Top Financial Advisors in Illinois

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Formerly known as DiMeo Schneider & Associates, Fiducient Advisors serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. It also works with institutional clients that include banks or thrift institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.

The leadership of this Chicago-based firm holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), among other designations.

Minimum account sizes depend on the type of private client and services deployed. But annual fees for investment advisory services can range from 0% to 1% of assets under management. Some investment programs require a minimum of $50,000 and $500,000.

Fiducient Advisors Background

Fee-only Fiducient was established in 1995 when Bob DiMeo and Bill Schneider directed Kidder Peabody’s investment consulting firm in the Midwest into a new venture. Fiducient Holdings, LLC, owns the firm and an executive committee comprising DiMeo, Michael Benoit, Jessica Ludwig, Brian Carlson, Matt Rice, Anthony Tranghese, Mark Wetzel, Michael Goss, Ryan Gardner and Julie Vander Weele are responsible for daily operations. 

In addition to investment management, clients may receive financial planning services from the firm, which may include:

• Income and estate tax planning
• Risk management (property and casualty)
• Retirement and cash flow planning
• Balance sheet/net worth analysis
• Life insurance review

Fiducient Advisors Investment Strategy

Fiducient Advisors provides investment management services by recommending independent investment managers who are in its database and deemed appropriate based on the client's needs and goals. The firm may also recommend mutual funds and other investments, such as venture capital funds, if it’s deemed right for your risk appetite and financial needs.

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Cresset Asset Management is a large fee-only advisory practice based in Chicago. The firm manages assets for both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Cresset offers various advisory services, and it mainly charges clients asset-based fees and fixed fees. Advisors do not receive sales commissions or third-party compensation for recommending certain products or services.

Cresset also doesn’t impose a minimum account size requirement. Though clients will get charged a minimum annual fee of $20,000 for investment advisory services, with a maximum of 2% of assets under management. 

The advisory team holds multiple certifications as certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified private wealth advisors (CPWAs), certified public accountants (CPAs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), among other designations. 

Cresset Asset Management Background

Established in 2017, Cresset's advisory services include portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, selection of other advisors and educational seminars/workshops.

The firm is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cresset Intermediate Holdco, LLC, which itself is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cresset Capital Management, LLC.

Cresset Asset Management Investment Strategy

In conducting investment research, Cresset primarily uses fundamental analysis, technical analysis, quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis and charting analysis. The firm may invest client asset in any of the following:

• Money market funds and other cash instruments
• Exchange-listed securities and securities traded over-the-counter
• Mutual fund shares and exchange traded fund shares – passive and activelymanaged
• Separately managed accounts
• Corporate debt securities
• Hedge funds and private equity shares
• Municipal securities
• U.S. governmental securities
• Real estate investment trust shares/interests
• Structured products and derivatives
• Options and warrants

The firm also focuses on alternative, non-traded private investments, and it regularly employs asset allocation and mutual fund and/or exchange-traded fund (ETF) analysis. Additionally, Cresset uses a range of other investment strategies, including long-term purchases, short-term purchases, margin transactions and option writing.

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Savant Wealth Management is a fee-only firm that serves a large client base of both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. Insitutional clients also include pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, other investment advisors and corporations.

When you work with Savant, you’ll have access to wide range of professionals. These include certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs) and more. 

Savant typically requires clients to have at least $300,000 to open an investment account. It charges fees for investment advisory services based on a percentage of your assets under management. It doesn’t earn commissions or other sources of revenue from outside firms for the recommendation of certain investments or securities. 

However, fixed fees typically range between $250 and $5,000. The firm also charges financial consulting fees between $100 and $500. Wealth management service fees are based on the total assets under management, ranging from an annualized rate of 0.75% to 1.25%. Clients with less than $1 million of assets under management will pay a minimum $10,000 annual fee and a higher annualized rate than the 1% maximum.  

Savant Wealth Management Background

The firm first opened its doors in 1986 as the Savant Planning Group and began offering investment advisory services in 1993. Savant is principally owned by SCMI, Inc. formerly known as Savant Capital Management, Inc.

Today, the firm aims to provide holistic financial planning to its clients. Based on your situation, this may entail money management around periods such as marriage, childbearing and retiring. It would also help you build an investment portfolio based on your needs. 

Savant Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Savant strives to help clients build and rebuild investment portfolios that focus on the long term and aim for maximum returns with managed risk. When making recommendations, the firm takes into account a client's risk tolerance, long-term rate of return objective, time horizon, income and liquidity needs, tax considerations and others. 

Savant offers clients a series of asset allocation models based on risk tolerance and investment objectives. Model portfolios typically will include a blend of low-cost mutual funds and exchange traded funds across a wide spectrum of equity, fixed income and alternative asset classes.

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IHT Wealth Management is a fee-based firm in Chicago. It serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, businesses, 401(k)s and trusts. 

Because IHT is a fee-based firm, some advisory professionals may get compensation based on commissions from the sale of securities, insurance and other products. But professionals are obligated by the firm's fiduciary duty to put the interests of their clients first. 

If you want to engage in management services, IHT requires a minimum account of $5,000. And, the firm can charge a percentage of assets under management for those services up to a maximum of 2%. 

IHT Wealth Management Background 

Headquartered in Chicago, IHT is principally owned by Steven J. Dudash. The firm was formed as a limited liability company in 2014.

IHT advisory services include discretionary asset management, guided wealth portfolios, ERISA plan consulting and financial planning services. 

IHT Wealth Management Investment Strategy 

The firm offers a variety of portfolio strategies for investors with conservative and aggressive tolerances for risk. 

IHT offers a model portfolio for accounts under $100,000 that is designed for low turnover. The firm also offers a traditional managed model portfolio that focuses on stable long-term growth, a taxable managed model portfolio that aims to take advantage of long-term taxable gain treatment, and another model portfolio for stable growth that is U.S.-focused.

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Great Lakes Advisors (GLA) manages assets for both non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as banks or thrift institutions, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, state or municipal governments, insurance companies, other investment advisors and businesses. 

GLA may charge a percentage of assets under management for investment management services, which is a maximum of 2% for accounts under $5 million. The firm also imposes minimum account requirements depending on the investment strategy, ranging from $1 million to $2 million. 

As a fee-only firm, GLA professionals do not earn commissions on trades and the selling of insurance and other investment products. 

Great Lakes Advisors Background  

Founded in 1981, GLA is completely owned by Wintrust financial Corp. It is headquartered northwest of Chicago, near O’Hare Airport.

GLA is a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).   

Great Lakes Advisors Investment Strategy  

GLA says it takes six investment approaches to create long-term solutions for clients. These include:

• Disciplined equity, which aims to deliver "more consistent excess returns 
• Fundamental equity, which engages risk-focused investing in value-oriented companies 
• Fixed income, which focuses on an experienced, conservative approach 
• Multi-asset strategy, which tailors portfolios to client goals 
• Smart Beta, which focuses on risk-based investment solutions 
• Private wealth, which take a goals-based approach

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Capital Strategies Investment Group (CSIG) is a fee-only firm that manages assets primarily for high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans. The firm also works with individual clients who do not have a high net worth, charitable organizations and corporations. 

The firm’s team holds multiple certifications, including designations as chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and accredited investment fiducairies (AIFs), among others. 

CSIG doesn’t require a minimum initial investment. It generally charges annual asset management and investment consulting service fees between 0.05% and 1% of a client's assets under managment, or a flat fee. The firm's advisors do not sell financial products or insurance for commissions. 

Capital Strategies Investment Group Background

CSIG was founded in 2009 by Will Woodall, Barbara Best and Nancy Rizzuto. The firm is principally owned by its three founders, as well as Alison Bettonville, Mike Rarey, Mike Warford and Neil Davies. The firm's advisory services can touch upon a number of areas including retirement planning, trust and estate planning, and legacy evaluation.

Capital Strategies Investment Group Investment Strategy

When it comes to investment advice through its private wealth program, CSIG aims to develop a long-term plan for you, your family and even the next generation. It plans to meet this goal by devising a custom portfolio tailored to your individual risk appetite, restraints and needs. Based on these and other factors, your portfolio may invest in the following. 

• No-load mutual funds
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Collective trusts
• Limited partnerships
• Cash equivalents
• Fixed income
• Equity securities

The firm focuses on long-term investments and places diversification above all. According to official documents filed with the SEC, the firm relies on a long-term investment philosophy that hinges on a diversified portfolio to net the best return based on a client's risk tolerance.

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The Mather Group is a fee-only firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.

The firm requires a minimum portfolio size of $1 million for new clients.

Fees for asset management are based on a percentage of assets under management, while financial planning and family office fees are typically charged a predetermined fixed fee.

Advisors at the firm have earned a range of professional certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), certified equity professional (CEP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and chartered alternative investments analyst (CAIA).

The Mather Group Background

Founded in 2011, The Mather Group is owned by Mather Holdings, LLC. 

The firm is also featured as one of the top firms in Chicago.

The Mather Group offers services in portfolio management, financial planning, family office services, tax and estate planning, among other services.

The Mather Group Investment Strategy

The Mather Group takes an evidence-based approach to manage model portfolios.

Like other financial advisors, the firm manages accounts in accordance with a client's investment objectives, risk tolerance and other relevant information gathered when a new client joins the firm.

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Gresham Partners is a fee-based firm that serves high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles and charities. The firm requires a minimum of $180,000 to open and maintain an account.

Gresham Partners employees hold a wide range of professional certifications, including the following designations:

• Certified public accountant (CPA)
• Personal financial specialist (PFS)
• Certified investment management analyst (CIMA)
• Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
• Certified financial planner (CFP)

Gresham Partners Background

Gresham Partners began doing business in 1997. Today, Gresham is wholly owned by 12 principals. The firm is named after Sir Thomas Gresham, who was the founder of the Royal Exchange and an advisor to Elizabeth I and two other British monarchs.

Gresham Partners Investment Strategy

Gresham Partners begins its investment advisory services by having several meetings with clients to velop a proper strategy around topics like asset allocations. It considers factors like a client’s risk appetite, net worth, philanthropic goals, liquidity requirements and more. 

It then seeks a proper investment manager and evaluates it by gauging the manager’s investment approach among other points. According to documents that Gresham filed with the SEC, “The Company tends to select experienced managers with broad mandates who can take relatively concentrated positions based on careful fundamental analysis and tend to have a limit on the amount of capital they will accept, but other types of managers may be selected.”

The firm monitors these managers on an ongoing basis.

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Forum Financial Management is a fee-based firm that generally requires clients have at least $25,000 to open and maintain an account. 

For portfolio management, the firm charges a fee based on a percentage of assets under management. Financial planning is typically offered in connection with asset management at no additional charge.

As a fee-based firm, some Forum advisors may earn commissions or third-party compensation for recommending certain insurance products or securities. While this creates a conflict of interest, the firm must abide by fiduciary duty and act in its clients' best interests. 

Forum employees hold a range of financial certifications, including the following designations as a certified financial planner (CFP), a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered financial analyst (CFA), among others.

Forum Financial Management Background

Based in Lombard, Illinois, Forum Financial Management was founded in May 2002.

Forum works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and other investment advisors.

Forum Financial Management Investment Strategy

Forum manages client accounts using various model asset allocation portfolios. These model portfolios are designed to meet a particular investment goal. Each client's investment goals, and objectives and risk tolerance are established during discussions with the firm's advisors. Based on this information, Forum will determine which model portfolio is suitable to the client's circumstances. 

As for investments and asset classes, the firm primarily invests in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds offered by Dimensional Fund Advisors. "DFA's approach is based on the efficient market hypothesis. Unlike index funds, DFA's funds generally do not track a specific index and thus avoid the costs of having to buy and sell securities at specific points in time. They are designed to capture specific risk/return characteristics with reliability and transparency," the firm states in its brochure. 

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Zacks Investment Management is a fee-based firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. It also serves institutional clients that include investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, state or municipal governments, other investment advisors and wrap programs.

Zacks Investment Management generally requires a minimum of $500,000 for its investment advisory services. However, the firm may waive this requirement based on its discretion. 

Zacks Investment Management Background 

Zacks Investment Management is headquartered in Chicago. 

The firm was formally established in 1992 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zacks Investment Research, which provides data and analysis to investment professionals. 

Zacks Investment Management Investment Strategy

Zacks offers different investing strategies based on a number of factors, including client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

The firms says that portfolio research and strategies are done in-house, and this can benefit clients with greater transparency and lower fees.