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Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

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Client assets under management

$220,000,000

Clients

1,100

9% high-net-worth

Advisors

5

of 11 employees

Firm type

Team

5-30 advisors or >$500M in AUM

Clients per advisor

220

Very High

Average account size

$200,000

About

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. (CIAC) serves retail investors, including both individual (non‑HNW) clients and high‑net‑worth individuals, offering ongoing portfolio management through its Active Asset Management Program (AAMP), one‑time portfolio reviews, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm reports overseeing assets for about 1,100 client relationships supported by a five‑advisor team.

CIAC implements client strategies primarily through proprietary model portfolios that span aggressive to conservative allocations and typically operates with discretionary trading authority, conducting at least annual account reviews. Financial planning deliverables range from full written plans to shorter reports or checklists; the firm states these deliverables are not updated after delivery unless the client requests and pays for a review or update.

Some CIAC financial professionals are dually registered as registered representatives of J.W. Cole, an independent broker‑dealer, and others are independently licensed to sell insurance, enabling separate commission‑based brokerage or insurance transactions that are disclosed as distinct from the firm’s advisory services. The firm also offers educational workshops on topics such as retirement strategies, risk management, investments, and estate planning, and it operates with an unusually high client‑to‑advisor ratio (roughly 220 clients per advisor), indicating a more standardized, scalable service model in addition to personalized advisory engagements.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Educational seminars or workshops

Expertise

Active portfolio management

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Fee options

Fixed

$100 - $2,500 for initial consultation/portfolio review, financial planning services, and/or educational workshops

Percentage

1.00% - 2.00% annually for discretionary accounts; 0.50% - 1.00% annually for non-discretionary accounts

Project-based

$150 - $250 per hour

Main office location

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

1601 E. Main Street, Suite 1 C

St. Charles IL 60174, United States

Number of offices

3

Most active in

Florida · Illinois · Michigan · Texas

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

John D

Series 63, Series 65

St. Charles, IL

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

John Davis is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Chicago Investment Advisory Council and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since the late 1990s and early 2000s, respectively. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of the Sunset Harbour Yacht Club and is a racecar driving instructor at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail clients, including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops through a team of five advisors. The firm employs proprietary model portfolios with discretionary trading authority and manages approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Ronny M

Series 63, Series 65

St. Charles, IL

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

Ronny Mark is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Uhlmann Price Securities since 2013 and has been involved with Price Group since 1994. Outside of his advisory roles, Mark serves as President of Price Futures Group, where he oversees hedging activities. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, providing portfolio management through proprietary model portfolios, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm supports about 1,100 client relationships with a five-advisor team.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Michael F

Series 66

St. Charles, IL

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

Michael Fulkerson is a financial advisor with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 23 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with J.W. Cole Financial since 2011 and has worked with various insurance carriers through W & R Insurance Agencies since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a substitute teacher in local school districts on a part-time basis. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail investors, including both individual and high-net-worth clients, providing ongoing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm uses proprietary model portfolios and offers a scalable service model supported by a five-advisor team managing approximately 1,100 client relationships.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

John M

Series 63, Series 65

St. Charles, IL

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

John Michalak is a financial advisor at Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Chicago Investment Advisory Council and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since 2011. He also conducts fixed insurance and annuity sales through various insurance carriers. Chicago Investment Advisory Council serves retail and high-net-worth clients by providing ongoing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm uses proprietary model portfolios and primarily operates under discretionary trading authority.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Bradley S

Series 66

St. Charles, IL

Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc.

Bradley Saurbaugh is a financial associate with Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. since 2011 and has been involved with various insurance carriers through W&R Insurance Agencies since 2007. In addition to his advisory role, he is also engaged in insurance sales. Chicago Investment Advisory Council, Inc. serves retail investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops. The firm uses proprietary model portfolios and operates with discretionary trading authority, managing about 1,100 client relationships through a five-advisor team.

Active portfolio management
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