Here at FourStar Wealth Advisors, we like to think that we are building the wealth management firm of the future – but you can’t move into the future without occasionally taking a look back at the past.

2018 has been a great year for FourStar. At this time of year, we wanted to look back on where we’ve been, so we can refocus on helping to take our clients and our advisors where they’d like to go.

So, what did the FourStar team get up to in 2018? For us, this was a year full of…

 

Memorable Events

Here at FourStar Wealth Advisors, we believe in fully addressing the life cycle of a citizen with our unique “Build. Live. Share.” approach to wealth management. We believe that financial planning is just one part of a much bigger picture. Just as important as screens and data is going out and truly having memorable experiences.

Over the year, our team and clients traveled across Chicagoland and around the country – and made some remarkable memories along the way.

In January, for instance, friends and clients of FourStar enjoyed lunch with Cubs manager Jed Hoyer. Our discussion was insightful and wide-ranging, touching on everything from leadership styles to the Cubs’ upcoming season. And later in the year, we got another chance to experience the inner workings of the Cubs organization up close, as our clients and advisors toured Wrigley Field, getting the opportunity to see the dugout, press box, and more up close.

 

 

And that’s not all. In February, our friends, advisors, and clients took a remarkable backstage tour of the Lyric Opera House, getting the opportunity to see what goes into creating one of this company’s legendary operas from start to finish. At the Union League Club of Chicago, our team had a personal discussion with Madeleine Albright, one of the most powerful and influential women in American history.

Over the summer, we also got the opportunity to tour the Quincy Street Distillery, learning all about the history of distilling and seeing what goes into making various spirits. Friends and family of FourStar also got to savor the “sport of kings” at the legendary Arlington International Racecourse. Over the summer, as is tradition, we also enjoyed a view of Chicago’s 60th annual Air and Water Show along with brunch and a fun day at the Shore Club on the Lakefront at North Avenue Beach.

 

 

Members of the FourStar team, including our founder Brian Kasal, were also in attendance at the National 2018 Annual Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America in Dallas, celebrating the spirit of philanthropy and generosity that guides us here at FourStar. And in the fall, Brian walked the red carpet at the RIA ELITE Conference at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. At this great event, Brian surveyed the latest private equity and alternative investment offerings to share with our fabulous FourStar clients.

In all? It was a wonderful year full of discovery, fun, and memories – for our advisors, clients, and friends alike.

 

Brian Kasal at RIA ELITE

Important Education and Insights

We built FourStar as a place where investors receive crucial education and training while working with their advisor, all in order to help them to meet their family’s needs.

We focus on what families and sophisticated investors really need, including offering a very broad platform of investing programs and services that most firms cannot or will not offer.

And more than that, we create discussions around what clients genuinely want and need. Unlike other firms that just sell things or push products, we believe that our mission is to help our investors achieve their biggest hopes and dreams, with money and wealth as tools to help them get where they’re going.

A key part of that education is reaching clients where they live. As a cutting edge firm that’s helping lead the way into the next generation of wealth advisory, we believe firmly in using digital tools and assets to help educate, inform, and inspire our community, wherever possible. 2018 saw us make great leaps forward.

Our FourStar Wealth Advisors Podcast reached more ears; we focused growing our sphere of influence on social media; and we created and shared informative articles on many different topics, from our own team and with the input of insightful professionals from around our industry.

To everyone who read, listened, or watched our educational content in the past year – thank you for making our audience so robust and engaged!

 

Awards and Recognition

Here at FourStar, one of our biggest sources of pride comes from knowing that we are making a difference for our clients. We consider it our sacred honor to help folks and families articulate their wants, needs, and desires, and assist them in taking steps to live a more full and complete life.

Of course, it’s also very gratifying when professional organizations take notice of our efforts. This year, we were incredibly proud to announce that Advisory HQ had ranked us as a top 10 advisory firm in Chicago, for a third year in a row.

It was a true honor. Advisory HQ took notice of our firm for having “one of the most comprehensive and dynamic philosophies,” which, they wrote, makes our firm “an excellent choice for clients that want a holistic approach to their financial health.” Advisory HQ also noted our “strong emphasis on empowering clients to improve their financial literacy.” As they put it:


“Not many Chicago financial advisors provide such a diverse array of resources to their clients, making FourStar stand out as a top Chicago financial planner.”

This award was completely unsolicited. Advisory HQ’s ranking articles are always 100% independently researched and written. In fact, most firms do not even realize that they are being considered by Advisory HQ until after their ranking publication has been completed and published to the public.

Want to Come Aboard for 2019?

Thanks for revisiting 2018 with us. After that trip down memory lane, it’s time to refocus on the future. So, here’s to 2019 and beyond!

Are you an experienced advisor looking to make a switch in the New Year? The FourStar team is growing in the year ahead. As an advisor, you should have the freedom to deliver the services you want, charge whatever you feel is fair, hire who you want and when you want, and build your brand without the compliance handcuffs that large companies demand. At FourStar, we believe in independence, freedom, and flexibility for advisors. We’ll let you build your brand your way, while also giving you access to the resources that make our company stand out – including our cutting edge technology suite, our nationally recognized marketing efforts, and our ever-changing series of events and speakers.

And for investors, FourStar is here to be your advocate, your guide, and your ally. We believe success in achieving important financial goals starts with a comprehensive wealth strategy. We will help you define what is most important to you and then formulate the strategies that are suited for your needs, whether you are accumulating wealth or investing for income, solidifying your retirement plan or devising a distribution approach that meets your lifestyle and legacy goals.

Want to share your favorite reflection on 2018? Ready to start planning for 2019? Drop us a line today to get the conversation started, or give us a call at 312-667-1750.

 

GENERAL ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER

This article is provided by FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC (“FourStar” or the “Firm”) for general informational purposes only.  This information is not considered to be an offer to buy or sell any securities or other investments. Investing involves the risk of loss and investors should be prepared to bear potential losses. Investments should only be made after thorough review with your investment advisor, considering all factors including personal goals, needs and risk tolerance. FourStar is a SEC registered investment adviser that maintains a principal place of business in the State of Illinois. The Firm may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for a corresponding exemption from such requirements. For information about FourStar’s registration status and business operations, please consult the Firm’s Form ADV disclosure documents, the most recent versions of which are available on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/