Julie Bucaro is a Wealth Advisor and Client Service Director. She is responsible for managing client relationships, providing financial and investment advice, and acts as the client’s personal Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

In addition to her role as Wealth Advisor, Julie is the Client Service Director. Julie dedicates a large portion of her time ensuring the firm is providing an exceptional client experience and engaging and developing our professionals in order to provide that outstanding service.

She is especially passionate about giving recently widowed women peace of mind about their financial security at a time when they are most fragile. “By helping them understand how their assets line up with their lifestyle, I can give them confidence that they are going to be okay or help create a plan so they will be okay. Then I help them simplify their life by creating a more streamlined investment strategy while coordinating their estate planning wishes and being mindful of taxes."

Julie earned the Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation, giving her a strong foundation in estate planning and trusts that she uses to help families interpret estate documents and create a plan to reduce their taxable estate. She is also mindful of how advanced estate planning techniques can add complexity and when they are and are not appropriate depending on the family and the situation.

Estate planning and trusts also are crucial for families with special needs individuals, many of whom will require financial support for their entire lives. Drawing on her background working with these types of families as a financial planner with Ehlert Financial Group, Julie reviews special needs trusts and helps families with strategies to fund them appropriately.

As a mother of three, Julie understands her clients’ desire to provide for all of the families’ needs, including education. She advises clients on choosing a savings and investment plan that will accomplish their goals, while also demonstrating the effect of that educational investment on the client’s own retirement plans.

Julie first entered the financial planning world working with high-net-worth active traders, and she quickly realized that investments are a small part of true financial planning. “When someone asked an investment question, it was difficult to give good advice without knowing their full situation.” She joined CI BDF because the firm offers the opportunity to provide comprehensive, financial planning that is free from conflicts of interest.

Julie is an active and well-respected member of the financial planning community.  CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice Management published her article, “Smart Financial Decisions While Grieving,” in 2009. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), and member of the Financial Planning Association, she regularly attends continuing education programs on estate planning, special needs planning, and other wealth management topics. Julie is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and holds a BA in Economics and Biology from Washington University in St. Louis.

If you’re looking for a financial advisor to guide you through the important events in your family’s life, call Julie.