Finding the best professionals to help you through life’s challenges? There’s an investment worth making. Here’s a quick look at a few of our area’s top experts who can help with your family’s financial needs.
Your personal finances can be a source of pride or pain, and it’s entirely up to you which route you’ll take.
Given the right combination of smart choices and good timing, you can put your money to work in many ways. It can fuel your hopes and dreams, sustain your lifestyle, help you prepare for retirement, and even provide a legacy for others when you’re long gone.
In these tumultuous times, it’s easy to fret about your financial picture and how you’ll support your family when conditions are constantly changing.
It’s important to know you’re not alone. No matter where you are in life, or in your financial journey, you can trust in the experts now, more than ever, to help you reach your goals.
Trust in your banker to help you save money and manage your debt. Chances are, that banker can also help you to finance big purchases and strategically stretch your cash in ways that will ensure you make it through hard times.
When you’re feeling stable, seek an investment advisor to help you grow your nest egg for the future.
And rely on your insurance agent to help you protect all of the assets you’ve worked so hard to build.
In this year’s guide to financial services professionals, we introduce you to some of our region’s experts who stand at the ready to provide their expertise in financial and related matters. These experts represent banks and lenders, insurance agencies, trust and investment specialists, and mortgage providers, all with strong ties to our region.
What separates them from the rest of their stock is their determination to help you, the customer, to pursue your goals with confidence.
Associated Bank
Main Office: 612 N. Main St., Rockford
Rockford: 4400 Center Terrace • 3134A 11th St. • 1870 N. Perryville Road
Beloit: 602 Henry Ave. • Machesney Park: 622 Roosevelt Road
(815) 987-3500 • associatedbank.com
Founded in 1861, the Associated Bank of Rockford Community Market has one of the largest deposit bases of any financial institution in the greater Rockford area. Our colleagues, operating from six branches in the region, provide a complete range of financial products and services.
They include consumer banking, commercial and business lending, residential mortgage and home equity lending, private banking, trust, retirement plan services and asset management, as well as employee benefits, business insurance and human resource consulting. Our parent company, Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) is one of the top 50 publicly traded U.S bank holding companies.
Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise offering financial services in more than 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and commercial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.
Charles Schwab
Rockford: 801 N. Perryville Road, (815) 209-0055, schwab.com/rockford
At Charles Schwab, we believe in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow.
We have a history of challenging status quo in our industry, innovating in ways that benefit investors, advisors and employers who serve them, and championing our clients’ goals with passion and integrity.
Schwab’s independent branch in Rockford opened in 2013 and has since been offering local residents access to a range of investing and wealth management guidance, products and services.
The branch is led by independent branch leader Mark Gerard, a financial services professional with 20 years of experience in financial planning and portfolio design.
Clients can also meet with financial consultant Bill Osborne, also a 20-year veteran of the investment management industry. For financial planning discussion and personalized portfolio consultations.
Cornerstone Credit Union
Freeport: 550 W. Meadows Dr. • Sterling: 615 W. Third St.
South Beloit: 640 Blackhawk Blvd.
(800) 711-3277, cornerstonecu.org
Did you know that 96% of people favor their credit union over a bank?* It’s easy to figure out why. Credit unions serve you, not investors, which means lower fees and better rates. We offer all of the products and services as banks, but with you and your financial well-being in mind.
Your choice of a financial institution is crucial to making the best financial decisions. Serving the northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin area, Cornerstone Credit Union offers affordable loans and products to our members, including state-of-the-art digital conveniences. These include online banking, mobile banking, mobile check deposit, online loan payment, online loan application and more. If you prefer in-person interaction, we’re here for you in Freeport, South Beloit and Sterling.
Another exclusive service we offer is Shared Branching. As a credit union member, you can visit any one of the 5,000-plus branches in this network when you are out of town.
Cornerstone Credit Union has been helping our members succeed since 1939. The credit union slogan, “People Helping People,” is demonstrated by partnering with area nonprofit organizations including Salvation Army, local food banks, Boys & Girls Club, and the list goes on. Making a positive impact in the communities we serve is central to our core philosophy.
CoyleKiley Insurance Agency
Rockford: 810 N. Alpine Road, (815) 987-2170
CoyleKiley Insurance Agency is an independent agency specializing in business insurance, personal insurance, employee benefits and life insurance solutions. This all-encompassing agency has been recognized as an industry leader and trusted partner in creating customized solutions to meet clients’ long-term insurance and financial needs.
Rooted in the Rockford area for nearly 60 years, CoyleKiley excels through building strong, lasting relationships and providing superior client service with integrity and expertise. Our agents remain committed and engaged in the communities we call home.
CoyleKiley has been built on quality service. As your consultants, our advisors will review your priorities to provide a customized plan and strive to keep you informed and compliant in an ever-changing insurance and financial market.
CoyleKiley Insurance Agency was formed on May 1, 2015, with the internal perpetuation of Coyle-Varland Insurance Agency, meaning our firm is built on 60 years of industry knowledge, integrity and expertise. Many of our employees have been in the insurance and investment fields for more than 30 years.
Edward Jones | Mike Donnelly
Rockford: 2406 Charles St., Ste 1-A, (815) 398-7759
As an Edward Jones financial advisor, I believe it’s important to understand what you’re working toward before you invest your money. It’s also important to understand the level of risk you’re comfortable accepting when investing, so we can balance it with the steps necessary to reach your long-term goals.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren, or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones you care for the most, we can work together to develop specific strategies to help you achieve your goals. We can also monitor your progress to help make sure you stay on track or determine if any adjustments need to be made. Throughout it all, we’re dedicated to providing you top-notch client service.
Thousands of people working with advanced technology support our office so we can help ensure you receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to work with your attorney, accountant and other trusted professionals to deliver a comprehensive strategy that leverages everyone’s expertise.
Working together, we can help you develop a complete, tailored strategy to help you achieve your financial goals.
Flanders Insurance Agency
1947 N. Lyford Road, Rockford, (815) 226-1444, flandersinsurance.com
Flanders Insurance Agency has been serving the surrounding community since 1927. It’s an independent agency that offers competitive coverage for both commercial and personal clients. The agency offers a full spectrum of coverage for its clients, including auto, homeowner, health, flood, life and business insurance plans, as well as umbrella policies that offer robust liability coverage. Many of the top-rated companies that Flanders Insurance works with are trusted brands that have been named to the Ward’s Top 50, an industry list that annually names the top-performing insurance agencies in the United States.
“We’re licensed in multiple states,” says Owen Costanza, owner of Flanders Insurance Agency. “We work with trusted companies like Auto Owners, Travelers, The Hartford, Chub and Progressive.”
Costanza, who has 28 years of industry experience, took the helm in 2010 and has continued to honor the company’s community-driven roots.
“We love to sponsor Little League teams and youth sports,” says Costanza. “We also support local Girl Scout organizations and school initiatives. We have a whole wall full of photos in our office.”
Flanders Insurance Agency’s wide variety of insurance options, trusted carriers and personalized service continue to make the company a trusted fixture in the Rockford region.
“You never know how important insurance can be until you need it,” says Costanza. “We have real, local and licensed agents who handle your claim.”
Rockford Community Bank
Rockford: 1825 N. Perryville Road, rockfordbank.com
We’re your friends. We’re your neighbors. As a part of the larger Wintrust Community Bank family, we were built in this area, for this area. We work hard to be an asset to the people and communities we serve: to get to know you and your needs in order to offer the best banking products and even better service.
If you’re going to choose a new bank, there had better be a good reason. So, let us give you a few reasons for choosing to bank with us:
Your neighborhood is our neighborhood. Most of our bankers don’t just work in this community; they live here, too. You’ll see them in the bank, on the soccer field, in the store and at school pick-up. Your concerns and dreams for your neighborhood are theirs as well.
We are the home of Total Access Checking. That means no monthly fees, no minimum balance fees, no ATM fees at any ATM in the U.S. We really mean it. We actually reimburse you for the fees you acquire from other ATMs outside the network.
All your money stays here. We’re not headquartered halfway across the country. We lend here, work here and invest here.
We are your local bank for business. Across our family of community banks, more than 60,000 local businesses count on us. Many are the businesses you frequent day-to-day.
We offer programs other banks don’t. We believe in going above and beyond great banking solutions to offer things you won’t find at other banks, like FAME, Advantage Illinois, Preferred SBA Lender, our Junior Savers Club® (to teach kids that saving money can be fun) or our Platinum Adventures® Club (a travel and social club for those 50 or better).
We’re more than just a bank. We don’t just do one thing. We are your one-stop-shop for any financial need. Our business loans are underwritten in Rockford. Our mortgage company is a leading mortgage lender that can customize loans. Our wealth management and trust companies are second to none. Whatever financial service you’re looking for, we’ve got a team of experts to help.
Trust & Investments
Inside Rockford Community Bank, you have local wealth management and trust advisors. Wintrust Wealth Management and The Chicago Trust Company provide all of the expertise, products and technology of a national wealth manager/trust advisor and pair it with the highly personal service and attention of a boutique firm that strives to put the clients’ best interests first.
INVESTMENTS: Alex Tabb, of Wintrust Investments, brings to bear a broad knowledge base to provide brokerage, insurance, and investment planning services. He can use the Envision® process to understand clients’ financial picture and then work closely with them to develop a tailored plan to meet their individual goals.
• Retirement, Insurance and Education Planning
• Investment Advice
• Brokerage and Advisory Services
• Insurance
TRUST: Our Vice President and Trust Officer, Ralph Taylor of The Chicago Trust Company, offers a full range of administrative and fiduciary trust services and serves as corporate trustee or successor trustee for many clients. He works in conjunction with attorneys, accountants and financial professionals to create trust solutions to serve clients’ wealth preservation and transfer needs.
• Corporate Trustee Services
• Personal Trust Administration
• Estate Planning Review
• Wealth Management Services
• Agency Services.
Stillman Bank
Byron: 608 W. Blackhawk Dr. • Oregon: 1445 Ill. Rt. 2
Rochelle: 455 W. Ill. Rt. 38 • Rockford: 8492 E. State St.
Roscoe: 5250 Bridge St. • Stillman Valley: 101 E. Main St.
Serving the area since 1882, Stillman Bank has spent 140 years forging a stable financial institution that is dedicated to the customers and communities it serves. With locations throughout Ogle and Winnebago counties, Stillman Bank still remains locally owned and headquartered right here in the Rock River Valley. Stillman Bank prides itself on providing state-of-the-art technologies blended with local decision-making by skilled professionals in order to deliver financial products and services that conveniently fit your lifestyle.
In addition to the products and services it offers, Stillman Bank provides support to numerous community entities with monetary donations, resources and volunteer hours. As your neighbors, they are truly living, working and investing in the betterment of our local communities.
Contact any one of their six full-service office locations and let them start earning your trust today.
Trust Services
Managing your assets, especially in today’s financial marketplace, requires knowledge and expertise. Stillman Trust & Wealth Management takes pride in offering clients innovative financial solutions to help build and protect their assets. Stillman Bank is proud to offer a full range of trust and investment services including Trust Administration, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Investment Management and more.
Stillman Bank is a local community bank, so its team works one-on-one, face-to-face with you to determine your financial goals and develop a strategy that is customized to your unique situation.
They offer no-obligation, complimentary consultations at any of their six locations across the Rock River Valley. And as a fiduciary, they provide comprehensive, creative and personalized solutions while always acting in their customers’ best interests.
Prairie Trust
Waukesha: N16W23321 Stone Ridge Dr., (262) 522-7400
Madison: 4600 American Pkwy., Ste. 204, (608) 535-3040
waukeshabank.com
Prairie Trust, a division of Waukesha State Bank, is a trust services provider with unrivaled expertise in trust administration. They serve clients throughout the U.S. and are privately owned, giving them the independence and freedom to do the right thing for the right reason.
In addition, Prairie Trust works closely with other financial professionals, including attorneys and financial advisors. The advisor-friendly business model means they regularly support financial advisors as they nurture and grow relationships with clients.
Prairie Trust’s expertise is demonstrated by its ability to handle difficult situations, including special needs trusts, trusts subject to family friction (even with active litigation), and estate settlements with complex requirements.
The team includes attorneys, Certified Financial Planners, Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisors, licensed Certified Public Accountants, MBAs and more. Just as importantly, because direct personal contact never goes out of style, Prairie Trust’s approach is responsive, active and accessible.