The Man Behind the Mic
Meet Ed McGill
Ed McGill has spent more than three decades building businesses, developing teams, coaching others, and learning what it takes to lead through both opportunity and adversity. As Co-Founder and Partner of McGill Junge Wealth Management, he has helped develop a nationally recognized firm, mentored advisors and teams across Northwestern Mutual, and spoken regularly at industry events nationwide.
On stage, Ed brings those decades of real-world experience to life through authentic storytelling and engaging dialogue. He connects lessons from business ownership, leadership, and personal development to strategies business owners, executives, emerging leaders, and teams can put to work.
But Ed’s perspective on leadership was shaped long before he became a business owner.
Growing up, Ed watched his father lose his job and, eventually, his family lose their home. Money was tight, and Ed worked odd jobs to help earn a tuition waiver so he could continue his private school education. Through it all, the integrity his father displayed instilled in Ed an early lesson that shapes his approach to leadership today: true character is doing the right thing when no one is watching, even—or especially—when it costs you.
Sports were equally foundational to Ed’s development as a leader. After spending most of his athletic career as a starter, he found himself on the bench during his sophomore year of college football. But he stayed committed, changed positions, and eventually earned a starting role again as a senior.
Between the adversity he experienced growing up and the setbacks he faced on the field, Ed learned early to be resilient, trust himself, and persevere. Those experiences inspired what would become a core philosophy in Ed’s life and leadership style: bet on yourself.
So, after college, Ed did just that. He started his own business and, to this day, has never collected a traditional paycheck. Years later, he bet on himself again when he partnered with Ross Junge to form McGill Junge Wealth Management. What began as a leap of faith became a wildly successful partnership and reinforced something Ed had learned throughout his life: success rarely happens alone.
That idea has become increasingly important to Ed over the years, and he brings that same mindset to mentoring advisors, developing teams, and helping the next generation of leaders reach their potential. Because for Ed, leadership isn’t about what you accomplish yourself. It’s about investing in people and leaving those around you better than you found them.
Ed brings that conviction to every keynote presentation and hands-on workshop. He challenges and inspires audiences to grow as people, strengthen their organizations, and create lasting impact, giving teams strategies they can use right away.
That belief is at the heart of LED: Leadership with Ed.