Growing up in Peoria with a father that had his own Financial Services firm, I saw first-hand the pride he had in helping his clients. When I moved to Chicago after graduating from the University of Illinois, I knew I wanted to go into financial services. However, I also knew I didn’t know many people at that point, and I had no interest in cold-calling.
The early years were a bit touch and go as I tried to build my client base. After about 8 years things were starting to click and I felt like I had finally turned the corner and I would be able to make it in this career.
Now, with over 30 years of experience helping clients, I truly love what I do.
Each day I try to incorporate the top 10 attributes of a great financial advisor:
- Purposeful: A mission to serve my clients to help them reach their goals by always doing what serves them best.
- Empathetic: I try to understand what matters most to my clients.
- Authentic: I reveal my true self to clients.
- Intellectually Curious: I stay on a continual path of professional improvement.
- Personally Inquisitive: I try to uncover what’s truly meaningful to my clients.
- Quiet: I try to listen more than I talk.
- Passionate: Unwavering desire to do well for others.
- Entrepreneurial: We run a best-in-class practice and plan strategically for the future.
- Honest: I set realistic expectations about controllable actions and probable outcomes.
- Disciplined: I don’t let market swings or media messages drive impulsive actions.
My specialties include Financial Planning, Investment Management (retirement accounts, non-retirement accounts, 529 College Savings Plans). As part of a team, we help clients with: Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Personal Lines (home/auto, umbrella insurance), and Annuities.
Education, Designations and Licenses:
The University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana; Bachelor of Science
Chartered Financial Consultant, ChFC; The American College
Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Limited Representative (Series 6); General Securities Representative (Series 7); Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (Series 63); and Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination (Series 65).
Personal:
Lives in Wilmette, IL, married to wife, Debbie, 3 adult kids (Courtney, Jessica and Tyler).
I enjoy travel, hiking, snow skiing, biking, open water swimming, Hazy IPAs, and spending time in Colorado, where both daughters live. Triathlete for 30+ years including 3 Ironman distance tri’s with the highlight being crossing the finish line with my twin daughters at Ironman Wisconsin in 2021.