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

Venture Forward Capital

Venture Forward Capital is led by partners who’ve built and guided high-performing teams across diverse industries. More than investors, we’re entrepreneurs who have launched and successfully exited companies. We invest in repeat founders with proven exits and a strong track record of execution. Our sector-agnostic approach targets disruptive early-stage companies using vertical AI solutions to drive efficiency and scale.

Founder and Managing Partner 

The Founders Club

A highly vetted community of High Growth Founders, CEO's, and Operators looking to network with like-minded individuals.

Member

Second Time Founders

A premiere network of seasoned and multiple-time founders committed to creating responsible and conscious companies.

VNTR

Chapter Director / Chicago

We are a community of accomplished VC investment peers who collaborate, share deal flows and co-invest alongside the top investors, funds and global partners. In short, we are here to help connect you with a worldwide investment community.

PEF Community

Member / PEF Chicago Chapter Lead 

Sypher, Inc

Director Board of Directors

Function

Simplify bookkeeping, tax prep, and CFO insights. Function delivers everything you need in one seamless experience, so your finances just work. Everything your growing business needs, nothing it doesn't. Function gives you a dedicated team of accountants and CFOs plus strategic insights—all tailored to work for you.

Advisory Board Director

Uplevel Digital Services

Partner and Advisory Board Director for UpLevel Digital Marketing specializing in a formulaic approach to help clients meet and exceed their sales goals.

Heritage

Premier network for next generation leaders in family offices and businesses.

Founding Member

Golfhōm

A great new vacation rental platform for golf travelers.  At Golfhōm, we make it easy for you to find and book premium Golf Resort Rentals and Golf Course Villas in stunning locations worldwide. Whether you're planning a solo retreat or a group getaway, our carefully curated listings ensure an unforgettable Golf Vacation Rental experience.

Strategic Advisor

I’ve spent 25+ years leading, building, and investing in businesses that scale.

Here's a look into what I've done so far:

• Grow teams that generated over $1 billion in revenue. 
• Backed visionary founders with AI-driven solutions at my firm, Venture Forward Capital.
• Built and exited multiple companies.

How did I get here? 

• Graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2001, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing 

• Started in corporate, leading teams at Visa and News Corp overseeing US teams (led strategy development, and grew business units to over $500 million in revenue) 

• Built Union Hospitality Group from scratch (three restaurant concepts, $12M+ annual revenue)

• Led millions in investments at New Leaf Capital

Now, I invest in the future through Venture Forward Capital, and advise companies large and small across various sectors build their brands.

My goal is to help visionary entrepreneurs build amazing companies from the ground up with a networking/relationship-first approach.

If you’re a first-time or repeat founder with an AI-driven vision, curious about my investment strategy, or just want to connect with me, let's talk!

On LinkedIn, I talk about venture capital, leadership, and the value of VC/founder relationships in building businesses that last.

Check out what we do at:

www.ventureforwardcapital.com

And follow our company page to stay updated:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ventureforwardcapital/

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The Battle

Christopher Clepp

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The Battle

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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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