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PLAN SMART TODAY,
RETIRE SECURE TOMORROW

Your Financial Journey Is Only a Step Away

As one of the very few female-owned financial planning and investment management firms  serving the greater Chicago area, with its home office in Evanston, IL,  Retire Secure is dedicated to helping you achieve financial peace of mind. Though, as our name suggests, we have a special focus on retirement planning, we offer a full-range of financial planning and investment advisory and management services to fit your needs.

As a fee-only fiduciary advisor, we believe that a transparent, holistic approach is the
optimal way to help you reach your financial goals.

You have big plans for the future. Let us help you achieve them.

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About US


The Retire Secure Difference


Fee-Only

The only compensation we receive is directly from our clients. We do not receive any commissions, referral fees or other forms of compensation from third parties.

Fiduciary

We are bound by a code of ethics to act strictly in the best interest of our clients.

We take this commitment very seriously.

Accessible

As a member of the Garrett Planning Network and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), we believe that everyone should have access to quality financial planning. Thus, we have no minimum net worth or income requirements.


Transparent

Our fees and services are fully disclosed to our clients before they sign any agreement with us. We don’t believe in burying these disclosures in fine print that no one is expected to read.

Evidence-Based Investing Informs Our Portfolio Construction

We believe, based on a tremendous amount of research, that no fund manager can consistently beat the stock market, whether global or domestic. Better, at a much lower cost, to “be” the market, using diversified, broad-based indexed equity funds. For fixed income, especially in the municipal bond fund arena, where the market is more fragmented, we use actively managed mutual funds.

Customized Approach to Fit Your Needs

Since no two clients are alike, neither should be the financial plan or advice given to them.

Every client brings with them a unique situation that we believe requires a customized approach to their needs, desires and goals.

Nancy Tani, CFP®, JD, MBA Photo

Nancy Tani, CFP®, JD, MBA

Managing Principal

Since she received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2010, Nancy has worked as a fee-only financial planner and wealth advisor, most recently at  Retire Secure Financial Planning, LLC. Prior to that, Nancy was a partner in a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm in Evanston, IL where she worked with clients in all areas of financial planning, including retirement, investments, tax, employee benefits and estate planning. She also advised clients on financial matters in divorce/mediation situations. Lastly, she took the lead role in the research, construction and management of client investment portfolios, taking into account the client’s risk tolerance, time horizon and goals, with an eye for maximizing tax efficiency and minimizing costs.

Having this one-on-one relationship with clients, coupled with the responsibility to act strictly in their best interests as a fiduciary, has made personal financial planning and investment management a very satisfying career choice for Nancy. She comes to this role with skills acquired over 25 years in finance (corporate, public and personal) and as an attorney at 2 large law firms, practicing corporate securities, M&A and contract law.  She currently uses her legal skills in the areas of tax and estate planning when working with her planning clients.

She earned her law degree (JD) from the University of Chicago Law School and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  Nancy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™  professional and is also licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.

She is a member of the following professional associations of fee-only planners:  Garrett Planning Network, National Assn of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and Financial Planning Association.

She is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and the Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC).


  • Garrett Planning Network logo Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning
  • National Assn of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning
  • Financial Planning Association logo Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning
  • Certified Financial Planner® Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning
  • Fee Only Network logo Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning
  • Chicago Estate Planning Council logo Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

    Chicago Estate Planning Council

  • Chicago Bar Association logo Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning



Our Services, Your Secure Financial Roadmap


Financial Planning With Your Whole Life in Mind

Planning for your future shouldn’t have to be overwhelming. By working closely with you, we can help you create a plan that makes sense and gives you the best opportunity to realize your dreams.

Retirement Planning

While it’s never too early to start saving for retirement because of the benefits of compounding, retirement planning today has taken on new dimensions that earlier generations never had to consider.

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Investment Planning

We will help you align your current portfolio with your long-term investment strategies or help you create a portfolio based on your needs and goals.


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Tax Planning Strategies


Tax laws change frequently. Are you fully protected against the potential impacts of those changes? Let’s evaluate your tax planning strategies and search for areas of potential improvement in your investments, charitable giving, retirement income planning and more.


Estate Planning

Do you have all of your estate planning documents in place? Are they consistent with current federal and state estate tax laws?

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We will review your documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney for financial affairs and health care and your beneficiary designations) to make sure they are up-to-date and ready to carry out your wishes and preserve your wealth for future generations.

Employee Benefits Optimization


It’s difficult to know if you’re maximizing your employer-sponsored benefits plan. We can help. We’ll look for ways to take full advantage of your coverage and benefits.

Business Planning


After reviewing your current business plan, we’ll help you integrate it into your financial wellness plan and help you review or develop benefit plans, compensation and more.


Insurance Review


We’ll review your existing policies to ensure proper coverage for life, health, disability, long‐term care, liability, home and automobile.

Cash Flow and Debt Management


We’ll help you develop a comprehensive plan for spending, debt reduction and asset reallocation where necessary.

College Savings


We will make sure you are saving for your children’s and grandchildren’s education in a tax-efficient way by utilizing tax-advantaged college savings plans and other savings strategies.


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Your Investment Management Goals Begin Here


Your investment management goals matter to us at Retire Secure. Using a variety of indicators, including your tolerance for risk,  time horizon, tax considerations, as well as investment goals, we can identify your unique investment profile.

Building a diverse portfolio, we seek to minimize risk, optimize risk-adjusted performance and help you stay on course for the long run. While portfolio success is determined by a wide variety of factors, including some outside our control, we believe that working with an experienced financial advisor can help decrease emotional decisions that often lead to poor outcomes.

More About Our Investment Principles 


Unnecessary trading and emotional decisions are likely to result in less-than-optimal portfolio performance. Past returns aren’t usually a reliable indicator of future performance.


Costs matter. We select low cost domestic and global index equity funds and actively managed investment grade bond funds, while also monitoring fund expenses, turnover and taxes.


A well-balanced portfolio includes global investments to help reduce risks and expand your portfolio beyond the typical market offerings.


Your unique investment profile will determine how you are allocated to the major non-correlated asset classes of equity, fixed income and cash. These asset classes are further broken down into sub-classes with their own risk and reward attributes -both in the U.S and globally, which we pay attention to when constructing and managing your investment portfolio. Asset location is important too. To the extent possible, we prefer to place your equity index funds in your taxable accounts because of the preferential tax treatment and your interest-bearing bond funds in your retirement accounts, where everything is taxed as ordinary income when distributed.


Investor emotions have negative investment outcomes when we allow them to dictate investment strategy. Taking the long view is a good approach.


Financial Planning

Depending on the complexity of your situation and the number of planning services selected, our planning fee ranges from $2,500 minimum to $12,000, based on an hourly fee of $275/hour. The upper end of the fee range represents 4 to 5 planning services (e.g. retirement, investment, tax and estate planning) with year-round assistance in implementing the plan recommendations.

The lower end of the fee range represents a more limited planning engagement, focused on 1 or 2 planning services, with 1/2 of the fee due at the beginning of the engagement and the remainder due at the plan presentation.

Any follow up services are available on an “as needed” basis, either hourly or project-based.


Financial Planning + Investment Management

Financial Planning

Fee based on the number of planning services selected by client; amount is a flat fee billed quarterly in advance.

Investment Management

Fee percentage is determined annually, billed quarterly, based on the value of assets under management. It is calculated as follows:

Invested Assets

Percentage Charged

1st $1,000,000*
1.00%
Next $1,000,000 ($1,000,001 - $2,000,000)
0.90%
Over $2,000,000
0.75%

*Subject to a minimum annual fee of $2,500.00.

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Have Questions? We're Here to Help.

What are your training and certifications?

What is “fee-only” vs “fee-based” financial planning and why should it be important to me?

What are the benefits of working with an independent advisor compared to a bank or large advisory firm?

What is your investment philosophy?

How do you help clients implement their financial plans?

How much do you charge?

Do you offer a free initial consultation?

How can I get started?

Our Process

Guiding You to a Secure Future

At Retire Secure, we believe that effective planning is a continuous journey, not a one-time event. It starts with identifying and understanding your specific needs, goals, values and time horizons. Then, together with you, we use these inputs to shape planning recommendations designed to help you reach your financial goals. When you have a strategy and a financial plan, it's easier to make financial decisions and stay on track to meet these goals.

From our first meeting to plan implementation and ongoing monitoring, you’ll receive customized care based on your unique goals and needs. You deserve the best.

 

Complimentary Meeting

Complimentary Meeting Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

This is where we get to know you and your financial goals. What keeps you up at night? How do you envision your future? Do you worry that your retirement savings and other investments may not be sufficient to last your lifetime? Are there any long-term needs, or unique situations we should plan for? Prior to this meeting, you’ll receive a confidential questionnaire. We ask that you return this to us at least two days before our appointment. This questionnaire helps us facilitate the discussion and make sure all your concerns are adequately addressed.

Data Gathering & Review

Data Gathering & Review Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

Once we've met and you've decided Retire Secure is a good fit for your needs, we'll begin working on your custom-tailored plan. You'll provide us with any remaining documents and materials necessary for our review.

Analysis & Plan Preparation

Analysis & Plan Preparation Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

Using the information you provide, we will complete our analysis and prepare your plan. Depending on the complexity of your situation, we may determine that an interim meeting is necessary to review with you our preliminary findings. We will then finalize your plan, which may include several scenarios for your consideration, or, we may determine that there is a "best" option that we will recommend.

Plan Presentation

Plan Presentation Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

Next, we'll present the plan to you, either virtually or in person. During this meeting we will review our analysis and recommendations and determine next steps. Depending on the complexity of the plan, we may break up the presentation into two meetings, rather than one, to allow ample time in both sessions for questions and discussion.

Implementation

Implementation Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

At Retire Secure, we firmly believe that even the best financial plan is of little value until it's implemented. We will work with you to determine the appropriate steps to implement our plan recommendations and guide you through the process one stage at a time.

Ongoing Monitoring & Tracking

Ongoing Monitoring & Tracking Evanston, IL Retire Secure Financial Planning

Financial planning is a process and should be continually assessed in order to remain flexible and address any life changes. Whether you have elected to retain us for the entire year, or only on an as-needed basis during the year, we will help you stay on track to achieve your financial goals.

I’m Ready to Start

Contact Us

Getting Started Is Easy

Retire Secure is located in Evanston, IL and serves clients locally and throughout the greater Chicago area.  

To help prepare for our initial complimentary meeting please complete the form below.

Before we meet, you should have a basic idea of your current financial picture and financial goals. How are things now? Do you have any concerns? What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years and longer term?



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847-281-5141 | info@retiresecurefinplg.com