Common questions, answered plainly.

Richard Casolari is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who has spent roughly fifty years in financial services. He runs a selective, founder-led practice focused on retirement income planning for pre-retirees and retirees across Chicago's south and southwest suburbs. Financial advisor, financial planner, and financial consultant all describe the same role he fills for clients. You can read more about Richard's background on the about page.

The office is at 12416 S. Harlem Ave, Suite 300, Palos Heights, IL 60463. Most clients live within about a 40-minute drive, though Richard is licensed in 24 states and meets clients in person, by phone, or by video.

The practice centers on people who are within a few years of retirement or already retired, and who want one advisor to coordinate income, investments, taxes, and insurance rather than juggle several disconnected accounts. The emphasis is on the retirement income years, when the question shifts from growing a balance to drawing from it.

It is a selective, founder-led practice. You work with Richard directly, supported by a small and long-tenured team. There is no rotating roster of junior advisors and no call center between you and the person building your plan.

The first step is a Retirement Readiness Review, a direct conversation with Richard about where you stand, what you want retirement to look like, and whether the practice is a good fit. You can request one from the contact page.

No. The first conversation is a fit assessment. Richard reviews your situation and explains how he would approach it. There is no obligation to move forward, and nothing is recommended in that meeting.

A recent statement for each account, your most recent tax return, any pension or annuity paperwork, and a rough sense of your monthly spending are enough to begin. Richard will tell you if anything else would help.

Most clients meet with Richard on a regular schedule, usually quarterly or semiannually, with additional check-ins around major decisions such as a rollover, a home sale, or the start of Social Security.

Five coordinated services: retirement income planning, financial planning and advice, investment management, tax-aware planning, and insurance offered through licensed affiliates. The services overview explains how they fit together as one plan.

No. Many clients start with one area, often retirement income planning or a 401(k) rollover decision, and add others over time. Because the services are coordinated, anything added later fits the plan you already have rather than working against it.

Accumulation is about growing a balance. Retirement income planning is about converting that balance into tax-aware cash flow designed to last, with sequence-of-returns risk planned around from the start.

Portfolios are built for each client with a documented buy discipline and a documented sell discipline, rather than assigned from a preset risk bucket. You can read more on the investment management page. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and no strategy assures a profit.

Advisory accounts are billed on a single tiered schedule that scales down as assets grow. Insurance and annuity products, offered through licensed affiliates, may pay a commission.

On advisory accounts, yes. As a Series 65 adviser on Cetera's registered investment adviser platform, Richard acts in a fiduciary capacity, meaning he is obligated to put your interests first.

Yes. Richard reviews all advisory fees and product costs with you before anything is implemented, so you understand what you are paying and why.

Client assets are custodied at Pershing rather than at the practice. You receive statements directly from the custodian and can view your accounts independently at any time.

Yes. Richard regularly helps clients evaluate a 401(k) rollover after a job change, a retirement, or a business sale, and coordinates how the money should be invested and drawn down, not only where it is held.

Yes. Tax-aware planning is coordinated with your CPA, and estate matters with your attorney. This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Consult your CPA or attorney about your individual situation.

You can review the background of any financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck. The footer of this site links to it directly.

Securities and advisory services are offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser. Cetera Wealth Partners is a region of Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

The practice is built for continuity. Richard works with a long-tenured team and a designated successor, and because assets are custodied at Pershing, they remain accessible regardless of what happens to any single advisor.