# Financial advisors for estate planning in Chicago, Illinois > For estate planning in Chicago, talk to a fee-only planner who coordinates with your attorney. The planner works out what you want to happen and how accounts and beneficiaries line up with it, and the attorney drafts the documents. Records to start with include Patti Hughes of Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC, Garrett Chmiola of Valeo Financial Advisors and Luke Van de Loo of Sullivan Mermel, Inc.. Page: https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/estate-planning/illinois/chicago/ 44 fee-only advisors listed; data last updated November 2, 2026. Fee-only means paid only by clients, never by commissions. ## Which financial advisor should I talk to about estate planning in Chicago? For estate planning in Chicago, talk to a fee-only planner who coordinates with your attorney. The planner works out what you want to happen and how accounts and beneficiaries line up with it, and the attorney drafts the documents. Records to start with include Patti Hughes of Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC, Garrett Chmiola of Valeo Financial Advisors and Luke Van de Loo of Sullivan Mermel, Inc.. - [Patti Hughes](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/patti-hughes/), Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC, Chicago City. Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee. - [Garrett Chmiola](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/garrett-chmiola/), Valeo Financial Advisors, Chicago City. Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: flat fee or retainer, percentage of assets. - [Luke Van de Loo](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/luke-van-de-loo/), Sullivan Mermel, Inc., Chicago City. Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee, one-time planning fee. - [Emiramis Gjini](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/emiramis-gjini/), MyGen Planning, Chicago City. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee, one-time planning fee. - [Vincent DeCrow](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/vincent-decrow/), RISE Investments, Chicago City. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets. - [Andrea Oliver](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/andrea-oliver/), One Wild Life Advisors, LLC, Chicago City. Holds the CFP. Fees on file: flat fee or retainer, one-time planning fee. ## How many fee-only financial advisors in Chicago work on estate planning? The Wellspent public graph lists 44 fee-only advisors for estate planning in Chicago, at 29 firms. We counted every advisor record that lists this work, as of November 2026. ## How do fee-only advisors for estate planning in Chicago charge? The most common fee among fee-only advisors for estate planning in Chicago is a percentage of assets, used by 86% of the 44 with fees on file. Many use more than one: 48% charge fixed fees and 39% charge by the hour. ## How much do fee-only financial advisors charge in Chicago? Fee-only financial advisors in Chicago charge a median of $7,800 a year for ongoing planning. We found this across the published prices of 14 Chicago firms. ## How much does a one-time financial plan cost in Chicago? A one-time financial plan from a fee-only firm in Chicago has a median price of $1,500. We found this across the published prices of 10 Chicago firms. ## What credentials should a financial advisor for estate planning have? For estate planning, look for the CFP and CPA. In Chicago, 55% of the 44 advisors listed hold the CFP. - CFP (55% of advisors listed): The CFP includes estate planning and keeps it tied to the whole plan. - CPA (7% of advisors listed): CPAs help with estate and gift tax filings. ## How do Chicago advisors for estate planning compare with the rest of the US? 55% of fee-only advisors for estate planning in Chicago hold the CFP, compared with 44% of the 6,172 listed across the US. That's the largest difference in the Wellspent public graph between the two groups. ## Does Illinois have an estate tax? Yes. Illinois has its own estate tax, separate from the federal one, and its threshold can be lower. ## What should I ask a financial advisor about estate planning in Chicago? - Do you review my beneficiary designations and account titling? - Which estate attorneys do you work with, and how do you split the work? - How would you plan around the state rules that apply to me? - How often will we revisit the plan? - How would you plan for Illinois's estate tax as well as the federal one? ## How current is this list of fee-only advisors for estate planning in Chicago? Wellspent last checked these records against SEC records in October 2026 and firm websites in October 2026. Each advisor's page shows the date for that record. ## Advisors | Advisor | Firm | Location | Credentials | Fees | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Garrett Chmiola](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/garrett-chmiola.md) | Valeo Financial Advisors | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CPA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets | | [Andrea Oliver](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/andrea-oliver.md) | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee | | [Jacquelin Liautaud](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jacquelin-liautaud.md) | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee, Ongoing planning fee | | [Jessica Merino](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/jessica-merino.md) | Merino Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee | | [Patrick Bourbon](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/patrick-bourbon.md) | Bourbon Financial Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFA, CFP, MSEE, MSFS | Subscription | | [Patti Hughes](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/patti-hughes.md) | Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee | | [Stratton Harrison](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/stratton-harrison.md) | Vita Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee | | [Luke Van de Loo](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/luke-van-de-loo.md) | Sullivan Mermel, Inc. | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CPA, MA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee | | [Emiramis Gjini](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/emiramis-gjini.md) | MyGen Planning | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee, Hourly, Percentage of assets | | [Matthew Knoll](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/matthew-knoll.md) | The Planning Center | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, MBA, CAP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Henry Gorecki](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/henry-gorecki.md) | HG Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Mike Cattapan](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/mike-cattapan.md) | Abundo Wealth | Chicago, Illinois | | Subscription | | [Nathan Eads](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/nathan-eads.md) | Moller Wealth Partners | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Robert Finley](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/robert-finley.md) | Virtue Asset Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Thomas Van Spankeren](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/thomas-van-spankeren.md) | RISE Investments | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets | | [Vincent DeCrow](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/vincent-decrow.md) | RISE Investments | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Matthew Furlong](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/matthew-furlong.md) | Furlong Investment Solutions | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Alexander Hemsley](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/alexander-hemsley.md) | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [John Burns](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/john-burns.md) | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Randolph Hardy](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/randolph-hardy.md) | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Timothy McGrath](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/timothy-mcgrath.md) | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [David Maley](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/david-maley.md) | 1102 Partners | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Julia Zakarias](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/julia-zakarias.md) | GenFi Family and Fiduciary Services | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Vinnie Maliakkal](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/vinnie-maliakkal.md) | Wavvest | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets | | [Kyle McGrath](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/kyle-mcgrath.md) | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Montaser Takrouri](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/montaser-takrouri.md) | Azzad Asset Management | Chicago , Illinois | | Percentage of assets | | [Paul Merrick](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/paul-merrick.md) | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Frederick Kort](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/frederick-kort.md) | Cura Wealth Partners | Chicago, Illinois | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [James Langer](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/james-langer.md) | Wavvest | Chicago, Illinois | CFA | Percentage of assets | | [Melanie Husk](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/melanie-husk.md) | MEL Consulting | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, One-time planning fee | | [Michael Tilatti](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-tilatti.md) | Tilatti Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Brett Grossman](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/brett-grossman.md) | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Elena Sargent](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/elena-sargent.md) | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Michael Marietti](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/michael-marietti.md) | Riverbend Planning Group | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Nicholas Martin](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/nicholas-martin.md) | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Noah Shidlofsky](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/noah-shidlofsky.md) | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees | | [Robert DiLegge](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/robert-dilegge.md) | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Ryan Robertson](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/ryan-robertson.md) | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [William Dippell](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/william-dippell.md) | Milestone Money | Chicago, Illinois | | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee, Percentage of assets | | [Andrew Farinelli](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/andrew-farinelli.md) | Wavvest | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets | | [Brendan King](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/brendan-king.md) | Wavvest | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets | | [Johnny Jones](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/johnny-jones.md) | Atlatl Advisers | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets, Hourly, Fixed fees | | [Sinon Bennett](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/sinon-bennett.md) | Wavvest | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets | | [Lisa Dieter](https://find.wellspent.co/advisors/lisa-dieter.md) | Ember House Wealth Management | Chicago, Illinois | | Percentage of assets | ## Related - [Tax planning in Chicago](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/tax-planning/illinois/chicago.md) - [Family wealth transfer in Chicago](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/family-wealth-transfer/illinois/chicago.md) - [Retirement planning in Chicago](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/retirement-planning/illinois/chicago.md) - [Founders in Chicago](https://find.wellspent.co/specialties/founders-pre-exit/illinois/chicago.md) ## About this data Sources and verification: https://find.wellspent.co/methodology/ Query the directory programmatically: https://api.wellspent.co/mcp (MCP, read-only, no auth).