For over two decades, Eric Van Ness, MBA, CFP®, has helped pre-retired and newly retired couples across the western Chicago suburbs turn a lifetime of hard work into a retirement they can actually enjoy. Most of the people Eric works with are in their late 50s to early 70s, still juggling careers, 401(k)s, and questions that only get louder as retirement gets closer:

• When can we actually stop working?
• Will our savings last?
• How do we keep the IRS from taking more than its share?

Some come to Eric after a job change or layoff, with retirement accounts scattered across old employers and no clear picture of how it all fits together. Others are analytical, dual-income couples who've done everything "right" but still feel unsure about taxes, Social Security timing, or how to turn savings into steady income.

The goal is to replace complexity with a clear, coordinated plan. As a CFP® professional and MBA, Eric offers direct, personal access — no call centers, no junior advisor hand-offs — and an approach built on education rather than sales pressure. This means you get straightforward answers about fees, transparent guidance grounded in your actual numbers, and a plan that connects income, tax efficiency, Social Security, and legacy planning into one strategy instead of a pile of disconnected accounts and statements.

If you're within a few years of retirement — or already there — and want a plan you can understand and trust, let's talk about what your retirement can look like.