A Team That Puts Your Priorities First

Peter Karmin is the Managing Member of Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC and Karmin Capital. Karmin Capital is an investment boutique that joined Fort Sheridan in 2016. He founded Fort Sheridan Advisors in 2009, focusing on managed accounts across fixed income, equity, and currency strategies. Over the course of his career, Peter has developed over two decades of experience in global investment management. He specializes in overseeing multi-asset portfolios and derivative products across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Prior to founding Fort Sheridan, Peter spent 15 years at Perot Investments — the investment office for the Perot family. There, he managed bond portfolios spanning mortgage-backed, corporate, and municipal securities. He also served as a portfolio manager for a $2.8 billion multi-strategy hedge fund. That fund focused on global fixed income and equity markets.

Peter holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, both from Northwestern University. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Rhodes College, leading the financial team. Outside of work, he is dedicated to his wife and their four children.

John K. Brinckerhoff is a financial professional with over 40 years of experience in marketing, asset management, and institutional sales. He began his career as an institutional fixed income salesperson. Over time, he rose to National Fixed Income Sales Manager and Principal at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette.

Following that role, John joined Deerfield Capital Management as a Senior Managing Director and Director of Portfolio Management. He also served on the Risk Management Committee. There, he helped grow hedge fund assets from $100 million to over $1 billion. He subsequently served as Chief Marketing Officer at Ziegler Capital Management, overseeing marketing and distribution for a $10.5 billion firm.

John holds a BSBA in Finance from the University of Denver. In addition, he has served as Chair of the Lake County Golf Classic for 18 years.

Lisa Datcu is the Office Manager and Client Services lead at Fort Sheridan Advisors. She brings over two decades of experience with the firm. Lisa is the primary point of contact for clients, ensuring their needs are met promptly and with personal attention. As a result, she has earned the trust and loyalty of clients over many years.

On the administrative side, Lisa handles account openings and transfers. She navigates complex operational processes with accuracy and compliance at every step. Her work directly supports FSA's clients-first mission. Lisa grew up in Chicago and now resides in Northfield with her son.

Elizabeth grew up in Milwaukee. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in just three years. She then completed her MSF there in one additional year. During her time at Alabama, Elizabeth served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Honors Microeconomics and Value Investing. She later worked as a Research Assistant, analyzing over 4,000 papers and 5,300 data observations for workforce research.

Following graduation, Elizabeth joined Easy Street Capital in Austin, Texas. There, she held roles as both a Credit Analyst and Operations Analyst. In those roles, she managed mortgage lending documentation, oversaw collateral and funding processes, and supported secondary market operations. After two years in Austin, Elizabeth returned to Chicago to continue building her career in investment analysis.

Nicole joined Fort Sheridan in July 2024 as a Business Development Associate. She earned her MBA from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. While pursuing her MBA, Nicole competed on the Women's golf team and earned All-Summit League Honorable Mention. Prior to that, she completed her undergraduate degree in finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There, she was a four-year member of the Women's golf team and earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2022.

Nicole grew up in Bloomingdale, IL, and enjoys golfing — especially with her mom. She has since earned her Series 65 license, qualifying her as an Investment Adviser Representative. At Fort Sheridan, Nicole leads client development through outreach, events, and relationship-building. Her background in academics and collegiate athletics shapes her approach to teamwork and strategy.

Alissa Hirsh specializes in investment research and client portfolio analysis. She began her finance career at Hall Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based registered investment adviser. There, she spent two years evaluating alternative investment strategies for families and institutions.

Alissa is a proud alumna of Grinnell College, where she earned a degree in economics in 2016. During her time there, she finished her athletic career as the all-time assists leader in the Women's Basketball program. Originally from Skokie, Illinois, Alissa has a passion for both finance and basketball. She now works at Fort Sheridan as a consultant. Additionally, during the WNBA season, she covers the Chicago Sky as a beat writer for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Stuart Loren is a Managing Director at Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC and Karmin Capital. His work centers on client portfolio management, investment research, and market analysis. In particular, Stuart focuses on U.S. equities, market strategy, and asset valuation.

Prior to joining Fort Sheridan, Stuart practiced corporate law at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston. There, he advised clients on debt finance transactions, securities law, and capital markets. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, he advised the U.S. Treasury Department on federal credit programs and debt collection law. Stuart also holds the Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. His background in law, investment management, and regulatory policy gives him a distinctive perspective at Fort Sheridan. Stuart lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.

Rich Preston is a Managing Director at Fort Sheridan. His background spans both insurance and investment planning. Early in his career, Rich held management roles at large insurance and banking firms. He later launched his own advisory practice through Northwestern Mutual.

For nearly three decades, Rich has worked with high-net-worth clients on financial planning and investment strategies. During that period, he was an 8-time national recipient of the Forum/MVP honor — awarded to top advisors nationwide. His planning process is grounded in thorough fact-finding with each client. Strategies focus on wealth accumulation, retirement planning, and estate and tax planning. Furthermore, intergenerational planning is incorporated where appropriate.

Rich is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College. He holds the ChFC designation and is life, health, and Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licensed. Outside of work, Rich is an avid golfer and proud parent and grandparent. He resides with his wife in New Jersey and Florida.

Doug Purcell is a Managing Director at Fort Sheridan. He brings an institutional approach to individual investing, using both active and passive management strategies. As a result, he is well-equipped to address clients' near- and long-term financial goals.

Prior to joining Fort Sheridan, Doug built his expertise on fixed income and middle market equity trading desks. There, he worked with financial institutions, hedge funds, and money managers. He holds a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois and a JD from DePaul University College of Law. This combination of financial and legal training gives him a strong perspective on investment management and compliance.

In addition to his professional work, Doug served on the Downers Grove Grade School District board from 2011 to 2019. He also served on the board of the School Association for Special Education in DuPage County. He lives with his wife and three children.

Thomas Weil is a Managing Director at Fort Sheridan. He brings over three decades of experience in investment management, retirement planning, 401(k) consulting, and insurance solutions. Tom has been with the firm since 2004. Prior to that, he built his expertise at Morgan Stanley.

Tom earned an MBA from the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also holds a BS from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. This academic foundation supports the analytical work he does for clients each day. Beyond his professional work, Tom is rooted in his community. He resides in Deerfield with his wife and their two sons.

Alison brings over two decades of experience in wealth management to Fort Sheridan, having joined the firm in 2021. Her background includes tenures at Morgan Stanley and Western International Securities. Since embarking on her career in 2004, she has developed deep expertise in financial strategy and client relations.

Alison holds a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Oneonta. She applies that foundation daily to financial planning and client service. She also holds the Series 7, 9, 10, and 66 licenses. These certifications reflect her commitment to a high level of expertise. Outside of work, Alison is a mother to two children and caretaker of three dogs. She enjoys reading and staying active.