Investment Team

Our Investment Team is solely focused on navigating the financial markets and determining the optimal investments to meet your goals, and our dedicated Portfolio Managers help oversee management of investment portfolios. Our highly skilled and motivated investment professionals are committed to actively monitoring your portfolio—managing assets for families, endowments, foundations and corporations. Many of our team members hold advanced designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholders, CPAs, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioners and MBAs.

Investment Team

Senior Vice President
Chief Investment Officer
Managing Director Fixed Income

Executive Vice President
Executive Managing Director

Senior Vice President
Investment Portfolio Manager

Senior Vice President

Investment Portfolio Manager

Vice President & Investment Portfolio Manager

Assistant Vice President

Associate Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

Solution Specialist

Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor

Assistant Vice President Implementation Specialist

Zachary E. Hillard, CFA, MBA

Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, & Managing Director Fixed Income | 217.351.6639

Zach is directly responsible for the investment process and performance of clients' fixed income portfolios. Zach has 20 years of investment experience, over half of which have been at Busey. Prior to Busey, Zach worked at Brinson Partners/UBS Global Asset Management where he helped in managing portfolios for Fortune 500 companies.

Zach received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Masters in Business Administration from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University in Chicago. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Chicago. Zach is very active in the community and serves on various boards including the Monticello CUSD #25, Monticello Area Education Foundation, Crisis Nursery, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and St. Philomena's Finance Council.

Robert J. Ballsrud, CPA, CFA

Executive Vice President & Executive Managing Director | Work 217.351.2707 | Mobile 217.377.8026

Bob is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder who has more than 22 years of experience in investment management, 17 of which have been at Busey. He works with high net-worth individuals, families and organizations through complex financial planning and investment management issues.

Bob leads the Busey Wealth Management advisory team where he strongly believes clients deserve better. He previously led the Busey Wealth Management 8-member Investment Team. He believes integrating clients' tax and financial planning objectives with a robust portfolio construction process in a highly customized and personal manner gives them the best opportunity for long-term financial success. Bob's experience gives him confidence that this can only be done well by building a team of experts around a client to ensure all aspects of their financial affairs are planned and accounted for properly.

Bob is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Finance, as well as a member of the Investment Analyst Society of Chicago, the CFA Institute and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Personal Financial Specialist. He believes strongly in supporting our local communities as exhibited by his involvement with numerous local not-for-profits through the years including the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, The University of Illinois Japan House, the Crisis Nursery, Champaign Parks Foundation, Developmental Services Center, Rotary International and the Carle Foundation to name a few.

Email:
Robert.Ballsrud@busey.com

Address:
201 W. Main St.
Urbana IL 61801

Robert Ballsrud signature

Aaron Sutton, CFA

Senior Vice President & Investment Portfolio Manager | 217.365.4813

Aaron joined Busey Wealth Management in 2004 as an Investment Analyst. His primary duties include trading and equity research, reviewing current and potential security holdings, and investment performance reporting. He also assists the retirement plan group by reviewing current and prospective clients' 401k investments. Aaron achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation - one of the most respected and recognized investment credentials-through the CFA Institute.

Aaron received his Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Email:
aaron.sutton@busey.com

Address:
201 W. Main Street
Urbana IL 61801

Aaron Sutton signature

Thaddeus Yasunaga, CFA, MBA

Senior Vice President, Investment Portfolio Manager |
217.351.6603

As a member of our Investment Team, Thaddeus specializes in asset allocation, portfolio management and equity analysis. Thaddeus's experience allows him to assist clients with the development and implementation of appropriate investment portfolios built on the Busey Wealth Management asset allocation model.

Thaddeus graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and earned his Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Financial Management, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Thaddeus achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation - one of the most respected and recognized investment credentials-through the CFA Institute. He is a member of the Investment Analyst Society of Chicago and the CFA Institute.

Thaddeus is a marathon runner and a lifelong resident of Urbana.

Email:
thaddeus.yasunaga@busey.com

Address:
201 W. Main Street
Urbana IL 61801

Thaddeus Yasunaga signature

Grant McKay, CFA
Senior Vice President, Investment Portfolio Manager | 630.328.8504

Grant joined Busey in 2018 with nearly twenty five years of experience in investment management. He will exercise his expertise in equity analysis and portfolio management to simplify his clients' financial picture. A life-long resident of Northern Illinois, he stays actively involved in the community.

Grant earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in finance from North Central College. He furthered his education by achieving the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Email:
Grant.McKay@Busey.com

Gran McKay signature

Jason Niemann
Vice President & Investment Portfolio Manager | 314.542.5252

Jason Niemann is Vice President and Investment Portfolio Manager with Busey Wealth Management.

Jason has been in the finance industry for nearly 15 years. Jason is responsible for building and managing our clients' fixed income portfolios through monitoring credit markets, analyzing fixed income securities, developing investment strategies and executing trades to most effectively and efficiently manage those portfolios.

Jason graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. Jason has earned his Series 63, 7, and 79 Securities licenses.

Email:
Jason.Niemann@Busey.com

Jason Niemann signature

Assistant Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

As Associate Portfolio Manager of Fixed Income, Josh builds and manages client fixed income portfolios through monitoring credit markets, analyzing fixed income securities, developing investment strategies, and executing trades to most effectively and efficiently manage these portfolios.

Josh received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis at University of Missouri-St. Louis. Originally from Fairfield, CA, Josh moved to the area in 2013 with his wife Dorothy and son, Finnegan.

Aron McDonald, CFP®, CTFA, AEP®
Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor | 217.365.4840

Aron has over 20 years of experience helping affluent families, business owners and professionals effectively manage their wealth, guiding them through important financial decisions with skill and confidence. He offers extensive knowledge and objective advice on matters involving insurance, investments, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. His comprehensive approach to wealth management, personal dedication to serving his clients, and strong commitment to the fiduciary principles that prioritize the needs and goals of his clients, ensures that they have a trusted advocate on their side.

Aron joined Busey Wealth Management in 2006 and serves on the Investment Team that oversees the investment process for Busey Wealth Management. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), and an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®). He received his bachelors of science degree in Finance from Millikin University's Tabor School of Business, and has completed professional training through the College of Financial Planning, and the Cannon Financial Institute's Comprehensive Wealth Management School, and Personal Trust School I, II and III. He is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a Leadership Certificate from the esteemed Wharton School of Business.

Aron is a member of the Eastern Illinois Estate Planning Council, serving as its President in 2012-2013, and the Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. He is also actively involved in the community through his volunteer efforts with the Champaign West Rotary Club and service on the board of directors for the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra. Outside of the office, Aron enjoys spending time with his wife, Laurie, and daughter, Sarah, and spending summer vacations at their family cabin in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. He is a marathon runner and avid outdoor enthusiast.

Email:
aron.mcdonald@busey.com

Address:
201 W. Main Street
Urbana IL 61801

Aron McDonald signature

Rory Mammano
Assistant Vice President & Implementation Specialist | 217.365.4881