Katrina Jones is a Vice President and Supervisory Principal in Mesirow Wealth Management an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor firm As a Supervisory Principal Katrina works to ensure the division’s compliance with firm policies and supervisory procedures She uses her knowledge of SEC and FINRA rules and regulations to apply regulatory guidance along with the firm’s policies and procedures in the…

Taking time to review and reassess your estate plan on a regular basis is an important habit to adapt once you’ve put planning into place Stop check-in take inventory , Think about the answers to these questions, Who will handle your affairs in the event of incapacity Do you have a health care directive Are proper beneficiaries named on insurance policies retirement accounts and other accounts Do you have children who are minors or have special needs If something were to happen to you do you have a clear objective as to how you want your assets to be distributed and to whom How are other assets titled Do…, What are Powers of Attorney and why do I need them, A durable power of attorney for property (POA allows an individual to appoint an agent to handle their financial affairs in the event of disability This would include things like payment of bills (any assets held within a trust would be managed by the successor trustee Similarly healthcare decisions would be made by an appointed agent under a Power of Attorney for Health Care Take action If you…, What is a Will, A will is a public document that transfers separately owned property under a court appointed probate proceeding A will does not supersede transfers that occur automatically such as joint bank accounts jointly held real estate and assets with beneficiary designations The will also names guardians for minor children An executor is the named individual or third party appointed to carry out the terms…, Do I need a Revocable Trust, Many individuals feel that because the current 2025 Federal Estate Tax exemption is $1399 million that an estate plan is not needed unless their wealth exceeds this amount ¹ This is not always the case For example residents of Illinois could have an estate subject to state estate taxes while not having an estate subject to federal estate tax Currently the Illinois estate tax exemption is…, What does a trust do, During one’s lifetime the grantor retains full power of the assets in the trust the trust is NOT treated as a separate tax entity for income tax purposes the trust is revocable In the event the individual becomes incapacitated the named successor trustee would take over the administration of the trust assets including distributing funds to the individual his/her spouse and their dependents…, Published February 2025, 1  https//wwwirsgov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-tax 2 https//wwwfaegredrinkercom/en/insights/publications/2025/1/2025-estate-tax-exemptions-and-planning-considerations#~text=or%20inheritance%20tax-Illinoistax%20exemption%20is%20not%20portable    

Keith Gustafson is a Managing Director of Asset Allocation and Retirement Income in Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions As a member of the research team he is responsible for developing innovative manager selection and portfolio construction methodologies and working directly with clients to develop custom target risk and target date portfolio solutions Keith has more than 35 years of experience in…

Kelli Caudill serves as Director of Mesirow Investment Banking Operations In this capacity Kelli oversees the day-to-day operations of the Investment Banking group she works closely with business partners at the firm including facilities human resources internal audit marketing and technology Further Kelli serves as Senior Vice President Corporate Initiatives where she works closely with…

Kemp DeMarais is a Vice President in Public Finance at Mesirow He is responsible for structuring and underwriting municipal bond financings providing optimal solutions for issuers across the country His experience includes working with city general obligation and utility credits sales tax and revenue-backed issuers housing authorities transportation agencies as well as high-yield and healthcare…

Ken Lavelle is a Vice President and Senior Investment  Analyst in Mesirow Wealth Management He is responsible for due diligence and ongoing monitoring of traditional and alternative investment mangers for implementation into client portfolios  Ken has eight years of investment industry experience Prior to joining Mesirow in 2021 he created financial models and managed tax efficient portfolios for…

Ketan Shah serves as Mesirow Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel In his role as Chief Strategy Officer Ketan works closely with Mesirows CEO Mesirow’s Board of Directors as well as Business and Corporate leaders to develop and implement the firm’s strategic growth plan He also oversees Investment Banking Wealth Management Fiduciary Solutions and Human Resources In his capacity as General…

Kevin Price is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Asset Management in Mesirow Institutional Real Estate Direct He is involved in all aspects of managing the group’s real estate assets Kevin has over 25 years of real estate experience with an emphasis on multifamily Prior to joining Mesirow in 2017 he served in several leadership roles including the Managing Director of Castle Lanterra…

For most Americans retirement represents the ultimate goal the reward after decades of working saving and investing Popular culture often paints a familiar picture mornings on the golf course afternoons at the beach and visits with family and friends, While many spend much of their adult life working toward this milestone some individuals find themselves reaching it far earlier than expected Whether through disciplined saving a liquidity event like selling a business receiving an inheritance or another financial windfall the opportunity to retire early can arrive sooner than imagined and with it important decisions to navigate, According to a 2024 study the average retirement age in the United States is 62 1 Yet expectations for retirement continue to evolve across generations Another survey found that Gen Z expects to retire at age 62 Millennials at 65 Gen X at 66 and Baby Boomers at 69 2 While early retirement mostly occurs unexpectedly due to things like health challenges corporate restructuring or financial…, Create a sustainable withdrawal strategy, The first step is to ensure you have a sustainable withdrawal strategy A common rule of thumb for retirees is to limit annual withdrawals to about 4% of their portfolio However with a longer retirement horizon and added uncertainty around market returns and inflation a more conservative rate may be necessary, Determine where your income will come from, Equally important is where withdrawals come from Implementing a tax-efficient and flexible withdrawal strategy can not only extend portfolio longevity but can also help manage your taxable income which for early retirees can also affect eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA healthcare subsidies 3 Generally withdrawals should begin with taxable accounts to allow tax-deferred accounts to…, Maintain a diversified portfolio, Retiring early can mean your investments need to be managed for decades in order to help provide income That long horizon can magnify risks to the portfolio especially sequence of returns risk where a market downturn early in retirement can have an outsized impact on long-term sustainability To mitigate this it’s essential to maintain a diversified portfolio with an allocation that balances…, Early retirement is a lifestyle shift, Early retirement isn’t just a financial decision it’s a lifestyle shift Many retirees underestimate how much structure identity and social connection their careers provide Without thoughtful planning the sudden change can bring unexpected challenges such as boredom loss of purpose or changes to relationships as friends and family continue working Before making the leap consider how you’ll stay…, Conclusion, If you find yourself in the fortunate position to consider retiring early it’s critical to look beyond just the dollars and cents The decision is about much more than financial independence it’s about aligning your resources and goals with an appropriate plan to help ensure success in the next phase of life Working with your Mesirow Wealth Advisor to develop a customized plan and make informed…