Colin Chase, CFP®

/in , , , , , , /by

About Colin Chase, CFP®

Colin founded Mindful Money Financial Counsel in 2010 and has over 18 years of experience talking with people about money. Prior to founding the company, he worked at Fidelity Investments for 10 years in a variety of positions: service and trading representative, retirement investment specialist, investment representative, financial planning consultant, and Vice President Senior Account Executive.

He received an MBA with a finance concentration from Xavier University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Ohio University. Colin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Registered Investment Adviser. He specializes in providing holistic financial planning and investment advice to Chicagoland individuals and couples in their 30’s and 40’s.

Colin is an early riser, an Eagle Scout, and eager to lend a hand. He was born in Dayton, Ohio and lived in Waldorf, Maryland and Cincinnati, Ohio before moving to Chicago in 2003.

Charlie Horonzy, CFP®, CPA

/in , , , , , , /by

About Charlie Horonzy, CFP®, CPA

I founded Focused Up Financial because finances are important, yes, but finances are a means to an end, not the end. I founded this firm to help people ultimately focus on their lives. I want to help people who are passionate about striving for more. Those who want to better themselves not only financially, but in every aspect of their lives.

I traveled a unique path to find my way to the financial planning industry. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Accounting Sciences, I entered the public accounting world. After a few years, I took my shot in the corporate accounting world.

Something was missing, though.

I figured out that my passion for helping people was not being fulfilled. So, with bright and starry eyes I made a bold decision to dedicate a year to service work. Was I nervous? You bet. Did I know what was going to happen? Not in the least. Am I glad I did it? No doubt in my mind. It changed the whole direction of my life!

When I returned to Chicago I knew I wanted to integrate my CPA background with helping people, which led me to financial planning. I think about that decision a lot. I feel blessed that I can meet and help so many dynamic and diverse families and individuals.

One of the greatest freedoms in the financial planning industry is being a fee-only planner. As a fee-only firm, we are only compensated by our clients. We do not accept fees for recommending products. Because of this, I take pride in offering recommendations that benefit each client’s individual goals.

​In my free time, I enjoy checking out the different neighborhoods of Chicago; biking on the wonderful lakefront trail (which I hardly do enough!); and volunteering at a variety of organizations including, the Financial Planning Association, my church, and LadderUp, a not-for-profit tax assistance program.

I look forward to learning about what drives you, so together we can build on your finances and help you live your best life.

Scott Wentsel, CFP®, CFA

/in , , , /by

About Scott Wentsel, CFP®, CFA

Scott Wentsel, President, has spent his 30-year career learning everything he can about the investment industry as an executive, portfolio manager, educator, and financial product development expert. Throughout his career, he has maintained a focus on financial planning and education. He has been a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant since 1996 and a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder since 2005. He has been an adjunct professor in DePaul University’s department of finance since 2011 and spent eight years teaching graduate courses at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management as well.

Here are some career highlights:
• Chief Investment Officer, Americas, Morningstar Investment Management
• Trustee, ALPS Variable Investment Trust
• Adjunct Professor, DePaul University
• Senior portfolio manager, Ibbotson Associates Investment Advisory Group
• Executive director, product solutions group, Van Kampen Investments/Morgan Stanley
• Vice president of product development, Scudder Kemper Investments

Here is information on his educational background:
• Master of Business Administration, with honors, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 1996
• Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, 1984
• Certified Financial Planner™ certificant since 1996

Robert Stoll, CFP®, CFA

/in , , , , , , , , /by

About Robert Stoll, CFP®, CFA

My goal as an advisor is to bring clarity to your complex financial questions. If a client understands what they’re doing and – more importantly – WHY they’re doing it, then it helps ease the feelings of uncertainty and doubt so many of us face with our finances.

We work with two primary types of clients:
– Corporate Executives: In addition to retirement planning, college planning, and other family financial planning topics, we help you understand all the benefits that are offered by your company. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), stock options, and deferred compensation can be powerful savings tools if planned well. Many companies also offer opportunities for more savings opportunities in your 401(k) plan beyond the pre-tax contributions you’re currently making.

– Near Retirees: The financial industry says a lot about saving for retirement, but doesn’t do a good job of explaining how to use those savings while you’re in retirement. We help map out a retirement income strategy so you can feel secure that you’ll be able to meet your living expense needs after you stop receiving your paychecks.

Our in-house tax planning service is a key differentiator as tax planning is critical to optimizing the value of planning strategies for executives and retirees alike.

David Metzger, CFP®, CFA®, MBA

/in , , , , , , , /by

About David Metzger, CFP®, CFA®, MBA

Onyx Wealth Management LLC is a comprehensive private wealth management firm providing rigorous, highly-customized financial planning and investment management solutions for individuals, young professionals, families and business owners.

David founded Onyx Wealth Management after 16 years in the financial services industry, having gained experience in such diverse specializations as insurance, portfolio management, and securities analysis. Sensing a demand for a more rigorous and proactive approach to the wealth management process, David utilizes his years of experience, business contacts, and technology to bring a level of fiduciary oversight to his clients previously reserved exclusively for the ultra-affluent among most of the financial services industry.

David holds undergraduate degrees in Finance and International Business and an MBA from Oklahoma State University. In addition to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations, he has achieved numerous additional industry certifications including the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Chartered Advisor in Senior Living (CASL) designations from the American College of Financial Services.

David and his amazing wife, Christy, met in graduate school at Oklahoma State University and were married shortly thereafter upon moving to Memphis, Tennessee where Christy completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and David completed his professional studies while working for a local wealth management firm. In their off time, they enjoy traveling, spending time with friends, trying out new recipes, exploring the outdoors and continuing to familiarize themselves with their adopted home of Chicago.

Bobby Cremins, CFP®, CFA®, CKA

/in , , , , , , , , , , , /by

About Bobby Cremins, CFP®, CFA®, CKA

Here’s the long version summed up in five bullets:

1) I started off in finance working at a regional bank, SunTrust, helping people with more transactional needs like opening home equity lines, loans, checking accounts, money market accounts, etc.

2) I found that I really enjoyed finance because it brought numbers to life, but I wanted to build deeper, lasting relationships with clients so I moved into wealth management / financial planning at Morgan Stanley (then Smith Barney)

3) I was recruited to move to Merrill Lynch/Bank of America as the world seemed to be falling apart. I thought I was moving to a more secure financial institution…ha!

4) As I watched what seemed to be the demise of modern finance and capitalism with it, I stumbled onto Biblical stewardship via Crown Financial and Financial Peace University

5) After seeing a different approach to personal finance, I started Metanoia Financial to provide Biblically-based financial planning and advice

Brad Bobb, CFP®

/in , , , , , , /by

About Brad Bobb, CFP®

I am a financial planner in Springfield, IL, serving central Illinois including Rochester, Sherman, Chatham and the entire region. I also work with clients virtually across the United States.  Bobb Financial specializes in providing objective financial planning , investment management, college planning, and retirement planning to families and federal employees . I am a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional.
 
I love my job and providing fee-only advice to my clients. If you would like to know more about me and my firm please visit my website.

 

Gabriel Anderson, CFP®, CLU, ChFC

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

About Gabriel Anderson, CFP®, CLU, ChFC

Hey everyone, my name is Gabe and I run a westside Los Angeles based financial planning firm that serves Builders, Creators, and Educators both locally and virtually.

We specialize in and may be a good fit if you are:
A Creator: You work in entertainment in some fashion (writers, editors, musicians, producers, cinematographers, etc) and tend to have “lumpy” income. Advice often surrounds: cash flow/budgeting, incorporating, retirement planning, guild membership, pensions, and planning for future goals.

A Builder: You work in the tech space and/or run your own business. Advice often surrounds: stock compensation (ISOs, RSUs, NQSOs, etc), employee benefits, retirement planning, goal planning, values discussions, and cash flow/budgeting.
An Educator: You have worked or currently work in higher education. Advice often surrounds: pension planning, social security, 403b/457 plans, and unique employee benefits.

Crafted Wealth was founded in Venice, CA in 2015 and we currently work out of a home office on the Westside, 90066. We often meet our clients virtually but are available to meet in person locally at WeWork’s Playa Vista and Santa Monica locations. We’re also huge fans of coffee so we’re never opposed to an initial meetup at a local spot.

If any of the above seems intriguing and you’re ready to get to know each other and see if we’re a good fit, please head to our website to schedule a meeting at www.craftedwealthmanagement.com.

Looking forward to meeting you soon!
Gabe

Leslie Ransom, CFP®

/in , , , , , , , /by

About Leslie Ransom, CFP®

You are motivated to create your own path – thinking outside the usual boxes. As you build your life, budgeting, saving, investing and planning are critical to living well and following your dreams. We are a fee-only planning firm with a background in arts and entertainment looking to help you carve out your future.


I am Leslie Ransom, CFP®. With over 20 years in sales and marketing in the independent music industry, I have an awareness of the challenges facing artists, musicians, or anyone looking to build a business or career not tied to a 9-5 job and a regular paycheck. We cater to self-employed entrepreneurs who are looking to plan for a future on their terms.


I founded Indie Financial Planning as an alternative to an industry widely viewed as only serving the very wealthy. There are no investment minimums to work with us. We’re an independent resource ready to partner with you when you’re ready to take control of your financial life.


We know that financial planning involves much more than just investments. We consider the many moving parts that might affect your financial situation – from budgeting to taxes – and work with you to build a plan based on trust and with an understanding that your situation is specific to you. We focus on education and planning to help you achieve your goals.


We treat planning as a partnership. We provide you with the tools and knowledge to take control of your finances and offer advice and expertise to answer your questions and establish your goals. Ongoing planning allows us to create a road map with clients and travel that path alongside them, adjusting for changes along the way.


After graduating from Pomona College with degrees in Economics and French, I moved from California to Boston for a change of scenery. There, I began working in a record store and eventually moved into sales and distribution for a small independent record label (TAANG!). After several years, I moved to Chicago where I continued working in the independent music industry including a 16 year stretch as Head of Sales and Marketing for Touch and Go Records.
After leaving the music industry in 2009, I saw an opportunity to offer budgeting, investment and general planning advice to the many talented and creative types in need of financial planning. I went to Northwestern University and received my Certified Financial Planner™ designation in 2013.