Business Details
Your Trusted Financial Planning Partner in Milwaukee
Financial Strategies has been dedicated to providing unbiased, client-focused financial advisory services for over 25 years. As a fee-only fiduciary firm, we prioritize our clients' best interests by offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management tailored to high net worth individuals, executives, and families. Our team of Certified Financial Planners works closely with clients to address complex financial needs, including retirement planning, tax optimization, and wealth transfer strategies.We maintain rigorous professional standards through continuous education and adherence to ethical guidelines, ensuring our advice remains both technically sound and personally relevant. Our commitment to personalized service has earned us recognition as one of Wisconsin's pioneering fee-only wealth advisory firms.
Services
Retirement Planning
Investment Management
Tax Planning
Wealth Transfer
Insurance Planning
College Costs Planning
Life Changes Management
Highlights and features
- We are 100% fee-only fiduciaries with no product commissions
- Our advisors hold Certified Financial Planner designations
- We provide personalized attention to every client relationship
- Our team has over 25 years of combined financial planning experience
- We coordinate with CPAs and legal professionals for comprehensive planning
Services
Retirement Planning
Our disciplined retirement planning approach considers your desired lifestyle and coordinates investment and withdrawal strategies to optimize resources. We help clients coordinate pensions, deferred compensation, stock options, and investment income while developing tax-efficient withdrawal plans tailored to individual needs and future goals.
Investment Management
We create customized investment portfolios aligned with your comprehensive financial plan. Our fee-only approach focuses on selecting investments that match your risk tolerance and growth objectives while integrating tax considerations and coordinating various account types to maximize long-term portfolio performance.
Tax Planning
Our tax planning services analyze financial decisions' tax implications and coordinate with CPAs to develop strategies that minimize tax burdens. We consider changing tax laws, life stages, and current/future tax brackets to create efficient, compliant financial plans that maximize after-tax returns.
Wealth Transfer
We guide clients through estate planning and wealth transfer processes to ensure legacy goals are met. Our professionals help establish trusts, coordinate beneficiary designations, and develop strategies for charitable giving while ensuring plans align with clients' values and intentions.
Insurance Planning
We assess clients' risk tolerance and insurance needs to protect against financial loss. Our non-commission-based recommendations focus on life, disability, and long-term care insurance solutions that complement overall financial plans while ensuring adequate coverage without unnecessary products.
People
Jim Cantrell
President & Senior Financial Advisor
Certified Financial Planner with over 25 years of experience leading Wisconsin's fee-only advisory firm. Specializes in comprehensive financial planning for executives and high net worth individuals.
Hannah Chavez
Vice President & Financial Planner
CFP professional with expertise in tax, retirement, and estate planning. Holds a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning and actively supports human trafficking prevention initiatives in Milwaukee.
Tom Helstern
Junior Associate Financial Planner
CPA with corporate tax experience from PwC and Komatsu. Former Marine Corps officer pursuing CFP certification. Focuses on helping clients achieve financial security through personalized planning.
Zach Dujmic
Junior Associate Financial Planner
Recent UW-Madison graduate with financial planning and economics degrees. Holds Series 65 license and SIE certification. Pursuing CFP designation while serving clients with a client-first approach.
Jeanne Melka
Senior Financial Paraplanner
Over 20 years of experience supporting financial planning processes. Continuously updates knowledge through FPA and NAPFA seminars. Specializes in client relations and financial documentation preparation.
Questions
What makes Financial Strategies different from other financial advisors?
We are 100% fee-only fiduciaries with no product commissions, ensuring unbiased advice focused solely on client needs.
What types of clients do you typically work with?
We specialize in serving high net worth executives, business owners, retirees, and professionals with complex financial needs.
How do you approach investment management?
We create customized portfolios aligned with your financial plan, focusing on tax efficiency and long-term growth objectives.
Do you work with clients outside the Milwaukee area?
While based in Milwaukee, we serve clients throughout Wisconsin and can work with out-of-state clients through virtual consultations.
What qualifications do your advisors hold?
Our team includes Certified Financial Planners, CPAs, and professionals pursuing industry certifications like CFP and FPQP.
