Understanding the 1031 Tax Exchange - In Person

Alex Ruggieri of North Star Equities has been a licensed REALTOR® for over 40 years. 

Formally with SVN-Ramshaw real estate specializing in commercial real estate brokerage he was recognized for his sales volume by the national franchise.  Always in the top fifty and seven times in the top ten in sales out of 2,500 agents worldwide. He holds the prestigious Counselor of Real Estate designation (CRE) as well as the CCIM and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designations from the National Association of REALTORS®.

Uniquely, he is also licensed as a Registered Representative with NexTrend Securities, specializing in the sale of Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs)

He is on the Board of Directors for NAR and is also a Director for ILLINOIS REALTORS® as well as holding seats on the commercial committee’s for both associations.

Lauren Speidel is the Regional Manager for Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC, Exeter Reverse 1031 Exchange Services, LLC and its affiliate companies. Lauren is based in the company's Midwest Regional office located in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Speidel joined Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC in 2017. She is responsible for sales, marketing and client relationship management for the Midwest including, but not limited to, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri.

Lauren can assist clients with Forward 1031 Exchanges, Reverse 1031 Exchanges and Improvement 1031 Exchanges. She has worked extensively with financial planners, settlement agents, real estate agents and brokers, closing attorneys, registered representatives and accountants in the administration of their clients' 1031 Exchange transactions.

Professional Experience
Prior to joining Exeter, Lauren was Assistant Vice President of Internal Sales for Inland Securities Corporation. For nearly a decade, Lauren helped Inland Securities with capital raise efforts for all securities investments including REITS, Limited Partnerships, Tenant-in-Commons (TICs) and Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs). She also assisted and educated financial advisors and investors on 1031 Exchanges and possible DST/TIC replacement property options.

Prior to joining Inland Securities Corporation, Lauren worked for Chicago Bancorp (now known as Chicago Federal Savings Bank) as a Mortgage Processor.

Education and Licenses
Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa. Lauren currently holds her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.

Professional Associations
Lauren is involved in the community as a member and participant of several professional associations, including the Chicago Association of Realtors - CommercialForum, Commercial Real Estate Executive Women of Chicago, and The Professional Women’s Club of Chicago. She is also active in National Associati

Daniel Wagner is senior vice president of government relations for The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc.  He has been a licensed real estate broker since 2004 and holds Series 7 and 63 security licenses. 

 Wagner serves on numerous real estate industry, and governmental boards and committees. He served as Treasurer and President Elect of the ILLINOIS REALTORS®, President of the CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® in 2016 and was the 2016 Commercial Liaison for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Wagner was named 2017 REALTOR® of the Year by the CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and received the 2017 Commercial Award from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In 2019 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®.  Wagner is also a commissioner on the DuPage Airport Authority and serves as the Chairman of the Authority’s Capital Development Committee. Wagner is the Chairman of the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce. Wagner was installed as the Secretary of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in 2020.   Additionally, he serves as a Trustee for The Conservation Foundation.

 As a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Wagner has been a significant advocate for the Marketplace Fairness Act which the Supreme Court ruled into law in 2018. Wagner is also a board member of the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives’- (IPA) and was selected in 2020 to serve on the Executive Committee.  In 2018 he received the IPA Outstanding Service Award for his role as Co-Chair of the Policy and Government Affairs Committee.  He was a part of the Real Estate Roundtable’s 1031 Like-Kind Exchange Coalition, whose ultimate outcome was the preservation of the 1031 Like-Kind Exchange in the 2018 Federal Tax Law. He is a board member for the Civic Federation of Chicago and is active in the United States Chamber of Commerce,  Illinois Manufacturers Association, and Illinois Retail Merchants Association. 

 In 2014, he received the Advocacy Award from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association for his work on behalf of special needs children in his community. Wagner is a longtime volunteer for the Hinsdale Wellness House which helps people with cancer. In 2015, the Illinois State University Political Science Department honored him with their alumni award. In 2018, he received the Illinois State University’s College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Award and the Illinois State University Division of Student Affairs Steve and Sandi Adams Legacy Hall of Fame Award. In February of 2020, Illinois State University honored him with the Alumni Achievement Award.  In addition, Wagner was nominated and selected to be in the 2019 Class for the Governor Jim Edgar Fellowship Program

Wagner obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State University. He is married and has four children, three of whom are triplets.