Building Towards Wealth

Helping Gen X & Gen Y Business Owners Make Smart Financial Decisions

President

Strategic Financial Group

Chicago-based wealth management practice providing financial planning to business owners.

Financial Planner & Wealth Advisor

Christopher Clepp Financial Solutions

Providing financial solutions to the Chicagoland area. We specialize in two areas.
1)Helping small business owners plan for the protection and growth of their business. 

2)Helping high-income earners, above find unique ways to protect and grow their income for retirement.

Owner

ASUREA

Area Manager, representing 60 Life, Disability, Mortgage Protection, Annuity and LTC carriers

Chicago Area Manager

Integrated Financial and Insurance Strategies

Opened and developed 4 insurance offices across the country

Specialized in insurance solutions for high-income earners and business owners.

Partner and Business Insurance Specialist

Promark Financial

Sales Manager

Marriott

Phone sales for their Vacation Club division

Team Leader

I am a native Chicagoan, father of 3 wonderful children, and a 20 year veteran of the financial services industry. 

-I am passionate about working with business owners who would benefit from having an objective partner in their financial lives.   
-I am trying to help my clients realize their best selves. We use financial tools to help them achieve the freedom, control, or time that they desire. 

How do I know if I'm a good fit?

-Business Owners between 35&55 who want to have the ability to make work optional

-Household income of at least $150,000

-People who want to delegate so you can spend more time with the people they care about and doing the things they love


What is the benefit of working with Chris?

-Create an easily understandable 1 page financial gameplan so you always know what the next steps we will take are

-Knowing there will be a day when you can make work optional so you can have a defined goal to work towards.

-Optimize insurance policies to maximize coverage and reduce costs.

-Proactive tax planning to minimize your lifetime tax bill

-Provide financial partnership and help solve your financial problems so you can focus on the most important things in life

 I love working out, cooking, bourbon and cigars. 


Please note: While I appreciate endorsements of my services, I cannot accept endorsements or recommendations on my LinkedIn profile, as these are considered a prohibited testimonial under SEC regulations.

I can be reached at (312) 850 3600 x16 or you can schedule at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=12813504&appointmentType=1941784

Securities offered through The O.N. Equity Sales Company, Member FINRA/SIPC, One Financial Way, Cincinnati, OH 45242 513.794.6794. Investment Advisory Services offered through the O.N. Investment Management Company

Christopher Clepp

Financial planning has a branding problem.

It’s been boxed into “retirement.”

But the real purpose is far more practical: it’s a roadmap to autonomy.

Autonomy means having the flexibility to walk away from a job that no longer serves you, pivot when your industry evolves, or say yes to opportunities without wondering whether the numbers will break your life.

If you’re a high earner who thinks planning doesn’t apply to you because retirement feels distant, ask yourself:

How stable is your field in the coming AI wave?

And if the landscape shifts, are you prepared—or exposed?

Planning isn’t about ending your career. It’s about protecting your ability to shape it.

President @ Building Towards Wealth | ChFC, Financial Planning, Wealth Management

If your business is thinking about growth, whether that means expanding into new regions, attracting international talent, or building a stronger global strategy, this upcoming session from Carl Kutsmode is worth your time.

Carl’s been advising executives and ownership teams on how to align vision, operations, and talent strategy for years. This webinar brings together those lessons in a practical way for leaders navigating expansion or transformation.

Plus, you get legal powerhouse SohYoon Atac and Togai Atac giving their great legal insights.

I’d highly encourage any founders, business owners, or growth-minded professionals in my network to register.

If you are an executive in a global company trying to make sense out your 2026 strategic plan for doing business in the US, then be sure to register for my upcoming webinar on Nov 12th below!  Registration link and video preview of our panel discussion topics are in the comments below. #globalbusiness #strategicplanning #usabusiness #ustariffs #usimmigration #b2b-vip #talentrise #praxialliance #praxi #aleroninc

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!

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Honoring all that have served 🇺🇸


#financialplanning #businessowner #buildingwealth #financialplanner #wealth #smallbusiness #genx #geny #buildingtowardswealth #henrys #abundantwealthprocess #stability #financialfulfillment #highearner #strategicfinancialplanning

A lot of high earners dismiss financial planning because they’re not thinking about retirement yet.

Here’s the truth:
Financial planning isn’t about retirement.

It’s about autonomy—having the ability to choose your next step without being handcuffed to your paycheck.

And with AI transforming industries faster than most people realize, autonomy matters more than ever. Even strong careers are facing uncertainty, and the professionals with a plan will be the ones who stay in control.

You don’t plan because things will go wrong.

You plan so that if the path changes, you’re not caught off guard.

If you value control, clarity, and optionality, you’re the exact person financial planning is built for.

Most people hear “financial planning” and immediately jump to “retirement planning.”
 
But retirement is only one version of the real goal: autonomy.
It’s about having control over your decisions so your career, your family, and your life aren’t dictated solely by money.
 
If you’re a high earner who says, “Financial planning isn’t for me—I’m nowhere near retiring,” it’s worth asking a different question:
 
Do I want to be able to make decisions without fear?
 
We’re heading into an era where AI is reshaping entire industries. Even talented, high-earning professionals may see their roles shift faster than expected.
 
Having a plan isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for a future that might look different from the one you assumed—and keeping your options open if the path changes.
 
Autonomy > retirement. Always.

🚀 Are You Running a Business or Just Owning a Job? 🚀

Many business owners get stuck working in their business instead of on it. They’re buried in daily tasks, leaving no time to grow or strategize.

The Fix?
✅ Create systems and processes to delegate effectively.
✅ Focus on building a scalable asset—not just income.
✅ Plan for the future with an exit strategy that works for you.

Pro Tip: Stop being the bottleneck in your business. Build systems that let your business run even when you’re not there.

https://lnkd.in/g2TqT_8V

#financialplanning #businessowner #buildingwealth #financialplanner #wealth #smallbusiness #genx #geny #buildingtowardswealth #henrys #abundantwealthprocess #stability #financialfulfillment #highearner #strategicfinancialplanning

Open article: 5 Common Problems Business Owners Have by buildingtowardswealth.com

Long-Term Success Comes From Consistency

Success in financial planning, like anything in life, isn’t about one big decision—it’s about the habits built over time.

Small, consistent actions—whether it’s reviewing financial goals, planning ahead, or learning something new—lead to long-term results.

#financialplanning #businessowner #buildingwealth #financialplanner #wealth #smallbusiness #genx #geny #buildingtowardswealth #henrys #abundantwealthprocess #stability #financialfulfillment #highearner #strategicfinancialplanning

🚫 Not everything we hear about money is true.

There are plenty of financial myths out there. Some people think debt is always bad, or that investing is only for the wealthy. 

What’s a common money myth you used to believe?

#financialplanning #businessowner #buildingwealth #financialplanner #wealth #smallbusiness #genx #geny #buildingtowardswealth #henrys #abundantwealthprocess #stability #financialfulfillment #highearner #strategicfinancialplanning

Wealth isn’t built overnight.

 It comes from consistent, intentional financial decisions over time. 

Understanding how different strategies work together—such as savings, investments, and risk management—can help create a strong foundation for long-term success. 

Every step forward, no matter how small, contributes to financial security. 🏗️📈

#financialplanning #businessowner #buildingwealth #financialplanner #wealth #smallbusiness #genx #geny #buildingtowardswealth #henrys #abundantwealthprocess #stability #financialfulfillment #highearner #strategicfinancialplanning

Home of #AskMikeG

What is #AskMikeG? 
As a seasoned consultant, I specialize in empowering small business owners to navigate financial challenges, drive growth, and achieve predictable success. With a focus on practical, actionable solutions, I help business leaders improve cash flow management, enhance profitability, and elevate communication for long-term stability.

 I assist businesses by:

+ Identifying gaps in financial practices and building a clear roadmap to stability.
+ Establishing robust tracking and forecasting tools for informed decision-making.
+ Implementing strategies to elevate communication to all stakeholders.

I provide one-on-one, group coaching and consulting.  I have spent 25+ years creating, starting, marketing, failing, and succeeding in B2B and B2C environments. I will happily share with you or your team what I have learned so you don't make the same mistakes I did.

Author, Coach, Consultant, Good Human - Cash Flow is the Success Metric.

Whose Story Is It?

The podcast was created for curious business owners who learn from other business owners’ experiences (mistakes). You will learn from other business owners who have succeeded but not without their own mistakes. But the twist is you will learn about “who” they are as much as what they did. And you will learn all of this without knowing their name. Guest identities will be unveiled after each story in the last few minutes of the podcast. To subscribe go here https://www.michaelgrabham.com/whose-story-is-it-podcast-learn-from-business-owners-stories/

Podcast Host

Hatchet Ventures 🪓

“Hatchet Ventures is defining a new VC model that fits with the needs of today’s founders. With our Co-Op model, Hatchet Ventures surrounds your company with 40+ executives, advisors, and like-minded founders who openly share insights; connections; best practices; and solutions, forming the optimal sounding board for bouncing ideas. Hatchet simplifies access to the knowledge of those who have walked the startup path, and provides attainable support to hatch your venture!”

Advisor

Survive the Streets

My wife and I started this nonprofit to help the homeless. We had originally created an organization that helps hundreds of homeless each year on Thanksgiving day. Go to survivethestreets.org if you would like to get involved with our 501(c)(3) nonprofit..

Director

Orbit Health 

Orbit was started with a simple vision of saving lives in sub-Saharan Africa, by applying technology in healthcare.
Considering the overburdened and clogged up healthcare services in Africa, we wanted to help hospitals and clinics increase their capacity and capability so that they will increase the number of patients by a minimum 10-15 additional patients per day. In this approach,  and if only one fourth of the healthcare facilities are participating in Ethiopia alone, there will be an opportunity for over 10,000 new patients that will be able to see a doctor in a day.

The Door Gym

Help your loved ones maintain their independence with the gift of fitness.
Many of the problems facing our rapidly growing senior population are due to preventable muscle atrophy. This is why we created The Door Gym, a patent pending technology that allows for a new level of safety and security when anchoring resistance bands and straps to your door. Our app and cell phone holder economically deliver over seventy guided exercises that can be tailored to any fitness level.

Customise To Your Style With Samshek

Samshék embraces the fashion popularism that inspires and creates trends that appeal to the modern consumer. Samshék recognizes that not all customers fit the mainstream retail clothing offerings, but rather seek the clothing that better suits their body size and shape, mood, character, style, and temperament. With Samshék’s clothing customization option and timely delivery, the customer's wonderful lifestyle and fashion desires can now become a reality.

samaritan

Samaritan is a mobile IoT startup that enables cashless, effective giving the moment a citygoer sees someone in need on the streets. This is changing the way people can give to people on the streets by knowing that the money is goes to help the person get basic needs met.

Compassion 4 Paws

We are a mobile veterinary practice that specializes in comfort care and end-of-life care for pets. Out of the drive to start her own practice combined with her passion for end-of-life care, Dr. Sara Hopkins founded Compassion 4 Paws in late 2012. Since then, her devoted team of veterinarians and care coordinators continue to offer you and your beloved companion the support and care you need during this difficult time of navigating your pet’s end-of-life journey.

Head of Strategy

Startup Grind

Awarded Chapter Director of the Year 2015.
Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 1,500,000 entrepreneurs in over 600 chapters. We nurture startup ecosystems in 125 countries through events, media, and partnerships with organizations like Google for Startups. 

The cornerstone of our global community is monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators, and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind has helped millions of entrepreneurs build their businesses, connect with strategic partners, and secure funding.

We believe in making friends, not contacts. We believe in giving, not taking. We believe in helping others before helping yourself. We are truly passionate about helping founders, entrepreneurs and startups succeed. We intend to make their startup journey less lonely, more connected and more memorable.

Chapter Director Seattle

Consultant | Author | Helping Founders make better decisions to scale their company.

The Two Pillars of Business Success: CASH  & COMMUNICATION
As a business owner, you know that growth is essential—but sustainable, profitable growth requires more than vision. It demands a disciplined focus on two critical areas: managing cash flow and fostering clear communication.

I specialize in helping business owners like you turn strategic goals into actionable plans by focusing on these key areas:

Optimized Cash: By analyzing and enhancing your profits and monitoring your cash flow, I help ensure your business remains financially strong and agile, giving you the confidence to invest in growth and navigate challenges effectively.

Aligned Communication: Both internally and externally, effective communication is essential to align your team with your goals, foster collaboration, and deliver a unified message to customers and stakeholders.

This is a Real life result... I started working with a small service based business. They had few processes in place and almost no financial insights. Fast forward 2 years and they got an offer to sell. We decided to turn it down and fast foward another 2 years and they got an offer they had to take. The value when I started working with them was around $2.5M and they sold for almost 3X that number. The changes we made were about optimizing profits, managing cash flow and making sure the business could operate without the owners doing ALL the work. 

By nature, I am a curious leader who has experienced success, failure, and everything in between. (6X founder).  I have been lucky enough to sell a few of those and unlucky enough to go through bankruptcy. (not fun)

At age 28, a partner and I bought a struggling magazine for the travel industry. Four years later, after growing revenues by 7X and introducing a disruptive product we sold the company to a larger industry leader. (Winner)

I was also a partner in a services company that grew from $750k to $7M in just 3 years. We grew too fast and made some mistakes. Over the next 2 years, I managed to keep parts of it alive but by 2011 I had to close it down. I went through some very dark times with this venture and I learned a few things. (Cash Flow is King)

My wife and I started a nonprofit, Survive the Streets, 25 years ago, to help people who live in shelters or who are almost living on the streets. This has been extremely rewarding and eye-opening. (Helping Others is good)

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Christopher Clepp

Mike Grabham

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The Battle

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Mike Grabham

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Christopher Clepp's LinkedIn Performance

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