Don focuses on high income and high net worth clients who have complex financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, and portfolio management needs. Don’s goal is to generate value for his clients by helping to reduce uncertainty associated with planning for the future. He has been involved in the financial services industry since 1980. Don began his career with a 16-year stint at Northern Trust Company, ultimately managing over $8 billion in various mutual funds and as division manager, helped manage the risk of a $50 billion investment management department. He brings an evidence-based, risk management oriented, institutional perspective to investment management and a goals-based, common-sense approach to financial planning. As a CPA, Don also focuses significant effort on minimizing the tax drag on clients’ financial plans. Don founded D3 Financial Counselors and operated the firm until it joined with Savant in 2018.
Don earned a bachelor of science degree with a triple major in finance, operations management, and human resources management and a minor in economics from Illinois State University. He earned a master of business administration degree in marketing from DePaul University.
Don is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and attained the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential, issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning® (CSEP). He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Planning Association. Don is a board member for The Chicago Lighthouse and taught financial planning at DePaul University and portfolio management at Lewis University. He and his family support two churches in Downers Grove and Santa Fe. He serves on the board or on committees for two condo associations.
Don and his wife Cindi have five children and split their time between Santa Fe and Chicago. Don and Cindi enjoy outdoor activities, especially backpacking, fishing, hiking, bike riding, skiing, and traveling to new places. New experiences keep Don young.