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RM Financial and Next Phase Advisory Group, two leading Northwestern Mutual Private Client Groups, announce merger
Strategic merger between two nationally recognized firms to set new standard in Financial Planning

Downers Grove, Ill. – December 5, 2024 – Northwestern Mutual Private Client Groups, RM Financial Group (RMFG) and Next Phase Advisory Group (NPAG), along with Wealth Management Advisor Stan Sroka, are excited to announce their upcoming merger, set to be completed by the end of the year. This merger enhances the firms’ ability to meet the financial needs of Chicagoland’s growing high-net-worth population, where one in 22 residents hold millionaire status. Millionaires are more than twice as likely to work with a financial advisor (69%) compared to the general population (33%), according to a Planning & Progress study. With this merger, the firms will be better equipped to provide tailored financial services to this growing demographic.

With over 100 years of combined financial expertise, the partnership between RMFG, Next Phase Advisory Group and Stan Sroka represents a collective effort to bring broadened capabilities, enhanced services and innovative financial solutions to their valued clients in the Chicagoland area and beyond. Firm advisors boast accolades from Forbes, with both RMFG advisors named “Best-In-State Top Financial Security Professional” and NPAG recognized as the “2024 Best-In-State Wealth Management Team.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Stan and RMFG to combine our strengths and provide our clients with a full range of financial services,” said Mike Polan, Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at NPAG. “Our clients will experience an even greater level of personalized service with more resources and extensive expertise in areas such as multi-generational family planning, high net-worth retirement planning, tax strategies, education funding and estate planning. We’re looking forward to what’s ahead.”

With a shared dedication to a client-centric focus, this merger will facilitate new opportunities for Stan, RMFG, and NPAG's current and future clients, including:

• Enhanced resources and expertise providing access to a more extensive network of financial experts and staff. Wider array of investment opportunities for client portfolios, enabling more timely and efficient handling of workflow items.

• Additional resources to offer a more personalized and responsive client experience. The combined firm will continue to prioritize client relationships, trust, and long-term financial success.

The merged firm will continue to operate out of the Next Phase Advisory Group Downers Grove office located at 1901 Butterfield Rd Ste 300. This newly formed team is committed to maintaining the close relationships that clients value while offering advanced solutions to address evolving financial challenges.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With over $627 billion of total assets1 being managed across the company's institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than $36 billion in revenues, and $2.3 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 111 on the 2023 FORTUNE 500 and was recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2024.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.
1 Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual.

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