
Your Personal CFO
Most financial advisors manage investments.

CFP® Professional

Fee-Only Fiduciary

Independent RIA

Charles Schwab Custodian

Serving Clients Nationwide

WGN Featured Advisor
Meet Your Advisor
Meet Tom Koleski, CFP®
“I started Cedar Capital because when my own father needed financial advice, I couldn’t think of anyone I trusted enough to recommend.”
Tom Koleski, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Cedar Capital Advisors, brings more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and investment management. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Fee-Only Fiduciary, Tom helps individuals and families make confident decisions about retirement, investments, taxes, and the other financial decisions that come with life.
His approach is simple: understand the whole picture, provide straightforward advice, and be the person clients can call whenever an important financial decision comes up.
Our clients come to us for highly personalized, in-depth financial planning. We will spend time with you to find out what you want your assets to accomplish and then develop a full plan around those goals. We consider many aspects of your financial life, not just one piece of the puzzle. Some examples of areas we will examine are portfolio asset allocation, investing for tax efficiency, social security strategies, and analyzing cash flow for retirement. Whether it’s related to an asset class, fees, or an investment vehicle, my true passion is educating the client and helping them reach their goals. My clients range from first time investors to experienced high net-worth individuals. As fee-only fiduciaries, we are bound by the law to act solely in the best interests of our clients. We believe that transparency is a key pillar to building long lasting relationships with clients. Our goal is to become an essential partner to our clients by helping them pursue their vision of financial success through detailed, independent advice.
Before joining Cedar Capital Advisors, Tom was a Sales Director for the Institutional Group at Morningstar, helping institutional consultants with manager due diligence and asset allocation. Tom also served as Vice President with Claymore Securities. Tom earned a BA from the University of Dayton and lives in Glen Ellyn with his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Keira, their two sons Tommy & Casey and their two Boston Terriers Maisy & Mikey. Tom enjoys spending time with his family coaching kids’ sports, cooking & wine, golf, running, music, and playing guitar.
Tom Koleski, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Cedar Capital Advisors, brings more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and investment management. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Fee-Only Fiduciary, Tom helps individuals and families make confident decisions about retirement, investments, taxes, and the other financial decisions that come with life.
His approach is simple: understand the whole picture, provide straightforward advice, and be the person clients can call whenever an important financial decision comes up.
Throughout his career, Tom has worked closely with successful professionals, business owners, and retirees to help them build, preserve, and transition wealth with confidence. He believes financial planning should go beyond investments, serving as a framework for making informed decisions across every aspect of a family’s financial life.
Tom founded Cedar Capital Advisors with a vision of creating the trusted advisory relationship he wished his own family had access to: independent, transparent, and focused on long-term outcomes rather than product recommendations. He is known for simplifying complex financial issues and helping clients make confident decisions with clarity and purpose.
Tom has been featured on WGN as a trusted voice on financial planning. He lives in the Glen Ellyn with his family and enjoys spending time with family and friends, supporting local organizations, and helping clients build financial confidence for generations to come.
— What's On Your Mind —
The Questions We Help Answer
01
Can I retire?
02
Am I paying too much tax?
03
Should I do Roth conversions?
04
When should I take Social Security?
05
Can I afford the lake house?
06
How do I sell my business?
07
Should I help my kids financially?
08
Am I going to be okay?
09
When can I stop worrying about money?
Have a different question? Let's talk.
— Who We Help —
We work best with people who:
- Retired or within 10 years of retirement
- Typically have $1m+ invested
- Want comprehensive advice — not product sales
- Value having one trusted advisor coordinating everything
— How We Help —
Outcomes, not products.
We’re not driven by products. We’re driven by helping clients achieve the outcomes that matter most.
Planning Your Retirement
Will your money last?
Reducing Lifetime Taxes
Strategies that may help you keep more of what you've earned.
Making Work Optional
Know exactly when you can retire.
Coordinating Every Financial Decision
Your investments, taxes, insurance and estate plan working together.
— How We Work —
Our Process
01
Discovery Meeting
We learn about your goals, concerns, priorities, and complete financial picture.
02
Build Your Financial Blueprint
We develop a comprehensive plan tailored to your unique circumstances.
03
Implement
Together we put the plan into action — investments, taxes, insurance and estate.
04
Ongoing Personal CFO Relationship
Life changes. We coordinate every financial decision as your trusted advisor.
— Why Cedar Capital —
Why Clients Choose Cedar Capital.
Not because of investment returns. Because they want a trusted advisor who picks up the phone, simplifies the complex, and stays with them for the long haul.
This is the guy who’s going to help you sleep better.
One trusted advisor
A clear retirement roadmap
Tax-aware planning
Honest advice
Someone who answers the phone
A long-term relationship
— A Plan Built For You —
Preserve and grow your financial legacy.

Brian Tumpane
Chief Operating Officer
— Leadership —
Meet Brian Tumpane, Chief Operating Officer.
As Chief Operating Officer of Cedar Capital Advisors, Brian Tumpane brings more than two decades of experience in financial planning, analysis, and operational leadership. A holder of the Series 65 and currently progressing through the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, Brian blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to operational excellence.
Throughout his 20-year career, Brian has supported both corporations and entrepreneurs in areas such as investment analysis, CFO-level financial modeling, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
In his role as COO, Brian oversees:
- Internal systems, workflows, and compliance-aligned processes
- Technology, vendor relationships, and operational infrastructure
- Advisor support with research, planning tools, and resources
- Financial models, budgeting, and forecasting that support strategy
- Smooth client onboarding, reporting, and service delivery
- Direct client assistance with business, tax, and planning questions
Brian earned his B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Dayton. He lives in Glen Ellyn with his wife, Melissa, and their three children — Owen, Henry, and Violet. Outside of work, Brian is an avid Chicago sports fan and enjoys time with family, sports, and travel.