The Effner Financial Group

John Araujo, RHU
Employee Benefit Specialist
(630) 353-2308

Strategic Employee Benefit Services (SEBS) offers a unique approach to managing employee benefit plans. These plans include, but are not limited to, medical, dental, disability and life insurance, as well as cafeteria plans.

At SEBS, we believe our role is to partner with your organization as an outsourced benefits department. We not only analyze and market your plan each year at renewal, but we also provide extensive plan management capabilities such as dedicated customer service for all employees and dependents, a customized benefit Web site and regular meetings with our benefit consultant.

I began my career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in 1990 as a full–time Financial Representative and have specialized in employee benefits since 1994. I am proud to have been a part of The Effner Financial Group since 2001. I have a degree in economics from the University of Chicago, and the Registered Health Underwriter designation from the American College.

David H Johnson III, CPA
Investment Specialist
(630) 353-2360

My career as a Retirement and Pension Specialist with The Effner Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network is really a continuation of, and draws upon, my previous work experiences:

1979 – 1991: Ernst & Young (and predecessor firms)
Partner in charge of financial services consulting - Midwest region

1991 – 2000: Corus Bank (and predecessor banks)
President, Aetna Bank
Chairman, Bancorp Operations Company
EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Corus Bank

2000 – 2002: Cole Taylor Bank
Group Senior Vice President, Trust Dept.
Retirement Plans Business Unit

My background has given me the opportunity to become knowledgeable in retirement analysis, and also to understand the corporate environment while relating to the needs of individual employees. I am, by nature, a facilitator, a knowledge–sharer and a teacher, with a great deal of enthusiasm. This is ideally suited to my role here at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

Paul J Mc Nellis
Executive Benefits Specialist
(630) 353-4132

After graduating from the University of Colorado (B.S. in psychology, 1991), I settled down in St. Charles, Illinois, and have lived there ever since. In 2002, I came to The Effner Financial Group from the investment arm of the seventh–largest bank in North America, The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC Oppenheimer), where I specialized in institutional fixed income instruments for members of the Fortune 500. Now I specialize in executive benefits and focus exclusively on plans funded with COLI/BOLI. I am currently a member of 2004 MDRT, Northwestern Mutual’s FORUM, as well as The Illinois Banker’s Association. I am also securities licensed.

John Todd VanDerVoorn
Investment Specialist
(630) 353-4138

As a former branch manager and investment representative at Bank One, I am excited about the opportunities I have had at The Effner Financial Group – including spending more time focusing on investments and the insurance world. One of this job’s most significant attributes is the opportunity to directly affect my clients. I find joy in helping them accumulate wealth, put their kids through school and prepare for retirement. Given the challenge investors have faced in recent years, it is also important that my clients understand and trust our methods. If you have questions, please feel free to call me at (630) 353-4138 or e-mail me at todd.vandervoorn@nmfn.com.

Scott Richardson
Executive Benefits Specialist
(630) 353-2341

Scott brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services and life insurance industries. Immediately before joining Northwestern Mutual Financial Network he was a leading consultant and former head of Legal Services with Clark Consulting. Scott has had extensive contact with bank regulatory agencies, and was involved in the development of customized benefit plans for dozens of banks throughout the country. This unique background provides Mr. Richardson with considerable expertise in the many aspects of compensation, nonqualified benefits and bank-owned life insurance (BOLI)/corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) plan design.