Meet your Mesirow Wealth Management team

We serve our clients through a personal, individualized approach to reaching financial goals, helping build comprehensive wealth plans and guiding important financial decisions through changing markets. 

Headshot of Norm Schlismann

Norm Schlismann, AIF®

Senior Managing Director, Wealth Advisor | Wealth Management

Profile
Headshot of Michael Adamski

Michael Adamski, CFP®

Vice President, Wealth Advisor | Wealth Management

Profile
Headshot of Wendy Evans

Wendy M. Evans

Vice President, Client Relationship Specialist | Wealth Management

Profile

We invest in what matters

Our team is passionate about philanthropy and believes in the power of giving back to the community.  We not only commit to this personally, we also work with our clients who choose to include charitable giving as part of their financial plans. 

In addition to being active in his church, Norm has a passion for helping babies and children in need. Locally, this takes the form of support for special needs organizations such as Trinity Services,  Greetings Galore & more, Special Olympics Illinois, and The Miracle League, which teaches special needs children the joy of baseball.  Globally, Norm's family sponsors children in Ghana through  Compassion International and started a Baby and Mom Survival Program there, which provides essential care from pregnancy through a baby’s first year of life.  They also support World Relief's efforts to serve the most vulnerable, especially in Malawi.  

Norm in Ghana

Compassion International

One of the non-profits closest to Norm and his family's hearts is Compassion International, a non-profit that enables people to help children in need gain the means to escape poverty.

Learn more about Compassion International

Financial guides 

Interested in bringing your retirement into focus?

ocean

Get the guide that will help you determine when your prime time to retirement is.

Download now

Are you ready to make the most of your peak earning years?

protect and grow brochure

If you're at the stage of life where you're trying to accumulate and grow your wealth, how can you be sure you're making the most of these two advantages?

Dwonload now

Are you prepared to leave your legacy?

lgacy brochure

Our guide “Blaze your trail: Ensure your legacy by mapping out a thoughtful wealth transfer strategy” is designed to help you begin that journey and to give you a roadmap to making a legacy plan a reality.

Download now

Additional resources

Placeholder

Document locator

We've created this resource, the Document Locator, to help you keep important personal and financial documents organized. From tax returns and records to listing out your professional resources, making sure the Document Locator is up to date allows our team to help you plan ahead. 

Access locator here

Placeholder

2024 Planning guide

Every year, a variety of governmental agencies and programs announce the annual contribution limits, tax rates and payment requirements. We have consolidated these for you to serve as a handy reference guide as you review your financial plan at least annually with our team. 

Access Guide here

Placeholder

Legacy Checklist

When a loved one passes, what happens next? This checklist was created to provide you with a series of tasks and suggested timelines to keep you organized. 

Download checklist

Financial planning tips

Roth 529 Conversion
Money left over in 529s can always be transferred to another family member’s 529, or it could be withdrawn from the account — which would incur a 10% penalty on investment earnings plus you would have to pay taxes on the earnings as well.  Beginning in 2024, there is a new alternative — as part of the Secure 2.0 Act, leftover funds in a 529 account can be converted to a Roth IRA with no penalties or taxes.  read more

IRA Tax smarts
Your IRA most likely represents a significant portion of your long-term retirement savings, and can also play an important role in annual tax planning. Depending on your situation and goals, you might want to consider whether a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA makes the most sense, whether your required minimum distributions can be given to charity, or whether you should accelerate your IRA distributions.  read more

Taxes and charitable giving
With the change in tax code a few years ago, many affluent individuals and families who used to itemize now qualify for the standard deduction instead, which can impact the deductibility of charitable gifts. Throughout our history, Mesirow has had a strong philanthropic culture, so charitable giving is a wealth planning area in which we are very experienced and eager to help provide some new ideas. This article outlines how you can integrate charitable giving into their financial plan and still enjoy some of the tax benefits long associated with gifting.  read more

Mesirow does not provide legal or tax advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The views expressed above are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change, and may differ from views express by other Mesirow associates. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell the securities mentioned. Do not use this information as the sole basis for investment decisions, it is not intended as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual investor. Information herein has been obtained from sources which Mesirow believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and such information may be incomplete and/or condensed. All opinions and estimates included herein are subject to change without notice. This communication may contain privileged and/or confidential information. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing or using any of the information. If you receive this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security.

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. ©2025, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Advisory Fees are described in Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Form ADV Part 2A. Advisory services offered through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. an SEC registered investment advisor. Securities offered by Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC.