PAST EVENTS

Wine & Wealth: Expert Panel

'ReInventing: Life After Work' An Expert Panel's Guide to Getting Fiscally Fit

Past Events:

Thursday, August 1, 2019 | Reserve 22, Glen Ellyn
Wines Featured: Wines ‘Around the World’

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 | Barrington’s White House
Wines Featured: Wines of the Pacific Northwest

Topics covered:

A comprehensive financial plan
Portfolio Investing/Portfolio Risk
Difference between wills and trusts
Probate
Estate Planning/Estate Taxes

The panel included Cedar Capital’s Head of Financial Planning, Tom Koleski, Cedar Capital’s Chief Investment Officer, Neil Peplinski, along with Wojcicki & Associates, President & Founder, Christopher Wojcicki and Associate Attorney & Estate Planning expert, Donald Higgins.

Thomas Koleski, AIF®
Head of Financial Planning

Cedar Capital

Tom Koleski is Cedar Capital’s Head of Financial Planning. With over 14 years experience helping people reach their financial goals. His clients range from first-time investors to experienced high net-worth individuals. Whether you are investing for the first time or have an existing portfolio, Tom believes there is always more to know in the world of investing.

Neil Peplinski, CFA

Chief Investment Officer

Cedar Capital

Neil Peplinski is Cedar Capital’s Chief Investment Officer and the architect of the firm’s Market Advantage Portfolio framework (MAPs) . With over 20 years of professional experience, Neil is responsible for research, investment analysis and the development/oversight of new investment strategies and models.

Prior to co-founding Cedar Capital, a partner company of Good Harbor Financial, he served as portfolio manager and quantitative analyst for Allstate Investments. Neil earned a MBA with High Honors from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a MSEE from the University of Michigan and a BSEE from The Michigan Technological University where he graduated summa cum laude.

Christopher Wojcicki, CPA,JD, L.LM

President & Founder

Wojcicki & Associates

Christopher Wojcicki has been practicing tax and accounting since 1989. He received a B.S.C. in Accounting from DePaul University and a Juris Doctor and LL.M. from John Marshall Law School. Chris began the early years of his public accounting career with RSM McGladrey, one of the largest accounting firms in the world. Soon after, Chris shifted his career to a small public accounting firm in Park Ridge where he went on to become a partner until 2012. Chris’s current career in accounting specializes in management consulting, business development, taxation, financial reporting and transactions with an emphasis in the real estate sector as well as manufacturing, technology, entertainment, hospitality, retail and service enterprises.

Chris focuses his legal services toward the individual and business clients he serves handling transactional, estate and probate, real estate and contract law matters.Chris is a member of the Union League Club of Chicago. Chris is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association and while pursuing his CFE, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Chris is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker.

Donald Higgins, JD

Associate Attorney

Wojcicki & Associates

Donald Higgins concentrates his focus mainly in the area of estate planning and administration, including wills, trusts, and probate matters. He also has experience in corporate and small business transactions. Don has been practicing law since 2015. He received his B.A. in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University in 2012 and his Juris Doctor from the Valparaiso University School of Law in 2015.

Don began his legal career with The Stuart Legacy Alliance, LLC after admittance to the Bar in the State of Illinois. By utilizing an estate planning approach that focuses on growing wealth and sustaining success over time, Don’s goal is to help his clients achieve their personal goals and leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones.

Michael Stuart, JD, CPA

Attorney

Wojcicki & Associates

Michael is a widely recognized attorney and CPA who has been a trusted advisor to his clients in the areas of business law, asset protection, and trust & estate planning. Among financial advisors and clients, he has earned the reputation as a responsible, reliable, and thoughtful advocate. His practice has enjoyed significant growth by maintaining his philosophy of continually educating clients about their options while building strong relationships.

Michael has been practicing law since 1981 and has served on the estate planning and probate sections of several bar associations, has spoken on estate planning issues to various public groups, and has appeared on Channel 23’s Accountability financial forum. He has written and published articles on corporate, individual, and estate tax planning.

As the founder and visionary of a thriving law firm, The Stuart Legacy Alliance, LLC (SLA), he has developed a process that professionals and business owners can use to guide them through the complex issues they face during transition. It is SLA’s goal to help them achieve their personal and financial goals and attain peace of mind.

As a holistic estate planner, Michael works in concert with his clients’ financial advisors, CPAs, insurance advisors, and other financial and legal professionals to ensure that all plans developed truly have the clients’ goals and objectives in mind.

If you’d like more information about future events, please contact Thomas Koleski at [email protected].

*Wojcicki & Associates is not affiliated with Cedar Capital, LLC or Cedar Capital Advisors