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Eric Fudala
Merrill Wealth ManagementChicagoManaging Director, Senior Financial Advisor
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Advisors do not pay a fee for placement on Forbes Top Advisor rankings, which are independently determined by Shook Research. This advisor has paid a fee to receive expanded profile features, such as profile photo and contact information.

Forbes Lists

#50
Illinois - Chicago (High Net Worth)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Apr 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23.

Disclosures

Chances are you have worked extraordinarily hard to amass your wealth. The challenges of your professional and personal priorities demand a Financial Advisor who is willing to work just as hard for you in building and preserving that wealth. 
 
Sustainability- Economic & Social: Realizing that clients’ transition from selling their business or entering into retirement involves financial as well as lifestyle issues, Eric works with clients in the years leading up to these major events to help them prepare. The sustainability of various streams of income over time is a major challenge in today’s market environment because people live longer, more active lives today. 
 
Social sustainability strives to take future generations into consideration, and to live with the awareness that our actions make an impact on others and the world at large. 
 
That’s why Eric advises client’s on effective and efficient ways to establish their philanthropic plan and legacy wishes. 
 
Eric holds the title of Managing Director. Since 1989, Eric’s particular experience has been in both the tax-exempt and taxable bond markets spending over 10 years on fixed income trading floors as VP for H/N/W and institutional sales. 
 
Eric, along with a team of specialists work with a select group of families and businesses in developing, and implementing strategies enabling clients to create, grow, preserve and distribute wealth. Once your wealth management plan has been implemented, Eric will periodically review your plan’s progress with the goal of keeping its strategy aligned with the client’s overall financial needs. 
 
Along with specialists who have specific areas of expertise, they offer their clients: 
  • Retirement planning and cash flow analysis
  • Insurance structuring
  • ESOP consultation including planning to defer taxable gains by utilizing §§1042 Qualified Replacement Property (QRP)
  • Deferred compensation programs
  • Discretionary portfolio management, Wealth preservation and succession planning, Asset Management
  • Bank of America Liability management (loans, credit cards & Mortgages)
  • Alternative Investments strategies.

Eric has earned a BS in Finance with a minor in Accounting from the University of Illinois in Urbana and his MBA from DePaul University with honors. Eric holds the designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor from the College for Financial Planning® He is Series 7, 63, 65 registered, and holds a Series 52 with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). He is also a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).
 
Eric is on the Executive Committee for Four Stars/Dream Chicago benefiting St. Jude Children’s Hospital for the past 14 years, and has been appointed to the Chicago Dental Society Foundation. Eric has offices in Chicago and Naples, although he serves clients nationally. Eric is married residing in the Chicagoland suburbs with his wife Eileen and two daughters, Bridget & Hannah. Senior Client Associate: Bridget Moran. Bridget has been in the financial services field since 1991, and has assisted with Eric’s clients for the past ten years. Bridget has been a valuable asset, being the consistent contact for clients when Eric is away from the office. He relies on Bridget heavily to assist his clients with administrative, operational, and banking needs.

Eric Fudala's Awards

Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” List 2023-2024
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.
Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
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*Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list. Opinions provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due-diligence meetings that measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials,
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For Barron’s and Forbes online bio only. Cannot be printed and distributed.
BA1ALB8290438, 6/21/25
Contact Eric
eric.fudala@ml.com
110 North Wacker Drive, 17th Floor, CHICAGO, IL 60606
Asset Summary
As of Jun, 2023
$500K
Min Account Size For New Business
$1.5-15M
Typical Size Of Households
$4-25M
Typical Net Worth Of Relationships
$358M
Team Assets (Custodied)
Appears On