Retire when you want — not when you have to.
A comprehensive retirement plan that accounts for your income needs, tax strategy, healthcare costs, and legacy goals — so the day you stop working is the day you start living.
Retirement isn't a number — it's a feeling. It's the morning you wake up and realize you don't have to be anywhere. The Tuesday you spend with your grandkids instead of in a meeting. The trip you book without checking your balance first.
At Steinhandler Wealth Advisors, we've helped hundreds of families across Chicago's Northern Suburbs turn that feeling into a plan. Since 1977, our family has guided yours through one of life's biggest transitions — from earning a paycheck to living on your own terms.
How we handle retirement planning
We start with your life, not your portfolio. What does Tuesday morning look like when you're retired? What trips are on the list? Who are you taking care of? Once we understand the life you want, we reverse-engineer the financial plan that makes it possible.
Our retirement plans cover income planning, tax optimization, Social Security timing, healthcare cost projections, and legacy goals. Every piece works together so you're not just surviving retirement — you're thriving in it.
Why families choose us
Three generations of the Steinhandler family have dedicated their careers to one thing: helping people retire well. We're a fiduciary — legally obligated to act in your best interest. No commissions driving our advice. No corporate quotas. Just a family helping yours.
We know the Northern Suburbs because we live here. We understand the cost of living in Evanston, the property taxes in Wilmette, the lifestyle expectations in Winnetka. That local knowledge matters when you're building a plan that has to last 30+ years.
Common questions about retirement planning
How much do I need to retire in the Chicago suburbs?
Most financial planners suggest 70-80% of your pre-retirement income, but the real answer depends on your lifestyle goals, healthcare needs, and where you live. The cost of living in Lake Forest is very different from Skokie. We build custom projections based on your actual life — not a generic rule of thumb.
When should I start planning for retirement?
The best time is 10-15 years before your target retirement date. That gives us time to optimize your tax strategy, maximize Social Security benefits, and build income streams. But even if you're 5 years out or already retired, there's always room to improve your plan.
What makes Steinhandler different from a big firm like Merrill Lynch or Morgan Stanley?
We're independent and fiduciary. That means we don't work for a brokerage — we work for you. No proprietary products to push, no sales quotas. Just honest advice from a family that's been doing this since 1977.
Retirement Planning across the Northern Suburbs
Ready to talk about retirement planning?
Book a free consultation and we’ll build a plan that fits your family.
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