Planning Team

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Human Behavior from Millikin University, Joe began his wealth management career in 1990 with a boutique financial planning firm. He then launched his own practice with Northwestern Mutual in 1999 and built a highly-credentialled team of financial professionals serving clients across the country.

To reflect the firm’s continued growth and commitment to providing lifelong guidance throughout a client’s financial journey, Joe rebranded the practice as Compass Financial Partners in commemoration of his milestone 30th year in business in 2021. In January of 2022, Tim Hender joined Compass Financial as a full equity partner in the firm. This partnership doubled the firm’s capacity to advise clients across the country on multi-generational wealth planning needs.

Compass Financial Partners is recognized by Northwestern Mutual as one of its top wealth management advisory teams in the country and is a founding member of the FORTUNE 500 company’s Private Client Group - an exclusive selection of advisors who provide sophisticated advisory strategies for high-net-worth clients and their families.

Joe has an extensive background in asset and income protection, wealth management, and comprehensive financial planning for individuals and businesses. He maintains a deep expertise in tax efficient retirement distribution planning.

He is a qualifying/life member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals. He has served as the Chairman of the Investment Products and Services Field Committee, as a Board Member of the Financial Representative Association for Northwestern Mutual and is a highly regarded expert and keynote speaker within the financial services industry.

He and his wife Catherine have seven children: Joshua, Henry, Will, Madison, Conor, Alyssa, and Sydney. Joe’s second passion is golf, which provides the opportunity to entertain clients and meet new people. He also enjoys basketball and attending Chicago Bears and White Sox games.

Tim Hender has devoted his career to growth-oriented strategies and has a mission to help families navigate their journey to financial security. Prior to his 11-year career with Northwestern Mutual as a Private Wealth Advisor, he traded stock options for 15 years at the American Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

Tim started as a clerk with a firm called Botta Capital Management his freshmen year in college. Shortly after college graduation, he worked his way up to Managing Director for the firm's New York City location. While trading in New York City, Tim was also responsible for managing a team of 15+ market makers.

For the last ten years as a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, Tim’s mission has been to help successful people create peace of mind by delivering personalized wealth management solutions. He engages clients in courageous and passionate conversation to help them achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. He and his team use their collective 75+ years of investment and insurance experience to help clients manage their risk, build wealth, and create lasting legacies.

Tim is a graduate of Lake Forest High School in Illinois and the University of Vermont. He married his high school sweetheart, Alana, and together they raised their three kids – Julia, Brody, and Cooper – in Lake Forest, the same small town in which they grew up.

While work is important to Tim, so is giving back to the community he loves. Tim has coached many of his kids' sports teams, served on the Lake Forest Caucus, is a board member of the Gorton Community Center, and serves on the finance committee of the Community Church of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

In his spare time, Tim loves to spend time with his family, see live music, sail, surf, and snowboard and golf.

Justin joined the firm in 2019. As Director of Investments, he is responsible for designing and managing client investment and wealth planning strategies.

Prior to this, Justin spent 14 years working with high net worth families and individuals in the banking industry. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He is also a CFA® charterholder and a member of the Chicago CFA® Society.

Justin is responsible for:

• Facilitating client review meetings
• Designing and managing investment strategies within client portfolios
• Developing wealth planning strategies implemented within client financial plans
• Developing and managing retirement income plans
• Answering questions about the investment process and strategy utilized in client portfolios
• Overseeing initial and on-going due diligence of specific investment strategies held within client portfolios
• Implementing new client investment strategies

Justin and his wife, Kate, live in Park Ridge with their two children, and he is a lifelong Chicagoland resident. When not in the office, Justin enjoys spending time with his family, loves reading, being outdoors and supporting his Wisconsin Badgers.

Brendan joined the firm in 2016 as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor. He was no stranger to Northwestern Mutual, as he spent the previous four years as a Financial Representative, where he was responsible for new client acquisition and delivering customized financial solutions to clients.

A graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Brendan holds his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification, Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designations, as well as his Series 6, 7, & 63 registrations and Life and Health Insurance license.

Brendan is responsible for:

• Facilitating client review meetings and plan updates
• Executing trade orders
• Discussing investment strategies with clients
• Opening new accounts
• Updating account information (address changes, beneficiary changes, changes to account registration, etc.)
• Processing account transfers and IRA rollovers
• Providing account balances and consolidated reports

Outside of the office, Brendan and his wife are thoroughly enjoying their newborn daughter. Brendan loves golf and fishing, and occasionally, you may also catch him on TV attending a Chicago Blackhawks or Cubs game.

Luke started with Northwestern Mutual as a college intern in 2009. He majored in Finance at The Ohio State University, graduated in 2010 with Cum Laude honors and led his own financial planning practice before joining forces with Tim in 2012.

In that role he led financial planning, investment implementation and insurance design. Luke currently holds his Life/Health, Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 and is a Certified Investment Management Analyst. As Director of Financial Planning for Compass Financial Partners, Luke is responsible for development and oversight of Financial Plans and facilitating client review meetings.

Luke has the expertise to:

• Discuss investment strategy
• Analyze investment accounts/proposals
• Execute trades
• Open & update investment accounts
• Process account transfers and asset movement
• Review and discuss in-force insurance policies/proposals

Outside of the office, Luke enjoys spending time with family, being outside as much as he can, working out and watching sports. Luke lives in Glenview, with his wife Rachel and their daughter, Frannie.

Bernadeta joined the firm in 2017 after more than 13 years in the Northwestern Mutual family. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and holds an Illinois Life and Health Insurance license.

As Director of Insurance, Bernadeta is responsible for:

• Generating client reports
• Providing account balances
• Providing quotes for Life, Disability, Long Term Care Insurance
• Providing In-force Illustrations
• Scheduling medical exams and overseeing the underwriting process
• Submitting applications for life, disability, and long-term care insurance
• Assisting clients with questions on insurance billing accounts, insurance values, and other service needs
• Assisting with policy owner service-related issues, such as loans and policy maintenance

Outside of work, Bernadeta enjoys traveling and long walks with her husband, Ken. Fishing is one of the passions she shares with her father and brother, and can frequently be found near the Chain-of-Lakes. During winter months Bernadeta likes to read with her cat Maya curled up next to her.

Before starting her career with Northwestern Mutual, Lori graduated on the Dean’s List from the University of Chicago with a degree in Human Development. She continued her academic studies at the University of New Haven where she earned her master’s degree in Sports Management. While there, she served as the Assistant Coach for their Women’s Basketball Team.

Lori then joined Northwestern Mutual in 2011 and has held several leadership roles within the organization. In her role working with Tim Hender at the Hender and Nero Financial Group, she led insurance underwriting, client service and scheduling.

As Director of Human Resources and Integration for Compass Financial Partners, Lori is responsible for:

• Office management
• Generating business reports
• Applying for and renewing licenses
• Technology assistance
• Bookkeeping
• Human resources
• Implementation of new practices

She is married to her husband Poitier, and they have 2 sons, Paxon and Parker. Lori enjoys playing and watching as much basketball as possible, binge watching a good Netflix series, and hanging out with her family.

Erin joined the firm in 2019 with 25 years of experience in corporate sales, support, and training. As Director of Client Relations, she provides operational support to the team and serves as the primary contact for client relations and helps ensure a white glove experience.

Erin is responsible for:

• Scheduling client meetings
• Addressing client inquiries
• Assisting clients with the online Client Portal registration and integration
• Managing the firm's social media and website presence
• Maintaining community relations and coordinating special events

She loves spending time with her two girls, family, and friends, as well as going to concerts and traveling. Erin has been heavily involved with Placing Paws Rescue of Illinois, a local foster-based animal rescue since 2013, and is also a past Ambassador for the Project Athena Foundation.

Eileen joined the team in 2022, bringing more than 20 years of office and project management experience. As Client Service Coordinator, she will work with the team to provide operational support and exceptional client service. She attended Carleton College for her undergraduate degree, and continued her academic career at the University of Chicago, where she earned her Master’s Degree.

Eileen is responsible for:

• Scheduling client meetings
• Service support for insurance products
• Leading community outreach & philanthropy projects
• Assisting with special business developments
• Managing marketing and product campaign initiatives

Eileen and her husband Jim live in Lake Forest with their four children – James, Thomas, Viola, and Philip. Outside of work, Eileen enjoys spending time with her family, walking with friends, working out, and cooking. Her happy place is the Florida Keys!

Michael joined the firm in 2022 as an Investment Operations Associate. Prior to this role, he spent the previous eight years in client-facing position where he delivered knowledge-based service and support to sophisticated clientele.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Business Management and holds his Series 7 and 66 registrations, along with his Life and Health Insurance license.

Michael is responsible for:

• Plan updates
• Executing trade orders
• Opening new accounts
• Updating account information (address changes, beneficiary changes, changes to account registration, etc.)
• Processing account transfers and IRA rollovers
• Providing account balances and consolidated reports

Outside of the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and friends, working out, working on cars, and attending automotive events.

Alan began his career with Northwestern Mutual in 1968 as a college intern. After graduating from Springfield College, he became a full-time Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative. While he was starting his financial services career, Alan also became the head Wrestling Coach for the University of Rhode Island. There Alan was recognized as New England Coach of the year three times and was inducted into the URI Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

Alan is proud to have been with Northwestern Mutual for over 50 years. He prides himself on always doing the right thing and helping clients achieve financial security. In 1984, Alan's career took an interesting turn. He developed some innovative ways to advise, insure, and negotiate on behalf of professional athletes. Alan continues to achieve recognition for his innovative style of representation in the sports marketing world. The Sporting News voted Alan one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Figures in Baseball. Street and Smiths named him one of the Top 20 Most Influential Sports Agents. While continuing his work at Northwestern Mutual, Alan is also the Managing Director of Octagon's Baseball Division.

Alan has been married to his wife Lia since 1978 and spends most of his free time with his family. Alan has two children, Alana and Lou, and five grandchildren, Julia, Brody, Cooper, Emory and Maizy. While Alan and Lia call Chicago home, they are lucky enough to escape the harsh winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Alan and Lia spend their summers in Narragansett, Rhode Island, back where it all began!