Financial advisors for estate planning in Chicago, Illinois
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..
Where to start
Chosen from what each record shows: credentials that fit this work and fees on file, one advisor per firm.
- Patti Hughes Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC, Chicago City Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee.
- 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 Sullivan Mermel, Inc., Chicago City Holds the CFP and CPA. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee, one-time planning fee.
- Emiramis Gjini MyGen Planning, Chicago City Holds the CFP. Fees on file: ongoing planning fee, one-time planning fee.
- Vincent DeCrow RISE Investments, Chicago City Holds the CFP. Fees on file: percentage of assets.
- 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.
- CFP55% in Chicago
- The CFP includes estate planning and keeps it tied to the whole plan.
- CPA7% in Chicago
- 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.
Dark bars are Chicago. Light bars are all US advisors for estate planning.
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.
All 44 advisors
| Advisor | Firm | City | Credentials | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Chmiola Valeo is an independent, fee-only financial advisory firm offering objective, independent guidance for one transparent fee | Valeo Financial Advisors | Chicago | CFP, CPA | Flat fee or retainer, Percentage of assets |
| Andrea Oliver | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Jacquelin Liautaud | One Wild Life Advisors, LLC | Chicago | CFP | Flat fee or retainer, One-time planning fee |
| Jessica Merino | Merino Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Ongoing planning fee |
| Patrick Bourbon Objective, holistic planning for U.S. residents and cross-border families navigating tax and regulatory rules in more than one country. | Bourbon Financial Management | Chicago | CFA, CFP, MSEE, MSFS | Subscription |
| Patti Hughes | Lake Life Wealth Advisory Group LLC | Chicago | CFP, CPA | Ongoing planning fee |
| Stratton Harrison | Vita Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP, EA | Percentage of assets, Flat fee or retainer |
| Luke Van de Loo | Sullivan Mermel, Inc. | Chicago | CFP, CPA, MA | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Emiramis Gjini | MyGen Planning | Chicago | CFP | Ongoing planning fee, One-time planning fee |
| Matthew Knoll | The Planning Center | Chicago | CFP, MBA, CAP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Henry Gorecki | HG Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Mike Cattapan Affordable, objective advice-only planning for individuals and families at any stage of life or level of wealth. | Abundo Wealth | Chicago | Not listed | Subscription |
| Nathan Eads | Moller Wealth Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert Finley | Virtue Asset Management | Chicago | CFA, CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Thomas Van Spankeren | RISE Investments | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Vincent DeCrow | RISE Investments | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Matthew Furlong | Furlong Investment Solutions | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Alexander Hemsley | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| John Burns | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Randolph Hardy | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP, CFA | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Timothy McGrath | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | CFP, ChFC | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| David Maley | 1102 Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Julia Zakarias | GenFi Family and Fiduciary Services | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Vinnie Maliakkal | Wavvest | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets |
| Kyle McGrath | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Montaser Takrouri | Azzad Asset Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Paul Merrick | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Frederick Kort | Cura Wealth Partners | Chicago | CFP | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| James Langer | Wavvest | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets |
| Melanie Husk | MEL Consulting | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Tilatti | Tilatti Wealth Management | Chicago | CFA | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Brett Grossman | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Elena Sargent | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Michael Marietti | Riverbend Planning Group | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Nicholas Martin | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Noah Shidlofsky | Riverpoint Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Fixed fees |
| Robert DiLegge | Hemsley Advisors | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Ryan Robertson | Factor Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| William Dippell | Milestone Money | Chicago | Not listed | Flat fee or retainer, Ongoing planning fee |
| Andrew Farinelli | Wavvest | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Brendan King | Wavvest | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Johnny Jones | Atlatl Advisers | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets, Hourly |
| Sinon Bennett | Wavvest | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
| Lisa Dieter | Ember House Wealth Management | Chicago | Not listed | Percentage of assets |
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