Meet the Team

Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC is comprised of a dedicated team of reliable professionals. Our team has been offering unparalleled support and financial advice for more than fifty years combined. Whether you are interested in investment planning, income protection, retirement planning, or a combination of the many services Wealth Management offers, our team is here to ensure you receive the attention and assistance you need to achieve financial peace of mind.

Ronald A. Manso, CFP®

Ronald A. Manso, CFP® – Wealth Management Partner & Financial Advisor

Ron is the Director of Financial Services of Porte Brown Wealth Management and is responsible for providing wealth management solutions for individuals and businesses tailored to achieve the client’s specific goals. Ron has been in the financial services industry since 1984 and obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 1988. Ron owned his own business for 20 years before joining Porte Brown LLC. When Ron is away from the office, he likes to spend time with his wife and three children, go golfing, and attend Chicago sporting events. One place you definitely won't see Ron is climbing mountains because Ron is afraid of tall heights! Email: Ronald Manso

Abe Chidalek, CFP®

Abe Chidalek, CFP® – Wealth Management Partner & Financial Advisor

Abe is a dedicated Wealth Management Advisor for Porte Brown Wealth Management. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who holds the FINRA Series 7, 66 and Life, Accident & Health Insurance license. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance from Texas Tech University. Abe consults with individuals and families, as well as businesses of all varieties. Regardless of the client's size or type, Abe utilizes a holistic approach to wealth management to find solutions specific to his clients' goals and needs. Abe joined Porte Brown Wealth Management in 2014, and prior to that he spent eight years in the financial industry serving clients and CPAs. In his free time Abe enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and his son Alex, honing his golf game, and riding his bike around Arlington Heights. Email: Abe Chidalek

Nicky Mackowiak, FPQP

Nicky Mackowiak, FPQP™ – Paraplanner

Nicky has earned the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ designation. Nicky also holds the FINRA Series 7, 66 and Life, Accident & Health Insurance licenses. Nicky started with Porte Brown LLC in May 2000 until she transferred over to Porte Brown Wealth Management LLC in 2010. Nicky enjoys spending time with her husband Erik and two children, Zachary and Mackenzie. Email: Nicky Mackowiak

Madeline Terrett

Madeline Terrett – Wealth Management Assistant

Madeline joined Porte Brown in 2013. She graduated from DePaul University and has a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Prior to her employment at Porte Brown, Madeline worked for 9 years in the Wealth Management business for CRM Investments and AXA Advisors where she supported all facets of the business. Before returning to the workforce, Madeline lived in the United Kingdom and Belgium with her husband and two children. She enjoys cooking, playing tennis and golf. Email: Madeline Terrett

Sandy Thompson

Sandy Thompson – Wealth Management Assistant

Sandy is the newest member of the Porte Brown Wealth Management team, joining in August of 2018. Before switching roles to work for the firm, she was a Team Lead and member of the Security division for a tech company out of Deerfield, Illinois.  Born and raised in Chicago, she is very much a city girl. She and her husband, Adam, enjoy night games at Wrigley Field, the energy of the United Center during a Blackhawks game and listening to live music at many of the local venues around town. Email: Sandy Thompson

Porte Brown Wealth Management Advisory Team

Wealth Management Licensed Advisors

Not only does Porte Brown Wealth Management have a dedicated advisory team, it also has 12 licensed wealth management advisors who provide additional expertise and knowledge. This experienced team is comprised of financial advisors and accounting professionals, who are committed to providing Porte Brown Wealth Management clients with comprehensive wealth management planning and strategies. Each of these licensed advisors are partners at Porte Brown LLC and all of them have decades of knowledge in the accounting and financial industry. They also have various industry-specific certifications to further support Porte Brown Wealth Management clients. For more specific information on our licensed advisors, visit the Porte Brown LLC website.

Why Choose Our Team?

We’re dedicated to providing comprehensive planning advice through a tax-focused lens, and we’re backed by Avantax, the firm that pioneered Tax-Smart Investing over 30 years ago.

Long ago we realized the significant role taxes play in planning for the future. After all, it’s what you have at the end of the day, not what you earn, that defines true wealth. That’s why we apply the combined expertise of both tax and financial planning professionals to identify strategies unique to your situation and help you achieve the best financial outcomes.

Access to Powerful Tax-Smart Investing™

Other firms may say they offer tax-conscious strategies, but when you read the fine print, their services only include a narrow scope of after-tax solutions.

Only Avantax Financial Professionals are backed by Tax-Smart Investing™, which lets us apply an array of ongoing tax-optimized strategies designed to help minimize your current and future tax exposure.

Talk to Our Financial Professionals About Tax-Smart Investing™

Together, we can design a customized – financial plan to help maximize wealth and meet your goals —both now and into the future. Contact Us Today!

Accolades

Porte Brown Wealth Management was recognized for its extraordinary achievements throughout the year at the 2018 1st Global National Conference that took place from Nov. 11–13 at the Omni Louisville. Porte Brown Wealth Management was named a Five Diamond Eagle, which is awarded to firms based on the criterion of the firm’s production volume across all product lines.

“Diamond Eagle firms set themselves apart from the crowd because of their commitment to redefining what it means to be exceptional, consistently demonstrating what it takes to excel in remarkable fashion,” former 1st Global Chairman and CEO Tony Batman said. “They are dedicated to the individuals, families and businesses they serve, and they create a precedent for others to follow through their passion and admirable conduct.”

1st Global is pleased to congratulate Porte Brown Wealth Management for reaching Five Diamond Eagle status, deeply appreciates Porte Brown Wealth Management’s devotion to serving its clients through comprehensive financial planning advice and commends Porte Brown Wealth Management on its continued progress and accomplishments.

In keeping with the level of excellence demonstrated by Diamond Eagle firms, the theme of 1st Global’s National Conference 2018 was “Redefining Exceptional.” Diamond Eagle firms live out this theme every day in their offices by differentiating themselves in the marketplace, pacesetting firm growth and leading the charge on in delivering an extraordinary client experience.

1st Global enlisted the wisdom of a handful of key speakers to share their experiences and insights on significant trends that drive markets and the significant opportunities created by them. Speakers included Shawn Achor, Harvard researcher and positive psychology expert; Sally Hogshead, “New York Times” bestselling author, researcher and creator of The Fascination Advantage®; Wade D. Pfau, PhD, CFA®, professor of retirement income at The American College and founder of the Retirement Researcher; Robert C. Doll, CFA®, senior portfolio manager and chief equity strategist, Nuveen Asset Management; Jeff Bush, principal of The Washington Update; and Ronald J. Baker, founder of VeraSage Institute.

About 1st Global

1st Global was founded in 1992 by CPAs who believe that accounting, tax and estate planning firms are uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive wealth management services to their clients. 1st Global is a research and consulting partner that provides CPA, tax and estate planning firms with the education, technology, business-building framework and client solutions that make these firms leaders in their professions through dedicated professional client relationships built around wealth management. Around 350 firms have chosen to affiliate with 1st Global, making it one of the largest financial services partners for the tax, accounting and legal professions.

The Diamond Eagle award is given to firms based on the criterion of the firm’s production volume across all product lines.

Securities are offered through 1st Global Capital Corp., which is a Member of FINRA and SIPC and is headquartered at 12750 Merit Dr., Ste. 1200 in Dallas, Texas, 214-294-5000. Investment advisory services are offered through 1st Global Advisors, Inc. Additional information about 1st Global is available at www.1stGlobal.com

Next step:

For further information, please contact Porte Brown Wealth Management at achidalek@pbwealth.net or call us at (847) 357-9995.

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