counsel were a large part of North Star’s success and we were blessed to have him as part of the North Star Family for the last 19 years of his career.
May he rest in peace.
North Star Family Office
William Richards
President, North Star Family Office
Prior to joining North Star, Bill founded BNR Partners, LLC, Family Office. He has experience in trust and estate administration, and financial planning experience at Continental Illinois National Bank, LaSalle National Bank, American National Bank, and Bank One N.A., where he specialized in coordinating and managing the delivery of a broad range of financial services to many of the bank’s most important clients. Bill received a Bachelor of Arts from Carroll University, an MBA from Keller Graduate School, a certificate in Ranch Management from King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A & M University – Kingsville, and is a CFP. He is the immediate past president of The Luminarts Cultural Foundation, board member of the Hektoen Institute, Vice Chair of the Covid-19 Monument Commission, and the Business Advisory Council at Carroll University in Waukesha Wisconsin.
Eric Papenhagen, CFP®
Vice President, North Star Family Office
Eric has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He provides customized, comprehensive family office services which includes developing and confirming financial plans and investment strategies, reviewing investment performance, acting as a fiduciary liaison, and administering complex financial situations for High Net Worth individuals and families. Eric began his career in retail banking with NBD Bank and quickly transitioned within the parent organization to Trust & Asset Management with American National Bank/Bank One/JPMorgan Chase. Since 2004 and until joining North Star in 2020, Eric worked in Wealth Management for MB Financial Bank (now Fifth Third) most recently as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Investment Advisory Services. Additionally, he also served as a Relationship Manager and/or Senior Investment Advisor for High Net Worth clients during his entire tenure with the bank. Eric earned his M.B.A. from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business as well as his B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan. He is also a Certified Financial Planner (TM). Eric and his family live in Downers Grove, Illinois.
Harry Petruleas
Vice President, North Star Family Office
Harry has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. In addition to working with individual clients and high net worth families, Harry acts as a Vice President for the North Star Family Office. He has experience in trust and estate administration as well as all aspects of financial planning experience that he practiced while working at Mid City National Bank, US Bank and MB Financial Bank, where he specialized in providing a broad range of financial services to families with multi-generational wealth. Harry has a Series 65 license and has received a Bachelor of Science in Business from North Park University and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School. Harry and his family live in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Heather Kaplan
Director of Trust, Estate and Banking Administration
Heather Kaplan has over 25 years of trust, estate, investment, and private banking experience at American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, Bank One N.A., BNR Partners, LLC and now North Star Family Office. She has managed several key relationships and coordinated the delivery of a broad range of financial services. She reviews complex trust/estate situations, as well as analyzes the private banking needs of our clients, including loan strategies. Heather received a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University. Heather currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young daughters. She is active in her children’s school, participating in its Governing Board as a parent representative. Previously a Chicagoan for 20 years, she will always be a Midwesterner at heart.
Shannon Sandler
Director of Client Services & Operations
Shannon is Director of Client Services and Operations at North Star Investment Management. Shannon is responsible for client relations and administration of customer accounts. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of Family Office relationships with multiple generations and family lines. She also oversees and manages Black Diamond, the firms performance reporting platform. Shannon has over 20 years of office administration experience. Shannon earned her undergraduate degree at Columbia College and is currently seeking her MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Shannon and her family reside in in Rolling Meadows, IL.
Renee Hampton
Family Office Client Service Administrator
Renee Hampton, Executive Administrator has over 40 years of office management and administrative support for clients. She has previous experience with BNR Partners, LLC, who provided family office services to high net worth individuals and their families. She also has experience with financial management and facilities management at Cremer, Kopon, Shaughnessy, Jansen and Siegert, LLC, Attorneys at Law, and Berg, DeMarco, Lewis, Sawatski & Co. a well known accounting firm in Northbrook, Illinois. Her role included administrative support for clients, personal/business mail, paying bills reconciling bank statements. Establishing relationships with property and casualty insurance, evaluate current insurance coverage for clients, including homeowners, automobile and personal umbrella limits. Domestic concierge, process medical claims and other insurance claims. Building relationships with other professionals such as asset managers, bankers and private equity professionals, attorney.
Pam Pitts
Family Office Client Service Administrator
Pam is responsible for client account administration for various relationships in the Family Office. She has over 25 years of trust administration experience at American National Bank Trust Company of Chicago, Bank One, JPMorgan Chase and Northern Trust. She has managed many complex client/family relationships, some over a billion dollars. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently lives in Schaumburg, IL with her husband and teenage son.
Financial Planning & Portfolio Managers
Milton “Mickey” Lefton, CFP
Managing Director of Financial Planning
Mickey has over 30 years of industry experience and assists clients in financial planning and acts as an investment adviser for their portfolios. From 1979 to 2012, Mickey was founder and president of Asset Financial Services, Inc., a financial planning and investment management firm in Chicago working with individuals, and small business owners and their family members. He has served as a board member of numerous charitable organizations, a private real estate development firm, and a government-licensed SBIC. Mickey joined North Star in 2012, his designations include CFP and Illinois Insurance Licenses. Mickey and his family live in Chicago.
Matthew Schwerin, CFA
Portfolio Manager & President of CAPS Financial Group, North Star Investment Management Corp.
Matthew has over 15 years of industry experience and assists clients in investment planning and acts as an investment adviser for their portfolios. From 1996 to August of 2005, Matthew served in various capacities for W.W. Grainger, Inc., and was a senior financial analyst, investments supervisor, business analysis manager, and director of finance; he also was responsible for selecting the investment managers for the company’s profit sharing plan as well as employee educational programs related to retirement planning. Matthew serves on the board of directors of Flanagan State Bank, a Central Illinois financial institution operating since 1913. Designations: CFA. Matthew is a CFA charter holder and earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College and his M.B.A. from Illinois State University.
Sharon Egan, CFP
Director of Financial Planning
Sharon has over 20 years in financial services, much of that in the banking industry, with positions at Bank of America, Chase Bank, and ABN Amro Bank, as a commercial lender, product specialist, and consultant for training. In 2005 she left banking and joined Mickey Lefton as a financial planner, and in 2010 they both joined North Star Investment Management Corp. Her work centers on the issues of women and people who are interested in making financial decisions that support life goals. This includes education for clients and encouraging them to increase their knowledge of financial issues. Sharon was chairman of the board for the FPA Illinois in 2014, is an instructor at Northwestern University, and speaks to groups around Chicago advocating financial literacy. Designations: Certified Financial Planner, Insurance licenses, MBA from Indiana University.
North Star Benefits, LLC
Michael Mazursky, CLU, ChFC
Founder & President, North Star Benefits, LLC
Mike has over 25 years of financial and insurance industry experience. He is responsible for providing guidance to corporate and personal clients in the areas of insurance, benefits, and investment planning. He holds designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) from The American College. Registrations: Series 6 and 63, Insurance Licenses: Life, Health and Accident, Variable, and Long-Term Care. Mike earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mike lives with his family in Highland Park.
Sherri Anagnostakos
Director of Business Administration, North Star Benefits
Sherri has over 20 years of industry experience. She is responsible for client relations, benefit operations, and overseeing plan administration. Sherri earned her undergraduate degree at Northeastern Illinois University and lives with her family in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Insurance Licenses: Life, Health, and Accident.
Jennie Cloud
Benefits Coordinator
Jennie is responsible for plan administration, client relations, and office support. She has over 20 years of administrative experience. Jennie received her undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently resides in Highland Park, Illinois with her family. Insurance Licenses: Life, Health, and Accident.
Trading
Melissa Diamond
Managing Director of Trading
Melissa is responsible for executing all equity and fixed-income trades for the firm. Melissa has 20 years of industry experience. Registrations: Series 7, 63, and 65. Melissa received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and her M.B.A. from DePaul University.
Compliance
Andrew Eisenberg
Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
Andy joined North Star in 2015 and is responsible for oversight of the firm’s compliance. Prior to joining North Star, Andy served in various positions, including general counsel for a futures clearing firm, compliance specialist at a registered custodian, options trader at a proprietary trading firm, and litigation attorney. Andy received his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from John Marshall Law School. Andy and his family live in Highland Park. Registrations: Series 7 and 24.
Administration
Sandy Logay
Managing Director of Client Services & Operations
Sandy has over 50 years of experience in the financial services industry. She started her career at Thomson & McKinnon as gal in the steno pool and relief switchboard operator. She raised her hand to learn more and do more and eventful became a branch manager in Chesterfield, MO and was there for 29 years when Prudential took them over. Sandy worked at Source Capital in Connecticut for 5 years and then joined North Star 17 years ago. Sandy brings to the table her years of industry experience, specifically problem solving and assisting the advisors and administrative assistants. She lives in Michigan with her family and commutes to the North Star Chicago office. Sandy has her Series 7, 63, and 6 licenses. She loves to bake, go to antique fairs and take the corvette for a drive along Lake Michigan.
Vanetta Brown
Client Services & Operations Administrator
Vanetta has over 4 years of experience in the financial services industry and 10 years of customer service experience. Her responsibilities include client service support and office administration. Vanetta attended Columbia College for Business and Entrepreneurship. Vanetta and her family live in Oak Park, Illinois.
Elaine Scroggins-Stuart
Client Services & Operations Administrator
Elaine is responsible for client relations and administration of customer accounts and has over 9 years of experience. Elaine earned her Associate of Applied Science in Advertising Communications from the International Academy of Design and Technology in 2008. Elaine lives in Chicago, IL.
Shellie Cohen
Senior Client Services Administrator
Shellie is responsible for client relations and administration of customer accounts. Shellie and her family live in Highland Park, Illinois.
Anna Lurie
Client Services & Operations Administrator
Anna Lurie has over 7 years of experience in wealth management. Her financial experience runs the gamut of operations and client service. A year ago she joined the research team working directly with the CIO Eric Kuby. On a day to day basis she manages the organization of research to be utilized by our analysts and portfolio managers. Anna received a Bachelors of Science from Illinois State University in the Spring of 2015. She has lived in the Chicagoland area for the better part of 22 years and is an avid hockey player.
Cassidy Logay
Client Services & Operations Administrator
Cassidy is responsible for client service administration. From West Michigan, she has over 10 years of experience in a wide range of business ventures, from growing up in the restaurant business to working in retail and real estate. She enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, snowboarding, and swimming. Cassidy graduated with her Associate of Business and started at North Star in April 2022.
Marketing
June Popio
Director of Marketing
June is responsible for a wide range of the firm’s marketing, trading, technology and various operational responsibilities. June received her undergraduate degree in Finance from Robert Morris University after attending UMass in Boston, and is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. June has over 25 years of financial services experience and has a Series 7 and 63.
Brooke Kuby
Research Analyst & Content Marketing Associate
Brooke works across the North Star Fund Family in various functional areas such as Research and Marketing. Her efforts also involve directing the seasonal intern program and conducting community outreach. Prior to joining North Star full-time, Brooke spent 4 years as an intern studying the firm’s investment philosophy and strategies. Brooke received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Outside of the office, she enjoys playing tennis and going to the Farmers Market.
North Star may only transact business in a jurisdiction if first registered, excluded, or exempted from state investment adviser registration requirements and follow-up, individualized responses to persons in a specific jurisdiction by the Firm will not be made absent compliance with state investment adviser registration requirements, or an applicable exemption or exclusion therefrom.
The information provided in this commentary is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any security, product, or brokerage service.