Michael Stewart has been in suburban Chicago for most of his 51 years. He has been in the financial planning industry for over 21 years. His past experience includes 8 years in the Private Client Group and Investment Management divisions of two of Chicago's largest banks, overseeing deposits in excess of $200,000,000 in McHenry County.
In 2008, Michael founded his own firm to independently serve the tax planning and conservative financial planning needs of his clients in or nearing retirement.
Michael strives on educate his clients on how to invest profitably and avoid loss by providing conservative options. He is dedicated to helping his clients reap the rewards of a well planned retirement. In addition, Michael is a well established author, speaker and consultant on economic matters.
He lives in McHenry with his wife of 21 years and their 3 children.
At Crystal Lake Tax & Financial, we specialize in teaching clients how the world of income-
generating investments and strategies can be used to help those in and nearing retirement to
conservatively achieve their long-term financial goals and avoid common retirement planning
mistakes.
Protecting your principal from market losses and generating income and dividends will grow your
money organically, or as we like to say "the old fashioned way." We rely on real world proven
strategies rather than just hope like so many other brokers.
Our number one mission is client education. We want to work with you to ensure that you make
informed, educated decisions that will best suit your current needs and enable you to achieve
your long term goals. We believe piece of mind comes from understanding your options and from
working with your advisor to choose the options that work best for you and your family.
Services offered; Financial Planning, Retirement Income Planning, Estate Planning, Income Tax
Preparation and Investment Management.
General Information |
Firm Start Year: | 2008 | |
No. of Employees: | 5-9 | |
Insurance License#: | 3823485 |
Name of Broker/Dealer: | Sound Income Strategies, LLC |
Name of Custodial Firm: | TD Ameritrade Institutional |
States Licensed in: | IL, FL, WI |
Number of Years with Current Firm: | 13 |
Work with the following types of clients: | Individual Investors, Businesses |
Services |
Investment Types: | Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Insurance, Stocks, Bonds, Commodities, Annuities, Alternative Investments, Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) |
Can meet clients in the following ways: | Phone, Our Office, Video Conference |
Qualifications & Memberships |
Insurance and Annuity Licenses: | Annuity, Life, Health, Long Term Care |
Financial Organization Memberships: | Financial Planning Association (FPA), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) |
Firm Information |
Firm's Number of Clients: | 1000+ |
Firm's Number of Planning Clients: | 300 |
Firm's Number of Managed Clients: | 1000+ |
Assets Managed by Firm: | 1,100,000,000 |
Compensation and Fees |
Fee Structure: | Fee-Based |
Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts: | $50,000 |
Compensation Methods: | Based on Assets, Flat Fee |
Fee % Based on Assets: | 1 |
Hourly Rate: | $300 |
Education |
Bachelors - Political Science / International Law | Creighton University
- Omaha, NE - 1993 |
Masters Business Administration (MBA) - Finance | American University
- Washington DC - 2006 |
Economic Development - Economic Development | Oklahoma University
- Norman, OK |
FAQs |
What services do you provide? What are your specialties?We provide a holistic financial experience where we serve our clients needs on financial planning, estate planning, investment management and tax preparation. We specialize in tying together our clients complete financial picture rather than have pieces spread around and not working together. |
What is your experience? How many clients do you currently manage?Michael has nearly two decades of financial planning experience for both large financial institutions as well as an independent planning firm. Sound Income Strategies, our SEC registered investment advisor, manages in excess of 100 clients portfolios. |
What financial institution(s) do you represent?As an independent planning firm we are not beholden to any one financial company or product line. We have the ability to access any publicly traded investment that is suitable for our client based on their individual needs. |
What is your approach to financial planning?We offer both a flat fee charge for our tax preparation and estate planning services. Investment management fees are based on assets under management or an hourly plan fee. |
What services do you offer?Our independence arms our clients with the confidence in knowing that our recommendations are free of conflict as our compensation for securities management is the same regardless of investment. |
Disclosures |
WiserAdvisor provides referrals to financial professionals. WiserAdvisor is not a current client of advisor or advisory services. Financial professionals pay cash compensation for these referrals, which creates the incentive for WiserAdvisor to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. |
Additional Detailed Disclosures |
Registered Investment Advisor:
Yes
Investment Advisor Representative:
Yes
Acknowledged fiduciary:
Yes
Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years:
Have a clean record
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years:
Have a clean record
Mon. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Tue. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Wed. | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
Thu. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Fri. | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Algonquin | Barrington |
Carpentersville | Cary |
Dundee | Elgin |
Fox Lake | Fox River Grove |
Gilberts | Hampshire |
Harvard | Huntley |
Ingleside | Island Lake |
Lake Geneva | Lake Zurich |
Marengo | Mchenry |
Richmond | Ringwood |
Spring Grove | Twin Lakes |
Union | Wauconda |
Wonder Lake | Woodstock. Madison |
Check | Visa |
MasterCard | American Express |
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