Our Team

As Founder and President of Exemplar Financial Network, Dave’s leadership stems from his core principals of community, integrity, responsibility and loyalty. Over the years he discovered his clients needed a more comprehensive advisor that would assist them through every aspect of their financial lives to pursue their dreams for the future. Exemplar Financial Network has helped clients attain professional financial advice, with offices in Crystal Lake, Westmont and Walworth Wisconsin.

Dave has assisted hundreds of financial advisors to establish and grow their practices. Additionally, he has worked with numerous banks, accounting firms and insurance agencies to successfully provide financial planning and investment advisory services to their clients. Twice each year he dedicates his time teaching his own Financial Planning Bootcamp to those advisors who believe, as he does, in holistic financial planning. During this intense three day program he reveals his time-tested signature planning process with other advisors, and shares all the tools and resources he’s used over the past 30 years to build his own multi-million dollar financial planning business.

Dave’s attitude and philosophy has always been to give back; and he practices what he preaches by supporting the local community as well as the Exemplar Financial Network community of representatives. He’s called upon as a resource for local papers and national magazines and is known for his willingness to share ideas.

A lifelong resident of Crystal Lake, IL Dave is the father of six children and grandfather to eight. While his children were growing up, he was very involved with their activities and served in leadership positions for their sports, scouting and YMCA Indian Princess and Guides programs. Dave is a student of history and when he is not working hard for his clients and representatives or working on building a stronger community you will find him enjoying a great history book or relishing the company of his large, loving family.

Education & Qualifications

Education: United States Military Academy at West Point, Northern Illinois University

Licenses: Series 7, 63, 65, 24 registrations through LPL Financial and Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses

Community and Industry Involvement

Community

• Founding member and past President of Northern Illinois Special Recreation Associations (NISRA) foundation, which provides leisure activities to residents with disabilities
• Currently – board member of McHenry County Economic Development Corporation
• Devoted time to Jaycees, Rotary, Church and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Served 4 years on the Board of Trustees for Eureka College
• Served 20 years as an elected member of the District # 47 school board
• 1995 - the Illinois Jaycees recognized Dave’s commitment to his family, his community, and his work by naming him one of the Ten Outstanding Young People in the State of Illinois
• 2004 – co-founded the Leadership Greater McHenry County and served on it’s board
• 2007 – the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce presented Dave with the Carl E. Wehde Award – given annually to someone who has made a verifiable contribution to the quality of life in the Crystal Lake area
• 2011 - Exemplar Financial Network was awarded the Robert O. Covey Business of the Year award for their consistent dedication to local groups and charities.

Industry

• Co-founder and President of the CPE Club – an organization licensed by the state of Illinois to provide continuing education for Certified public Accountants
• Co-authored a financial planning column for the Northwest Herald
• Hosted a weekly radio show “Money Talks"
• Hosted business development and coaching webinars for Registered Rep Magazine and co-hosted with Don Connelly
• 2008 – named Top 10 Branch Manager – OnWallStreet Magazine*
• 2010, 2011 – named among the Top 100 Branch Managers – OnWallStreet Magazine**
• 2012 – launched the NextStep Coaching Program for Financial Advisors which focuses on how to run a successful financial planning business

Getting to Know Dave

Favorite Book: An avid reader, it is hard to pick just one, but Dave hopes all of his kids read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Favorite Movie: Any classic movie with actors like Jimmy Stewart, Marlon Brando or Gregory Peck

Dave’s Best Piece of Advice: Helping others and giving back to the community is the most important thing you can do with your life. It’s like paying rent back to society for all of the benefits you derive in your own life.

Dave’s Favorite Things to Do: Anything outdoors – boating, fishing, hiking, snow skiing

Where Dave Would Love to Travel: Dave is an admirer of places with historical significance and no matter where he travels, he enjoys seeing the landmarks that portray the events and culture of the area.

*The program, sponsored by Mainstay Investments and On Wall Street, honors branch managers for their exceptional achievements in creating effective branch-wide marketing strategies; recruiting, developing and retaining talented financial professionals; and client service. Over 200 managers from around the country were nominated for the coveted award from a base of over 3,000. From those, a list of 100 finalists were selected and interviewed: the Top 10 were selected by a panel of industry experts.

**The On Wall Street Branch Manager Awards, Sponsored by Mainstay Investments, are awarded to individuals who showed a strong commitment to excellence in creating effective and competitive branch-wide marketing strategy, the ability to identify, recruit, develop, retain, and reward talented advisors, and dedication to the goal of providing superior client service.

Terry's vision was to build a firm and partner with like-minded advisors who shared the same values and high level of ethics. Terry Murphy believes strongly in the financial planning profession’s ability to improve people’s lives. Understanding what it takes to grow a business and take care of clients is at the core of Terry's experience. Advisors who join Total Clarity enjoy the ability to control the unique services they provide their clients, while tapping into the established infrastructure of an experienced team.

Terry splits his time between working with clients and recruiting, coaching and mentoring advisors. He has over 25 years of experience developing and encouraging joint work between advisors, including joint seminars and marketing efforts. He also has helped orchestrate succession plans between advisors. In his many years of experience, he has served as an OSJ and an Options Principal, as well as on the Board for the Illinois Financial Planning Association.

He enjoys helping orchestrate succession plans between advisors. When Terry isn’t hard at work, you will find him enjoying the company of his wife, Yvonne, their four daughters, and six grandchildren.

Education and Qualifications

Education: State University of New York

Licensing: Series 7, 63, 65, 4, 24 registrations through LPL Financial and Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses

Designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®)

Jeanne Tackett is passionate about working with a team that recruits, supports and supervises the financial advisors at Total Clarity. She dedicates her time coordinating and facilitating back-office operations and compliance-related issues to ensure Total Clarity’s advisors are operating their practices within SEC regulatory guidelines. Jeanne lives in Spring, TX with her husband, Chris, and their son. When she’s not hard at work, you can find Jeanne bicycling and taking long walks with her family.

Education & Qualifications

Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Licensing: Series 7, 24, 53 (held with LPL Financial) and 66 securities registrations, qualifying her as Total Clarity’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Jennifer Johnson believes that without a plan we are like a rudderless ship at sea. Whether it’s working with clients on their financial plans or advisors on their business plans, helping others get pointed in the right direction to pursue their goals is Jennifer’s passion. Jennifer works in a pivotal role within Exemplar’s leadership team developing the strategies that keep Exemplar in the forefront of the financial planning business.

Whether it’s helping seasoned professionals move to the next level or assisting beginners in mapping out their careers in financial planning, Jennifer most enjoys working with are those who have a vision for a future that is better than their past.

When she’s not working hard, you will find Jennifer relaxing in Galena with her family, downhill skiing, golfing or boating on the Mississippi.

Education & Qualifications

Education: University of Iowa

Licenses: Series 7, 66, 24 registrations through LPL Financial and Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses

Designation: Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®)

Recognition: Jennifer has been recognized with a Presidential Award of Excellence from the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and also been recognized at a Top 10 Under 40 by the McHenry County Business Journal, where it was stated that her energy is hard to stop. She also received the Women of Distinction Award in 2019 for her excellence in community involvement and leadership.

Community Service

Jennifer has been involved with Leadership Greater McHenry County, United Way of Greater McHenry County and Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce along with being an active member of her church and church choir. She strives to give back to the community as much as possible and believes and healthy and vibrant economic community translates into a healthy community and place to raise a family.

Getting to Know Jennifer

Favorite Food: Fresh guacamole, salsa and chips with a top shelf margarita!

Favorite Movie: Anything with Meg Ryan, I’m a sucker for romantic comedies, what can I say?

Hidden Talent: I LOVE to karaoke

Where Jennifer Would Most Like to Travel Next?: Italy, to take a week long cooking class

Lauren Nikolić believes that life is about people and making connections, and she always enjoys interacting with people. Assisting advisors with their marketing needs is her passion. With the resources and assistance Exemplar provides, she is able to help solve website issues, maintain social media pages, and teach advisors marketing best practices to further expand their business. When Lauren isn’t working, you can find her home with her husband, spending time with her family that she adores, gardening, crafting, playing with her dogs, or cooking.

Education and Qualifications

Education: Bradley University

Getting to Know Lauren

Favorite Food: Sushi and Thai

Favorite Quote: “You don’t have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt with. You have an obligation to play the hell out of the ones you’re holding.” —Cheryl Strayed

Best Piece of Advice: Be Kind