Investment Planning
Wealth Management Services for Buffalo Grove, IL & the Surrounding Towns
Your retirement investments should fund more than just expenses, they should fund experiences. The morning coffee at your favorite hotel. The spontaneous weekend trip to visit grandkids. The ability to say “yes” to causes you care about without second-guessing whether you can afford it.
At Wealth Financial Services & Tax Advisory, investment planning means aligning your portfolio with your actual life goals while coordinating with your taxes, income needs, and healthcare costs. When your investments work as part of a complete strategy, you get something invaluable. Confidence that your money will last as long as you need it to. Schedule your
Your Investments Should Fund the Life You've Dreamed About
After decades of working hard and saving diligently, you’ve reached the moment you’ve been planning for. But here’s the question that keeps many retirees up at night. How do I make sure my money lasts, without sacrificing the life I want to live?
You didn’t save all these years just to watch your account balance. You saved so you could travel without guilt, help your kids and grandkids, support causes you care about, and enjoy the hobbies you never had time for. Your investments should give you freedom, not anxiety.
That’s why investment management at Wealth Financial Services & Tax Advisory looks different.
What Makes Our Investment Approach Different:
✓ We focus on YOUR life goals, not beating benchmarks
Your investments are aligned with what you actually want to do in retirement. Not compared to an index you’ll never spend.
✓ Tax-efficient by design
Because it’s not what your investments earn, it’s what you get to keep after taxes. We coordinate every investment decision with your overall tax strategy.
✓ Part of your complete retirement roadmap
Investment management doesn’t work in isolation. It’s integrated with your income planning, tax planning, healthcare strategy, and legacy planning for a truly holistic approach.
How We Manage Your Retirement Investments
At WFSTA, investment management is never one-size-fits-all. We build your investment strategy around your life, your timeline, your comfort with risk, your income needs, and your tax situation. Here’s how we approach managing your retirement investments:
Risk-Aligned Portfolio Management
Your risk tolerance isn’t static. In fact, it changes as you move through different life stages. Maybe you’re comfortable with more volatility in your 50s when retirement is still a decade away. But once you’re living on that nest egg, market swings feel different. We continuously evaluate how much risk you’re actually comfortable with and adjust your portfolio accordingly. Our goal isn’t the highest possible return. It’s the right return for your situation.
Tax-Efficient Investment Strategies
Here’s what separates us from most investment advisors. We don’t just manage your money, we manage your taxes, too.
It’s not what your investments earn that matters. It’s what you get to keep after taxes. Every investment decision we make considers the tax impact, from which accounts we withdraw from first, to when we realize gains, to how we coordinate with your Social Security and pension income.
We partner with Brookstone Capital Management, giving you access to institutional-level investment strategies typically reserved for the ultra-wealthy. Combined with our tax-focused approach, this means more of your money stays in your pocket.
Coordinated Income & Investment Planning
Your investments don’t exist in a vacuum. They need to work together with your Social Security benefits, pension (if you have one), required minimum distributions, and any other income sources to create a reliable paycheck in retirement.
We help you answer critical questions like when you should start taking Social Security. Which accounts should you draw from first? How do you create a stable income without depleting your principal too quickly? How do you handle unexpected expenses without derailing your plan?
This coordination is at the heart of our Safe & Secure Retirement Roadmap, ensuring your investment strategy, income planning, and tax strategy all work together seamlessly.
Active Monitoring & Fee Transparency
We’re not a “set it and forget it” firm. Markets change. Life changes. Your investment strategy should evolve with both.
We actively monitor your portfolio and meet with you regularly, not just once a year, but throughout the year as part of our proactive service calendar. We review your investments in January during tax planning season, in the spring for your annual review, mid-year to make any needed adjustments, and at year-end to position you for the next year.
We’re also committed to fee transparency. We work to reduce unnecessary costs that eat into your returns, and we’re always upfront about what you’re paying and why. No hidden fees. No surprises.
How We Work Together: Your Investment Planning Journey
Working with WFSTA isn’t a one-time transaction, it’s an ongoing partnership. From your first conversation to years into retirement, here’s what you can expect:
Step One
Possibility Meeting: Understanding Your Vision
This is where we get to know you, not just your account balances, but what you actually want from retirement.
Step Two
Vision Meeting: Your Custom Strategy
We’ll show you exactly how we’d manage your investments, coordinate your income sources, minimize your tax burden, and protect what you’ve built.
Step Three
Implementation: Bringing Your Plan to Life
Once you’re ready to move forward, we get to work. You’ll gain access to your Wealth Portal where you can view all your accounts in one place.
Step Four
Ongoing Partnership: Proactive Financial Leadership
We don’t just review your investments once a year and call it good. Our forward focus and ongoing leadership help you plan for tomorrow to live better today.
Common Questions About Investment Planning
How much should I have invested for retirement?
There’s no one-size-fits-all number. It depends on the lifestyle you want to live. A common guideline is that you’ll need 70-80% of your pre-retirement income annually, but we help you calculate what you actually need based on your specific goals, income sources, and planned expenses. That’s what the Possibility Meeting is all about.
Can you help with my 401(k) rollover?
Absolutely. We handle 401(k) rollovers regularly and make the process smooth and tax-efficient. Our Wealth Solutions team will coordinate directly with your current 401(k) provider to ensure there are no taxable consequences. We’ll walk you through every step so you know exactly what’s happening with your money.
What's the difference between an investment advisor and a financial planner?
An investment advisor typically focuses just on managing your portfolio. A financial planner (like us) looks at the complete picture, investments, taxes, income planning, healthcare, and legacy. We’re fiduciaries, which means we’re legally required to act in your best interest, and we take a holistic approach to your entire retirement strategy.
Do you manage IRAs and Roth IRAs?
Yes. We work with all types of retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, rollover IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other qualified accounts. More importantly, we help you understand the tax implications of each account type and create a strategic withdrawal plan that minimizes your lifetime tax burden.
How often will we meet to review my investments?
We’re not a once-a-year firm. You’ll have a comprehensive annual review meeting, but we also have service checkpoints throughout the year. Our proactive service calendar means we’re thinking about your investments in January (tax planning), spring (annual review), mid-year (adjustments), and year-end (positioning for the next year). Plus, you can reach us anytime.
What makes your investment approach different from other advisors?
Three things: First, we’re fiduciaries focused on your life goals, not beating benchmarks. Second, we integrate investment management with tax planning, income planning, healthcare, and legacy planning. It all works together. Third, we’re proactive, not reactive. We meet with you multiple times throughout the year and adjust as your life and markets change.
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Financial Services To Help You Live The Life You Dream Of
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Grow with us, and let our fiduciaries give you the details and advice needed to live the retirement life you’re hoping for.
Let's Talk About Your Investment Vision
Whether you’re still working and want to ensure you’re on track, or you’re already retired and need confidence that your money will last, we’re here to help. Let’s have a conversation about where you are, where you want to go, and how your investments can get you there.