Top Financial Advisors in Northbrook, IL

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Sheridan Road, Inc. serves over 1,000 clients and manages their roughly $2.8 billion in investable assets. Founded in 2004, the firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and pension plans.

The firm provides clients with portfolio management and financial planning services, and also provides consulting services for pensions. Sheridan Road is fee-based, as some advisors may earn commissions from certain securities transactions or the sale of insurance products. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of its clients. There are no minimum account sizes for any of its services.

Sheridan Road Background

Sheridan Road was established in 2004 by Daniel R. Bryant, who continues to act as CEO. The firm’s principal owner is HUB International Limited, an insurance brokerage company.

Sheridan Road has 25 advisors on its staff, 12 of whom work out of its Northbrook headquarters. Among these dozen advisors, you’ll find three certified financial planners (CFPs), two chartered retirement plan consultants (CRPCs) and one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF).

For portfolio management services, the firm charges a percentage of your assets under management that can range from 0.50% to 2.00%. Financial planning fees are typically charged as a $150 to $800 hourly fee or as a fixed fee of up to $10,000. These rates are negotiable and will be spelled out in an agreement before the start of any client relationship.

Sheridan Road Investment Philosophy

Sheridan Road uses fundamental analysis, cyclical analysis and technical analysis in order to analyze securities. Fundamental analysis involves examining a company or fund’s basic information, as well as the overall economy, to determine a security’s intrinsic value. Cyclical analysis is the study of securities within the context of market and business cycles. 

The firm also subscribes to modern portfolio theory (MPT) to attempt to maximize return for any given level of risk. 

Sheridan typically advises clients on mutual funds, fixed-income securities, real estate funds (including REITs), annuities, equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), treasury inflation-protected and inflation-linked bonds and private placements. Sheridan Road primarily recommends mutual funds.

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Relative Value Partners, LLC is a wealth advisory firm established in 2004. Over the years, it has amassed roughly 250 clients and $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). The overwhelming majority of the firm’s clients are high-net-worth individuals, but it also works with non-high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, other investment advisors, insurance companies, broker-dealers and cemetery trusts.

The firm provides fee-only portfolio management as its primary offering. Additionally, the firm may offer certain clients financial planning, wealth management or consulting services. To become a client, you’ll likely need at least $1 million in investable assets.

Relative Value Partners Background

Relative Value Partners was created in 2004 by Robert H. Huffman III, Maury L. Fertig, Gregory K. Neer and Catherine C. Goel. It is wholly owned by Focus Operating, LLC, which itself is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus Financial Partners, LLC. The sole manager of Focus Financial Partners, LLC is Focus Financial Partners, Inc., a publicly traded company that owns multiple advisory firms.

The firm has nine total advisors. Among these employees are two certified public accountants (CPAs) and one certified financial planner (CFP).

For investment management services, the firm customarily charges fees based on a portion of your AUM. Rates range from 0.40% to 1.25%. Where your exact percentage falls within that spectrum will depend on the market value of your assets and what assets you’re investing in. Financial planning and other consulting services have a significantly lower fee - between 0.10% and 0.30%.

Relative Value Partners Investment Philosophy

Relative Value Partners starts each investment process by sitting down with the client and establishing some key information like their current assets, investing goals, tax situation, risk tolerance and time horizon. From there, the firm will determine what combination of asset classes is most appropriate.

When analyzing securities, the firm relies on a blend of fundamental and cyclical analysis. Fundamental analysis is the practice of examining overall financial and economic factors alongside a company or fund’s basic information in order to gauge its value. Cyclical analysis involves analyzing the relationship between market cycles and prices to forecast future price movement.

Arthur M. Cohen & Associates is a three-person advisory firm that’s been doing business since 1989. The firm currently manages just under $644 million in assets under management (AUM). Its client base consists mostly of high-net-worth individuals, with a handful of non-high-net-worth individuals too.

The fee-only firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services, on top of financial planning and consulting.

Arthur M. Cohen & Associates Background

Arthur M. Cohen & Associates first opened its doors in 1989. The firm’s principal owner is its founder, Arthur M. Cohen. Cohen also serves as the firm’s only advisor.

For investment management services, the firm uses a negotiable fee schedule based on a percentage of your AUM. Rates can range from 0.75% to 1.00%. Financial planning fees will be charged either as a fixed fee of at least $500 or as an hourly rate between $200 and $400. The firm doesn’t impose an account minimum.

Arthur M. Cohen & Associates Investment Philosophy

When analyzing securities, the firm typically relies on fundamental analysis. Fundamental analysis is less concerned with price movements and cyclical trends, focusing instead on a company's fundamental stats like revenue and profitability.

Before making any investment decisions, the firm first seeks to establish a specific time horizon for the portfolio by figuring out each client’s time until retirement. With that information in hand, along with the client’s goals and risk tolerance, the firm will determine how much of the portfolio should skew toward growth securities and how much should lean toward more risk-averse investments.

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Asset Management Group, LLC has grown to manage roughly $405 million in assets over almost 30 years in business. The fee-based firm’s client base is made up of mostly individuals, but it maintains relationships with some high-net-worth individuals and pension plans as well. There is no minimum account size at this firm.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors may earn commissions for certain transactions on top of the advisory fees you pay, and this could create a conflict of interest. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in your best interest.

The firm provides investment management, financial planning and consulting services to its clients. Investment management services are typically offered on a discretionary basis, though the firm will occasionally recommend the use of third-party money managers.

Asset Management Group Background

Asset Management Group was first established in 1990 by Glenn A. Movish. Movish owns 100% of the firm’s shares and acts as its chief investment officer (CIO). The firm has four advisors, one of whom is a certified financial planner (CFP).

Fees for investment advisory services are typically between 0.10% and 1.50% of your assets under management (AUM), although the firm may negotiate a different rate with you. For stand-alone financial planning or consulting services, the firm charges either a $1,500 fixed fee or a $300 hourly fee.

Asset Management Group Investment Philosophy

Asset Management Group centers its investment philosophy around a number of core principles. These include:

• Markets are efficient over time
• You can’t successfully “time” the market over the long term
• Asset class selection is more important than individual security selection
• Risk can be controlled in part by global diversification and modern portfolio theory (MPT)

As a firm, Asset Management Group is known to invest in a diversified mix of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, equity securities and independent money managers.

The firm understands that different clients will have different financial situations, so it tailors its investment strategy to each client’s risk tolerance, liquidity needs and time horizon. The firm takes these factors into account and uses them to create an asset allocation and investment strategy that’s best equipped to produce risk-adjusted and tax-efficient returns over the long term.

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Miramar Capital is a five-advisor firm that’s been doing business since 2017, making it one of the youngest firms on this list. It manages roughly $206 million in assets, and it provides fee-based advisory services to roughly 100 clients. This client base includes individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses.

The firm provides a range of services, such as investment advisory, financial planning, investment management for retirement plans and non-investment consulting. The firm technically doesn’t have a minimum investment, but it generally deals with clients with at least $1 million in investable assets.

As a fee-based firm, advisors may earn commissions for certain transactions in addition to what you pay in advisory fees. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to always act in the client’s best interest.

Miramar Capital Background

Miramar Capital was founded in 2017. The firm is co-owned by Max Wasserman and Bob Kalman, who also serve as senior portfolio managers. The firm has three total advisors, none of whom have certified financial planner (CFP) or chartered financial analyst (CFA) certifications.

Fees for investment management services tend to fall between 0.80% and 1.40% of your assets under management (AUM). This fee will usually cover financial planning services too, unless specified otherwise in your agreement with the firm.

Miramar Capital Investment Philosophy

Miramar Capital is focused on achieving long-term investing success for its clients. The firm constructs individualized asset allocations to optimize the chances for this success. It provides each client with a globally diversified portfolio that’s tailored to their return requirements, risk tolerance, timeline until retirement, tax considerations and any legal restraints.

The firm believes that portfolio returns are driven in large part by earnings growth and dividends, so it looks to invest in equity securities that consistently offer each of these over the long term. It also looks to add value and hedge against risk by investing in fixed-income securities, like bonds.

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Estate & Trust Advisors is a four-person firm that’s been doing business in Northbrook since 1997. It has nearly $150 million in assets under management (AUM), and it serves around 150 clients. The majority of its clients are individuals, but it works with some high-net-worth individuals and pension plans as well. 

Estate & Trust is a fee-based firm, meaning certain advisors may earn commissions for selling insurance products or conducting certain securities transactions. This creates a potential conflict of interest, but the firm must always act in the best interest of its clients due to its fiduciary duty.

Estate & Trust provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management services to its clients. While it doesn’t offer stand-alone financial planning services, the firm may occasionally offer financial planning to its portfolio management clients. The firm generally has a minimum account size of $500,000.

Estate & Trust Advisors Background

Estate & Trust Advisors was established in 1997, and its principal owner is Mark J. Schwartz. Schwartz also serves as the firm’s president. Of its three employed advisors, one is a certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

For portfolio management services, the firm usually charges a percentage of your AUM between 0.80% and 1.50%. Financial planning fees are often included in these rates, although the firm may charge a separate fee for especially complex services. The firm charges a non-negotiable, annual fee of $3,750.

Estate & Trust Advisors Investment Philosophy

Estate & Trust Advisors invests in actively managed mutual funds, stocks, bonds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) when creating clients’ portfolios. However, it may consider other alternative investments from time to time. The firm creates globally diversified portfolios to help protect against risk from any single market.

The firm’s primary investment strategy is strategic asset allocation, meaning it combines a range of asset classes in its portfolios. The exact allocation will be customized to each client’s risk tolerance, liquidity needs and time horizon.

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Mendel Money Management, LLC has been an investment advisor in Illinois since 1989. Its 160 clients include individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations and businesses. The firm has around $141 million in assets under management (AUM).

Mendel provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to its clients. It provides these to its clients on a fee-only basis. The firm doesn’t specify an account minimum, but it does charge a minimum annual fee of $1,000. 

Mendel Money Management Background

Mendel Money Management was formed in 1989 by Barry Mendel, who continues to serve as the firm’s president and principal owner. Bradley Mendel and Lauren Orr round out the firm’s staff. Barry Mendel is a chartered financial analyst (CFA), and Bradley Mendel is a certified financial planner (CFP).

Mendel Money Management charges its clients advisory fees as a percentage of their AUM between 0.50% and 1.00%. Where you fall within that range will depend on the market value of your account. Financial planning services are usually included in this fee, unless you and your advisor negotiate otherwise.

Mendel Money Management Investment Philosophy

When analyzing securities, Mendel relies on a blend of fundamental and cyclical analysis. Fundamental analysis is the practice of examining overall financial and economic factors alongside a company or fund’s basic information in order to accurately surmise its value. Cyclical analysis involves analyzing the relationship between market cycles and prices to forecast future price movement.

The firm tailors its investment strategy to each client rather than applying a blanket strategy for everyone. This means the firm will take into account each client’s personal investment objectives, comfort with risk, preferences, time horizon and cash flow needs when it considers the best possible investment strategy and asset allocation.

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Oak Wealth Advisors has been providing investment advice to clients in the Northbrook area since 2008. Its client base is relatively small compared to many of the other firms on this list, at around 60 individuals and high-net-worth individuals. Oak Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm, so there are no conflicts of interest stemming from commission-based transactions.

The firm provides financial planning services to its clients, along with discretionary investment advice and investment management services. Financial planning can cover retirement planning, cash flow planning, wealth transfer planning, charitable giving planning, risk management, education savings planning and planning for families with special needs.

Oak Wealth has a stated minimum annual fee of $5,000, but it does not have a minimum account size. If you have a lower net worth, this annual fee could make the firm’s services cost prohibitive for you.

Oak Wealth Advisors Background

Oak Wealth Advisors was founded in 2008 by Michael Walther. Walther is the firm’s managing member, president and only advisor. He is a certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA).

Fees for investment management services are based on a portion of your assets under management (AUM). Rates can vary from 0.20% to 0.90%, depending on the market value of your assets. Financial planning services can be included in the aforementioned fee, or the firm may charge a flat fee of $5,000 for stand-alone financial planning.

Oak Wealth Advisors Investment Philosophy

Oak Wealth will generally invest its clients’ assets in no-load mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Oak Wealth Advisors prioritizes strategic asset allocations for each client’s portfolio, making sure that they contain a diverse array of asset classes and securities within each asset class. The firm will typically only engage in trading to rebalance client portfolios. Otherwise, the firm makes investments with the intent to hold them for many years.

The firm doesn’t provide advice or recommendations for individual stocks and bonds, as it believes that mutual funds and ETFs will better serve the investor over the long term. This is because these securities help keep transactional costs low, all the while making global diversification easier to achieve. With that said, each portfolio will be tailored to the client’s preferences, risk tolerance and investment goals.