People

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.B.A. from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Peter and his family live in Chicago.

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.

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, and Vice Chair of the Hektoen Institute Covid-19 Monument Commission. 

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.

Heather Kaplan has over 30 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 daughters.  

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.

Pam has over 30 years experience in the Trust/Client Servicing area. Prior to coming to North Star, Pam worked at Northern Trust for 10 years as an Account Relationship Manager to High Net Worth Families. She worked in the Trust Departments of JPMorgan Chase, BankOne, and American National Bank starting as Trust Assistant working up to Assistant Relationship Manager. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She currently resides with her husband and son in Schaumburg, IL .

Matthew has over 18 years of industry experience and assists clients with financial 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: Matthew is a CFA charter holder and in 2020, Matthew earned the CKA, Certified Kingdom Advisor designation. Matthew earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from Elmhurst College and his M.B.A. from Illinois State University.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 19 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 has over 6 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.

Shellie is responsible for client relations and administration of customer accounts. Shellie and her family live in Highland Park, Illinois.

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.

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 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.