Working with Hammortree Financial Services since 2014, I've helped families, individuals, and small business owners build financial strategies tailored to their goals. The most rewarding moments are the ones when a client realizes they've reached a milestone we mapped out years earlier. Those conversations remind me why I do this work.
Numbers always came naturally to me. I began at Northern Illinois University studying math education before transferring to American Intercontinental University for Business Administration. Eventually, I realized teaching wasn't my path. Financial planning became the perfect blend of analytical problem-solving and meaningful, personal impact.
Early in my career, I ran into some hardships. On our first family vacation since our child was born, standing on a beach in Florida with almost nothing in the bank, I watched my wife and our two-year-old son playing in the waves. In that moment, something shifted. I knew I needed to figure this out for them. When we got home, I committed fully. With the guidance of my mentor, Annette Hammortree, I found my footing. That moment on the beach changed everything. And it gave me perspective on what others may be going through and motivation to help them find their way forward as well.
Most of my work today focuses on personal financial planning, and I'm also a Certified Exit Planner. Supporting business owners through major transitions is especially meaningful. Their challenges are unique, and helping founders navigate those turning points is deeply satisfying. This field is always evolving, and every client brings a different story, background, and vision. Those conversations shape how I approach the next one.
My wife, Catherine, and I have been together for more than 24 years, and she's been my steady support through every chapter. Our sons, George and Henry, motivate me daily. I always say "be the good in the world you want to see" and I try to model that behavior for my boys. Outside of work, I'm usually planning our next family adventure. Hiking is a passion, and our recent trip to Yosemite was one of my favorites to date. We take our popup camper out several times each summer. I'm a sports fan with an especially questionable golf game, but football has always been my favorite. I proudly bleed Bears blue and orange.
I serve on the boards of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and Independence Health & Therapy, and I'm a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentoring the same young man since kindergarten. He's a freshman now. The Chamber played a big role in helping me get established, and I want to create those same opportunities for others.