Landmark Wealth Group

Landmark Wealth Group would like to wish Greg Schultze a very happy birthday! Your leadership, guidance, and commitment to our team and clients inspire us every day. We're grateful for you, Greg - here's to another great year!

This week, we're spotlighting Casey Kelly, another one of our Financial Planning Analysts! Recently joining our team after graduating from Butler University, Casey works closely with our advisors to learn and grow as he works toward becoming a Financial Advisor some day.

Outside of work, Casey has some exciting milestones too - he recently got engaged this summer and is busy planning his wedding! We're so glad to have Casey on our team and can't wait to see all that's ahead for him! Take a look below to learn more about our new team member.

1. What drew you to this line of work?

Financial advising allows me to use my strengths with numbers and analytics to help others achieve their goals. I appreciate the value that a reliable, caring and supportive financial advice team can provide to their community. I hope to one day be a part of that contribution to serve clients diligently.

2. What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?

Whether it's basketball, wakeboarding, hiking, or lifting, I like to stay active. Having four older brother and an older sister, I grew to be quite competitive; any opportunity to compete is fun for me. Otherwise, I have a passion for music. Live music - across several genres - is a big reason why I moved to Chicago after college.

3. Who inspires you the most, personally or professionally?

I have been most consistently inspired by my parents. My mom and dad have been the ideal role models as fun, thoughtful, hard-working, and kind individuals. They created a truly special childhood and life for me and my siblings. The example they set for me will always be a strong motivating force in my life.

4. Do you have a favorite vacation spot or travel memory?

I spent the fall semester of my junior year of college in Europe. My first time out of the western hemisphere was a four-month program where I lived and went to school in Antibes, France. Five of my friends and I were able to explore that part of the world, traveling throughout France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, England, the Netherlands, and Tunisia. I returned home to the US with zero dollars, but it was well worth it!

Landmark Wealth Group is THRILLED to celebrate Amber's tremendous accomplishment of completing the Pacific Crest Trail! Stretching over 2,650 miles from the Mexican border in California all the way to the Canadian border in Washington, the PCT is one of the most challenging long-distance hikes in the world.

To put it in perspective - Amber trekked the equivalent of a marathon every single day, across deserts, mountains, and forests. What an incredible achievement of endurance, grit and determination! We're so proud of you, Amber!

On your way to building a solid financial foundation? It’s only as solid as what you have in place to protect it. We can help you figure out what that means for you and your loved ones.

Markets move. Goals evolve. One thing that shouldn’t change is your plan to stay on track. Let’s talk about strategies that can offer long-term growth potential while helping manage volatility, especially during uncertain times.

On this week of the LWG "Meet the Team" Series, we're excited to introduce Matthew Orta, one of the newest members of our team! A recent graduate of the University of Illinois, Matt joins us as a Financial Planning Analyst and is already making an impact. He works closely with our advisors on financial plans, meeting preparation, and client service - all while working his way toward becoming a financial advisor himself. Scroll below to learn more about Matt!

1. How did you get started in this industry?

I came across the industry after taking an introduction to financial planning class in college. I started off with the intention of studying Psychology, but once I dove deep into the world of financial planning and what it consists of, I switched my major and never looked back.

2. What's a fun fact about you most people don't know?

In high school, I co-founded a small business with a close friend of mine. The business is still active today where we provide pony rides and a petting zoo. Yes, this does mean that I own a pony - his name is Rio!

3. What values do you strive to bring to every client relationship?

The three biggest values that I strive for are communication, trust, and results. Clients like to know what's going on with everything in their lives, so a lack of communication about their personal or retirement finances is just not acceptable. Communication creates a good foundation for us to build trust, which is important in any type of relationship.

4. What's your favorite meal or cuisine?

I absolutely love Italian food. I have a goal to one day visit Italy and try some authentic pasta dishes. I've only really vacationed in Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, so going to the other side of the globe would be an awesome opportunity.

Our Meet the Team Series is BACK! This week, we're excited to spotlight Christina Rupp, our talented Paraplanner! Christina plays a vital role in supporting our advisors - handling everything from detailed meeting preparation to ensuring our clients' needs are met efficiently. Her dedication, organization, and skills behind the scenes help keep our team running smoothly and our clients well taken care of. Scroll down to learn more about our favorite Southsider!

1. What is one accomplishment in your career that you're most proud of?

I started in the finance industry in 2019 working as a secretary for a different Ameriprise Financial practice. From there, I worked hard to learn and grow in an industry that was completely new to me - I was a paralegal before joining Ameriprise. It feels great to look back and see how far I have come.

2. What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?

I love being active and spending time outdoors. Watching my daughters play sports and compete is one of my favorites. I also enjoy horseback riding, hot yoga, gardening, as well as taking my dogs on their daily walks. Staying busy helps keep me grounded and happy!

3. What do you think sets Landmark Wealth Group apart in wealth advising?

Our clients always come first, and we make client service our top priority. Everyone on our team is always willing to step in and help each other out. We all have different knowledge bases, strengths and backgrounds, which makes us a pretty diverse team - all focused on serving our clients.

4. What is your favorite book, podcast or movie?

My favorite book is "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. I found out about her books after I saw her viral TED Talk. It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others, and Brene encourages readers to live authentically rather than striving for an unattainable ideal of perfection. I definitely recommend giving it a read!

Some people view retirement as the final chapter in their lives, while others see it as a new beginning. How do you envision your retirement? Take Ameriprise’s 3-minute quiz to identify what kind of retiree you’ll be. ameriprise.com/retirementprofiles