Brian Rhoads
Advice-only planning for DIY investors and validators: an initial plan, then hourly support at personal checkpoints as needed.
Checkpoint Financial Planning · Highland Park, Illinois
Brian Rhoads is a fee-only financial advisor at Checkpoint Financial Planning in Highland Park, Illinois, who holds the CFA and EA credentials. Brian charges a one-time planning fee and hourly fees (one-time plans $3,000 and $375 an hour) and focuses on tax planning and retirement planning.
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Specialties
Who they serve
- Pre-retirees
About
Brian Rhoads created Checkpoint Financial Planning to strengthen the independence of DIY investors. He works with clients to build an initial plan, then supports them hourly as needed, helping them tune out the noise and keep their finances simple.
Before planning, Brian spent almost 30 years in quantitative finance, consulting financial institutions on aligning assets with liabilities, managing financial risk and designing dynamic investment strategies. A lifelong Illinois resident, he grew up in rural Oregon, Illinois, went to college in Rock Island and settled in Highland Park, where he and his wife, Mary, raised their two children.
Facts
| Firm | Checkpoint Financial Planning |
|---|---|
| Based in | Highland Park, Illinois |
| Fee model | One-time planning fee · Hourly |
| Fees (Advice-Only Network profile) | One-time plans $3,000 · $375 an hour |
| Works virtually | Yes |
| Accepting new clients | Yes |
| Credentials | CFA · EA |
| SEC registration | Investment adviser representative in CA, IL, LA, TX · CRD 7819477 |
| Firm size | 1 employee |
| Disclosures | None reported |
| Website | www.checkpointfin.com |
| Profile |
How Brian's firm compares
- A one-time plan starts at $3,000, above the Illinois median of $2,625 for fee-only firms that publish prices.
- The hourly rate is $375, above the US median of $300 for fee-only firms that publish prices.
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Questions about Brian
Is Brian Rhoads a fee-only financial advisor?
Yes. Brian Rhoads is listed in the SEC adviser records (the firm's Form ADV reports no commissions, no broker-dealer, and no insurance sales or affiliated insurance agency, and the advisor holds no broker registration) and the Advice-Only Network (advice-only practices, no product sales). SEC records as of October 29, 2026 show no broker registration and no commission compensation reported by Brian's firm.
How does Brian charge for financial advice?
Brian charges a one-time planning fee and hourly fees.
Does Brian work with clients virtually?
Yes. Checkpoint Financial Planning says on its website that it works with clients remotely.
Where is Brian Rhoads based?
Brian Rhoads is based in Highland Park, Illinois.
What does Brian specialize in?
Brian's specialties include tax planning and retirement planning. Brian works with pre-retirees.
What credentials does Brian Rhoads hold?
Brian Rhoads holds the CFA and EA credentials.
Is Brian Rhoads registered with the SEC?
Yes. Brian Rhoads is registered as an investment adviser representative in CA, IL, LA and TX (CRD 7819477), per SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure data as of October 29, 2026.
How do I contact Brian Rhoads?
Through Brian's website, www.checkpointfin.com.
What these terms mean: fee-only · fiduciary · CFP · CRD number · all terms
Where this information comes from
- SEC adviser records : the firm's Form ADV reports no commissions, no broker-dealer, and no insurance sales or affiliated insurance agency, and the advisor holds no broker registration
- Advice-Only Network listing : advice-only practices, no product sales
- Checkpoint Financial Planning website : specialties, clients served, and fees, checked October 30, 2026
- SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure : registration, exams, and the firm's Form ADV, data as of October 29, 2026
- Directory listing last checked October 30, 2026.
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