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Category: Financial Foundations

How to Discuss Finances with Your Partner

Talking about money with your partner might not sound romantic, but it’s a game-changer for building trust and a stronger connection. Open and honest conversations about finances can bring you closer and set you up for a secure future together. Here’s how to tackle this important topic with confidence:   Choose the Right Time and […]

How Couples Can Manage Money Together

Handling money as a couple is more than just paying the bills—it’s about teamwork, trust, and building a future together. Want to strengthen your relationship while keeping your finances on track? Here are some practical tips to help you and your partner manage money like a power couple:   Communicate Openly About Money Discuss Goals: […]

Reviewing and Adjusting Investment Portfolios for the Year Ahead

The new year is the perfect moment to take a fresh look at your investment portfolio and make sure it’s still working hard to support your financial goals. Think of it as giving your finances a little tune-up for the year ahead! Here are some key steps and thoughtful tips to help you align your […]

Strategies for Budgeting and Saving

A New Year is the perfect time to hit the reset button! As we step into 2025, it’s a great opportunity to get a fresh start on your finances. Budgeting and saving wisely can make a big difference in helping you stay on top of your money and reach your financial goals. Here are some […]

Setting Financial Resolution for the New Year

At Vertex Planning Partners our goal is to help our clients start the new year with a solid financial game plan. Setting clear and achievable financial resolutions is one of the best ways to ensure they’re on track to reach their goals. Here’s ten steps to help you get started on your 2025 goals: 1. […]

Is Charitable Giving Part of Your Financial Plan

With Giving Tuesday on December 3 this is a good time to think about how you are incorporating your charities into your overall financial plan. In doing so you can enhance your overall financial and tax strategy while allowing you to make a positive impact on the causes you care about. Here are some key […]

Developing a Holiday Spending Plan

Unlike some of you whom may already have your holiday shopping complete, most Americans don’t start until October or even after Thanksgiving. So, creating a holiday spending plan is a smart way to ensure you enjoy the season without overspending. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create a holiday spending plan that works:   […]

Teach Your Children Well: Basic Financial Education

Even before your children can count, they already know something about money: it’s what you have to give the ice cream man to get a cone, or put in the slot to ride the rocket ship at the grocery store. So, as soon as your children begin to handle money, start teaching them how to […]

Diversification Strategies

Diversification is a crucial strategy for managing risk and enhancing the potential for returns in an investment portfolio. It involves spreading investments across various asset classes, sectors, geographies, and investment styles to help reduce the impact of any single investment’s poor performance. Here are several diversification strategies for investment portfolios: The opinions voiced in this […]

10 Benefits of a Better Credit Rating

Many may not be aware of just how many areas of their financial lives are affected by their credit score. Even more so how much a low credit score costs them. Here are some places where you may be able to reduce your expenses with a better credit score.   Lower Interest Rates Loans and […]

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Peter M. Babilla, CFP®, CRPS®

PARTNER

Peter Babilla brings 40 years of experience in investment management and fiduciary* financial consulting to Vertex Planning Partners, LLC.

Pete graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance.

He began his career in 1983 with a focus on institutional fixed-income portfolio management, primarily working with community banks. After a decade serving institutional clients, Pete shifted his focus to working with individuals, families and business owners, providing guidance and education in all areas of Wealth Management.  Among his areas of focus are accumulation and retirement planning, investment management, risk management, and estate and wealth transfer.

Pete’s planning philosophy allows him to create a personalized program for clients, based on their own unique goals and circumstances.  The extensive investment and planning platform offered by Vertex enables him to create a highly customized program, tailored to each individual client.

Pete and his wife Suzanne have two children, and have resided in Wheaton, Illinois for the past 30 years.  He enjoys golf, reading, and traveling with his family.  Pete gives back as a past Board Member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, where his focus is on improving the lives of those living with epilepsy.

Pete works as fiduciary for his clients and holds the CERTIFIED FIANANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation and the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®) designation.

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Justin J. D'Agostino, CPWA®, CFP® , TPCP®, ChFC®, CRPC®

PARTNER

Justin D’Agostino is a Partner and Private Wealth Advisor at Vertex Planning Partners, advising business owners, executives, and high-net-worth families on investments, financial planning, tax and succession planning.

He coordinates the full advisory team around each client to keep tax, investment, and planning decisions moving in the same direction. Justin’s approach centers on rigorous, data-driven analysis — modeling outcomes across planning scenarios so clients can make decisions with clarity.

With over a decade of experience, Justin’s work focuses on:

  • Investment & Portfolio Strategy
  • Tax-Efficient Planning
  • Equity Compensation & Concentrated Stock
  • Retirement & Distribution Planning
  • Estate & Succession Planning

Justin attended Hillsdale College, where he earned his BA in Accounting and Financial Management. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending weekends with his family.

Designations:

  • Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
  • Tax Planning Certified Professional®
  • Chartered Financial Consultant®
  • Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™

 

Justin does not provide tax or legal advice. He works alongside each client’s CPA and attorney on those matters.

CRPC conferred by College for Financial Planning.

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Scott A. Sandee CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA

MANAGING PARTNER

Scott Sandee brings over 20 years of experience to his role as Managing Partner of Vertex Planning Partners, leading the firm’s efforts to assist middle-market business owners and eight and nine-figure families in comprehensive planning. We enable clients to achieve their financial goals by tailoring solutions to their unique aspirations and situations. Leveraging his experience in sophisticated investment techniques and financial strategies with privately held family businesses, supported by extensive post-graduate education focused on exit planning, wealth management, estate planning, investment analysis, insurance planning, risk management, and tax optimization, he:

  • Assist owners in preparing for and executing a successful transition.
  • Develop financial strategies to maximize sales proceeds and reduce future taxes.
  • Listen carefully and create personalized solutions that reflect each client’s unique hopes, goals, and concerns.
  • Explain complex and technical concepts with clarity and simplicity.

 

Scott guides successful entrepreneurs and wealthy families through the transfer of ownership of their privately held companies.

Designations: Certified Financial Planner® Certified Private Wealth Advisor® Certified Investment Management Analyst® Certified Exit Planning Advisor Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor

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Julie Hupp CFP®, MBA

PARTNER

Julie Hupp, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has worked in the accounting and corporate finance field since 1987. She began her career as a CPA with Deloitte & Touche, specializing in the financial needs of small businesses. Then spent the next 13 years in corporate financial planning and business development at Baxter and TAP Pharmaceuticals. Recognizing her passion for personal financial planning, Julie started her business in 2006 where she focuses on comprehensive financial planning strategies and implementation.

Julie graduated from University of Illinois with a BS in Accountancy. She received her Master’s in Management with a concentration in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1994.

Outside the office, Julie is the co-founder of the 12 Oaks Foundation, which has merged with Cal’s Angels, and is a former Board member. Julie enjoys cooking, reading, running, triathlons and doing almost anything outdoors. A great weekend is spending time with her husband and two adult kids boating at their lake house in Wisconsin.

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Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PFS, CGMA

MANAGING PARTNER

Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PFS, CGMA is a public accountant and consultant with more than 23 years of experience helping individuals and businesses reduce their tax liability.  He began his career under the guidance of Patrick M. De Sio, CPA, CGMA and in 1996 became Mr. De Sio’s partner in De Sio, Franzen & Associates, Ltd. Steve’s expertise include entity design, complex tax strategies and multigenerational wealth transfer.  As Managing Partner, Steve conducts his practice under the philosophy that the client’s investment in their CPA should yield a return on that investment – most of the time that return is realized when working with clients on planning for their future. In an effort to increase the planning capabilities of the firm,  Steve formed Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC to ensure their guiding philosophy will continue well into the future.

Steve is a certified public accountant and has earned the professional designations of Personal Financial Specialist and Chartered Global Management Accountant.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.  Steve earned a B.S. degree in accounting from Millikin University.  He and his wife Kristie live in Sugar Grove, IL with their three children.

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Gregory P. Benner, MST, CPWA®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®, RMA®

MANAGING PARTNER

Greg Benner advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth business owners, individuals and families on advanced tax, risk management, retirement, estate planning, and wealth strategies.  

As a co-founder of Vertex Planning Partners, he works closely with clients, families, and their professional advisors—CPAs, attorneys, and business stakeholders—to implement thoughtful, durable planning strategies. His approach prioritizes clarity, coordination, and disciplined execution.

For twenty-four years, Greg’s work has focused on designing and coordinating multi-factor, integrated plans involving:

  • Tax Efficiency
  • Wealth Transfer Structures
  • Retirement Planning
  • Investment Strategy, and
  • Long-Term Financial Architecture

 

Drawing from his own experience as a founder, business and real estate investor, and multi-generational family business member, he understands some of the challenges that can arise for business owners as they consider an exit. Multi-disciplinary, intentional planning with stakeholder communication creates structure, mitigates risk, addresses tax implications, and preempts issues that can arise.

Greg holds a Master of Science in Taxation, a graduate program that deepened his technical training in federal income taxation, partnership and corporate taxation, estate and gift tax, and tax procedure. This academic work enhances his ability to help families and business owners navigate complex tax environments and align their financial and estate-planning objectives across generations.

Designations:

  • Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
  • Certified Financial Planner®
  • Chartered Financial Consultant®
  • Chartered Life Underwriter®
  • Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
  • Retirement Management Advisor®

 

Licenses:

  • Series 65 registration held with Vertex Planning Partners, LLC
    Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin & Louisiana Life & Health Insurance License

 

Greg is deeply committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development in the areas of tax, estate planning, and private-wealth strategy.

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Michael D. Bellis, CFP®, CLU®

MANAGING PARTNER

Michael D. Bellis, CFP®, CLU® began his career as a financial planning professional in 1994. His practice is centered on holistic financial planning, astute risk management strategies and empirical, research-driven portfolio construction. He began his career in partnership with his father under the name Bellis & Associates. Together, their practice and reputation for excellence dates back more than 40 years and includes multiple generations of the same families. After his father’s retirement several years ago, Mike continued to build a client-centric, consultative practice before forming Vertex.

Mike holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and is also a Chartered Life Underwriter. He has been an active member of both the Society of Financial Services Professionals and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He earned a B.S. in Business & Marketing from Illinois State University. Mike is a lifelong resident of Naperville, Illinois. He and his wife Tanja have three children.

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