Our Story and Services

At The Shoreline Group, success means more than providing our clients with investment advice. It means helping them maintain the financial independence they’ve worked their whole lives to achieve. It means striving to make sure they have the means to pursue what’s most important to them. Also, it means understanding our clients as people who have unique goals, values and circumstances that determine the strategies we develop on their behalf.

The Shoreline Group process begins with an in-depth discussion of your current finances and future objectives. Our team addresses issues you might have overlooked that can have a significant impact on your ability to use your wealth as planned. We’ll determine how we can help you adjust your strategies as necessary to accommodate changing needs and meet any unforeseen situations or demands that may arise throughout your life.

Many of our clients at The Shoreline Group are in their early years as investors, driving forward with their career and family in mind. Others are in a crucial savings window. Some clients strive to reach the point where they know they can retire. When they retire, we help to make sure they are THRIVING throughout their retirement, until ARRIVING and we make sure that we handle the people and causes they care about with proper care in their absence.

We have a systematic process for guiding our clients through all stages of their financial life, which is why were named as one of Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams for 2023 and 2024. The Shoreline Group welcomes the opportunity to discuss our consultative process with you.

Named as one of 2023, 2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams
Forbes (Awarded Jan 2023, Jan 2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/21 – 3/31/23. https://mgstn.ly/3wb7pSG
Services Include
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Working With You

At The Shoreline Group, we believe that identifying financial solutions begins with a solid understanding of each client's situation, goals, objectives, and risk tolerance. We follow a disciplined process that allows us to work with you craft a solution that helps to meet your individual financial needs.
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    Step 1: Introductory Meeting
    Your relationship with The Shoreline Group begins with an initial discussion aimed towards us getting to know you, your lifestyle and your future goals.
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    Step 2: Discovery Meeting
    During the discovery meeting, The Shoreline Group will figure out your financial goals by reviewing your current financial situation and determining an appropriate risk tolerance that can help you achieve the financial results you envision for yourself. 
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    Step 3: Financial Plan Presentation
    The Shoreline Group’s financial plan presentations map out essential factors that play into your financial success, such as your employee and employer contributions, liquidity events, and insurance coverage. Examining relevant financial information provides a holistic asset allocation analysis for your accounts, helping establish a comprehensive financial plan.
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    Step 4: Action Items / Next Steps
    After the financial plan presentation, The Shoreline Group will follow up with you regarding our analysis and recommendations, which may include adjustments to your financial plan, investment allocation, company benefits, and insurance coverage.  
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    Step 5: Implementation Meeting
    The Shoreline Group implementation meeting focuses on creating prospective strategies, custom designed for specific needs. Recommended changes could include logistics, tax impact, asset allocation adjustments, and saving/benefit modifications.
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    Step 6: Monitoring Performance Tracking
    Our team at The Shoreline Group will constantly watch your assets and analyze your performance tracking data seeking to make sure your financial expectations are being met and adjusted accordingly. We will keep a high degree of communication with you to make sure your concerns and requests are always addressed.

COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL PLANNING

Regardless of what stage your life is in—moving ahead in your career, enjoying retirement, or somewhere in between—as your financial advisors, The Shoreline Group can help you achieve your financial goals.

Using a suite of tools that include goal-specific analysis, The Shoreline Group can work with you to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.

The Shoreline Group can create your personal roadmap to help achieve and protect your goals - a framework that makes the connection between your life goals and your financial resources, and provides a baseline for future discussions.
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    Financial Planning
    We want to gather and analyze your goals, assets, liabilities, and other important information. We then use our perspective and experience with other unique clients like you to make recommendations on spending, giving, and living.
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    Wealth Management
    We take a holistic approach to bringing all the aspects of your financial life together. We use our analysis and experience to develop a customized plan for you.
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    Retirement Planning
    This is paramount to ensuring a successful retirement. We place an intense focus on this process. You have worked hard to get where you are. Now it is up to us to help you live the retirement you have always dreamed of.
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    401(k) Rollovers
    Rollovers can be beneficial to you in several ways. It can help simplify your life by consolidating your assets. We can make sure that there is no risk of overlap or concentration insecurities. We can make taking the required minimum distributions easier. You also have the full suite of an open platform from which to choose investments.
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    Trust & Estate Planning
    Regardless of your current financial circumstances, it is crucial to have a backup plan for your money. Our team at The Shoreline Group regularly reviews your finances with you and coordinates with your estate attorney to help ensure that we meet your wishes in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
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    Tax Management
    The tax decisions you make today can help you save for years to come. There are many tax-smart strategies for your financial plan. These strategies include preparing for tax day, tax-efficient investing, tax strategies for retirement, tax-smart giving, and more.
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    Goals Planning Analysis
    We work with you to set up a long term goal plan that focuses on big picture goals like retirement.
    GPS Sample Report

DIGITAL RESOURCES

Digital technology is centered on how people communicate, consume, transact, and travel. Our comprehensive suite of digital tools are designed to help enhance various aspects of your financial life. Here are a few of the technologies we have to offer to our clients.
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    Morgan Stanley Online (MSO)
    Morgan Stanley Online and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App provide clients with access to their account information, enriched reporting tools, several cash management solutions and robust market research. The Morgan Stanley Mobile App provides clients with access to their accounts in just a few taps.
    Learn More About MSO
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    Morgan Stanley Mobile App
    Access your account wherever, whenever using the Morgan Stanley Mobile App. It gives you the same capabilities as Morgan Stanley Online from the convenience of your phone.
    To download the app, click here and scroll down
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    Total Wealth View
    The ability to view all of your assets and liabilities together, whether held at Morgan Stanley or elsewhere, enables us to advise with your entire financial picture in mind.
    To learn more about Total Wealth View, click here
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    Goals Planning System (GPS)
    A holistic Goals Planning System (GPS) approach to Wealth Management can help tailor an investment framework that considers key aspects of a client's life, such as retirement age, healthcare costs, home buying, cash management, legacy needs, and potential withdrawal strategies. Using goals as a benchmark, the investment strategy is continuously evaluated to ensure clients are on track.
    To learn more about GPS, watch this video
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    LifeView Financial Plan
    Regardless of what stage your life is , we can help you achieve your financial goals. Using a suite of tools that includes goal-specific analysis, we can work with you to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of your financial life, including your investments and cash management needs.
    Complete LifeView client profile here
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    2024 Tax Tables
    This helpful resource outlines the 2024 tax rate schedule, education and health savings account limits, retirement contribution and deduction limits, among other information. With tax season always right around the corner, it’s best to get as informed as possible.
    Click here for the 2024 Federal Tax Tables

Upcoming Firm Events

We hope you will join us for this upcoming event.

AI Revolution: The Breakthrough, the Buzz and a Blueprint for the Future

We invite you to watch the replay from our thought-provoking conversation on artificial intelligence (AI) with James Dyett, OpenAI's Head of Enterprise & Strategic Sales, Keith Weiss, Morgan Stanley's Head of U.S. Software Research Jeff McMillan, Morgan Stanley's Head of Firmwide Artificial Intelligence, recorded on Monday, March 24.

CRC4303146 03/2025
Online

Additional Replays

Location

111 S Pfingsten Rd
Ste 200
Deerfield, IL 60015
US
Direct:
(847) 504-2940(847) 504-2940

Meet The Shoreline Group

About Joseph Bertoni

Joe began his career as a Financial Advisor at the height of the Great Recession in 2009. This experience has taught him that good advice can be truly life-changing. He strives to develop deep, lasting relationships with his clients to foster a level of mutual trust and respect, and he embraces the responsibility that his clients’ interests are ahead of his own. 

Joe received his BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008, and is a Certified Financial Planner, as well as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. He and his wife Beth live in Chicago’s northern suburbs, and when he’s not chasing their two young children, enjoys biking,  golf and being with friends and family.
Securities Agent: WI, WA, UT, TX, TN, PA, OR, OK, OH, NY, NV, NM, NJ, NC, MS, MO, MN, MI, MD, MA, IN, IL, IA, GA, SC, FL, DC, CO, VA, CA, AZ; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 767571
CA Insurance License #: 0N01916

About Andrew M Plocker

Located in Deerfield, IL, 20 miles north of downtown Chicago, I work with an exceptional clientele of physicians, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and other successful professionals helping build and protect their wealth. While all families face financial issues, each has its own challenges, opportunities, and aspirations. Based on a deep understanding of these factors, we can help create a customized, comprehensive plan to help you achieve your unique vision of a successful life.  

Our Wealth Management process goes far beyond investing and has four pillars-wealth enhancement, wealth transfer, wealth protection, and charitable giving. Very few financial advisors can address these issues alone. That’s why I’ve created a Virtual Family Office (VFO). My Virtual Family Office provides an ongoing integration of traditional investments with all other aspects of wealth planning. This means we help in coordination with your outside advisors such as Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and attorneys with all the resources within Morgan Stanley to address the full spectrum of your wealth management issues such as Morgan Stanley Family Office Resources, Private Banking, Trust Services, Corporate Business Services, and Blackrock’s advanced risk management technology called Aladdin used by many of the world’s largest institutional asset managers.
Securities Agent: DE, TN, NM, OK, AZ, MI, DC, PA, NJ, NC, MD, IN, CT, NY, MS, CA, IA, VA, OR, MO, MA, GA, WA, FL, WI, TX, LA, MN, UT, OH, SC, IL, CO, NV, NE; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative; Transactional Futures/Commodities; Managed Futures
NMLS#: 1331965
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Retirement

Working with you to understand your life goals and develop a personalized wealth strategy. Today and for the years to come.
  • 401(k) Rollovers
  • IRA Plans
  • Retirement income strategies
  • Retirement plan participants
  • Annuities
4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts
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4 Financially Smart Ways to Take Money Out of Retirement Accounts

Discover how planning for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts can help you fund future needs and support loved ones.

Investing

Working closely with you to guide your wealth and investments through the most challenging market cycles.
  • Asset Management
  • Wealth Planning
  • Traditional Investments
  • Alternative Investments
  • Impact Investing
2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth
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2025 Global Economic Outlook: U.S. Policies May Temper Global Growth

Global growth is likely to be around 3% in 2025 and 2026, as tariff and immigration policies begin to slow the U.S. economy late next year, and China's underperformance restrains emerging markets.

Family

Creating customized financial strategies for the challenges that today’s families face.
  • Estate Planning Strategies
  • 529 Plans / Education Savings Planning
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Trust Services
Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse
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Taking Control of Your Finances After Death of a Spouse

Financial planning after a divorce or death can be trying, but with the right approach and the right advice you can turn a difficult situation into empowerment.

Business Planning

Helping you on key aspects of your business such as ownership, liquidity and developing opportunities.
  • Succession Planning
  • Business Planning
  • Qualified Retirement Plans
Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business
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Financial Planning for Life After Selling a Business

Selling your business can mean big changes for your life, both personally and financially. Know how to make the most of your windfall.

Philanthropy

Making sure your philanthropic dollars are managed with the same high quality service as the rest of your wealth.
  • Endowments
  • Foundations
  • Donor Advised Funds
  • Impact Investing
Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 
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Donor Advised Funds: A Smart Way to Manage Your Giving 

There’s more to charitable giving than you may realize. Here’s one method that may be a tax-efficient way to give and can help maximize your impact.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact The Shoreline Group today.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

1Morgan Stanley offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences or review our Understanding Your Brokerage and Investment Advisory Relationships brochure available at www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf.

For more information, please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Client Relationship Summary.

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2Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

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3Alternative Investments are speculative and include a high degree of risk. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his/her investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for qualified, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time.

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4Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

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5Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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6Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

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7Morgan Stanley’s investment advisory programs may require a minimum asset level and, depending on your specific investment objectives and financial position, may not be appropriate for you. Please see the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC program disclosure brochure (the “Morgan Stanley ADV”) for more information in the investment advisory programs available. The Morgan Stanley ADV is available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV.

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8Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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9Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.

Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.

The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney.  The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)