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About Us Our Company Worldwide locations Regional locations Principal® Financial Network of Chicagoland Meet the management team - Chicagoland
Principal® Financial Network of Chicagoland
Meet the management team
Office leadership
Snigdha Adhikari headshot

Snigdha Adhikari

Regional Managing Director

Snigdha has been in the financial services industry for close to two decades. She began her career as a financial professional building a successful practice in a new market primarily through community involvement and center of influence relationships. Snigdha has a unique combination of experience and expertise as she has served in leadership roles building organizations. Her focus has always been driving strategic initiatives and partnerships between the corporate and sales partners. Among her recent accomplishments—significant acquisitions in the recruiting space, substantial growth in net new assets, and firm-wide recognition for her team’s financial planning and on boarding successes.
Contact information 630-874-6447 adhikari.snigdha@principal.com Connect on LinkedIn
Office staff
Becky Helle headshot

Becky Helle, CLF®, CMC

Assistant Director Field Operations

Becky drives operational excellence in partnership with the regional and territory leaders. Through leadership of and in partnership with a team of territorial support staff she strives to deliver solutions to help financial professionals cultivate compliant and best in class practices.
Contact information 319-730-1030 helle.becky@principal.com Connect on LinkedIn
Erin Thornburgh Headshot

Erin Thornburgh

Senior Manager Field Operations

Erin leads a team of new business consultants and works closely with corporate partners to develop processes which enable the team to provide a high level of service to the representatives in the territory.
Contact information thornburgh.erin@principal.com
Rob Gasmen headshot

Rob Gasmen

Business Development Consultant

Rob works alongside the management team and financial representatives to create and implement initiatives designed to boost marketing, enhance branding, and drive business development at both the individual representative and regional office levels.
Contact information gasmen.rob@principal.com Connect on LinkedIn
AJ Pena headshot

AJ Peña

New Business Consultant

AJ is responsible for consulting and managing new business case design and submission. He partners with financial professionals and their teams, along with our corporate product partners, to ensure cases are submitted accurately so they can be processed on time and in alignment with product area processes.
Contact information pena.aj@principal.com
Gina Rogala headshot

Gina Rogala

Site Coordinator

Gina plays a crucial role in ensuring our offices operate efficiently. Working closely with the entire team, she serves as a skilled troubleshooter who addresses challenges head-on. Gina takes pride in making sure inquiries are handled promptly. With her proactive approach and attention to detail, Gina contributes to a supportive environment where client needs are prioritized.
Contact information rogala.gina@principal.com
Tracey Norman headshot

Tracey Norman

Candidate Experience Consultant

Tracey partners with the management team to provide comprehensive support to all new financial representative candidates through the onboarding and initial marketing launch processes. This includes scheduling of exams, ordering background checks, and preparing contracting and registration paperwork.
Contact information norman.tracey@principal.com
National staff
Headshot of Melville Waithe

Melville Waithe

National Director - Succession and Practice Management

Mel Waithe is a seasoned financial services leader specializing in wealth management, sales, and practice management. As National Director at Principal, he leads Succession and Practice Management, partnering with advisors and leaders to help build, grow, and successfully transition thriving businesses. Mel has developed practical tools, resources, and coaching strategies that support advisor success through client engagement, succession planning, business management, and teaming initiatives that strengthen practices and support long-term sustainability. He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business.
Contact information 704-716-2468 waithe.melville@principal.com Connect on LinkedIn
EvaCoutermarsh

Eva Coutermarsh

National Recruiting Director

Eva is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience building and developing entrepreneurial teams, helping individuals from diverse backgrounds grow their careers while advancing business objectives. She specializes in recruiting, developing, and retaining talented professionals with strong business acumen and a commitment to client service, operational excellence, and growth. Guided by a servant leadership philosophy, Eva is passionate about creating high-performing offices that offer meaningful opportunities for long-term success in the financial industry. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English/Communication from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is actively seeking talented professionals to join the nationwide team at Principal®.
Contact information 617-797-2741 coutermarsh.eva@principal.com Connect on LinkedIn
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Research our firm with FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

The Financial Professionals in the Principal® Financial Network of Chicagoland are licensed in the states they have satisfied qualification requirements to offer insurance products, life insurance (including variable life), annuities (including variable annuities), securities and investment advisory services.

This site is not a solicitation of interest in any of these products in any other state. The member companies of the Principal Financial Group neither endorses, explicitly or impliedly, any of the third-party entities.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in NY), Principal Life Insurance Company® and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network Inc. Securities and advisory products offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

*Non-securities registered; insurance licensed financial professional.

Important Consumer Information: Financial Professionals of Principal Securities® who are part of the Principal® Financial Network of Chicagoland may only transact business in a particular state after licensure or satisfying qualifications requirements of that state, or only if he or she is excluded or exempted from the state’s registration requirements. Follow-up, individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by any of the Financial Professionals of Principal Securities that involve either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, shall not be made without first complying with the state’s requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion. For information concerning the licensure status or disciplinary history of a broker-dealer, investment adviser, BD agent or IA representative or any financial institution he or she represents, contact your state securities law administrator.

Principal Life maintains certificates of authority to transact insurance in all 50 states. Principal Life NAIC identification number is 61271. Principal National NAIC identification number 71161.