I am the managing member of Bender Financial Services, LLC, a firm with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.
I started my career with a small accounting firm in the northern suburbs of Chicago, concentrating mainly on tax preparation. I joined GCG in 1992, I developed a large insurance and investment practice throughout the country. My business has grown by concentrating on small business owners and physicians in the Chicagoland area.
In 2020 my brother Shelly and I opened Bender Financial Solutions. We specialize in insurance and investment strategies, and tax strategies for small to mid-size businesses. I help create benefits packages that include disability, life insurance, pension, profit sharing, 401(k) plans and mutual fund strategies.
I received my B.S. from Illinois State University in 1984 and completed the CPA exam in 1987. I received the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation in 2001 and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 2003. I am a Qualifying Member of the MDRT*, and a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC . I am also a member of both the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
I live in Buffalo Grove, IL with my wife. We have 2 grown children.
*Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an independent membership organization of life insurance and financial service professionals. Membership levels are based on commissions, premiums, or fees generated within a year from investment and insurance products. Members must apply annually and pay a fee. Members must be members in good standing of a Professional Association which has met the following criteria: in existence at least 2 years, have 100 or more members, must be a nonprofit organization, must have a code of ethics and an effective means of dealing with breaches of its code. Members must also adhere to the MDRT Code of Ethics.