Sidney A. Blum

CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC

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Sid Founded GreatLight Fee Only Advisors, LLC (GLFOA) in 2005. GLFOA is an affordable planning and investment alternative in the North Shore Chicago and Las Vegas areas. Sid was a co-founder of Successful Financial Solutions, Inc. in 1994, which merged with a large fee-only firm in 2003. Sid does financial planning with an emphasis on income and estate taxes, retirement planning, and investment planning. Sid's has significant background that includes, Education, Experience, Professional & Community Service, and Professional & Media Recognition.

EDUCATION

  • University of Illinois, degree in accounting
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ [CFP©] certification in 1987
  • AICPA Certificate of Education Achievement in Personal Financial Planning in 1988
  • Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) in 1989
  • AICPA specialty designation of Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFS) in 1991

EXPERIENCE

  • Practicing as a CPA since 1975
  • Practicing as a financial advisor since 1987

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE

  • Adjunct Faculty of the College for Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning Section of Roosevelt University in Chicago
    • Northwestern University College for Continuing Studies
  • Adjunct Faculty of University of Illinois - Chicago - MBA Program - Personal Financial Planning
  • AICPA Resource Panel of the Center for Investment Advisory Services
  • Illinois CPA Society
    • Personal Financial Planning Committee
    • Consulting Services Executive Committee
    • Investment Services Task Force and Finance Committee
  • Board Member Service - Present and Past
    • Licensed Independent Network of CPA Financial Planners (LINC)
    • Association of CPA Financial Planners
    • Greater Chicago International Association of Financial Planners (IAFP)
    • North Shore Chapter IAFP (as past President and Chairman of the Board)
    • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors-Midwest Regional Board (NAPFA) as President 2002-2003
    • Chair of NAPFA Midwest and NAPFA National Board 2003-2004
    • NAPFA National Nominating Committee 2006
    • Chair of NAPFA National Conference 2006
    • Illinois FPA Nominating Committee as V.P. of Corp. Sponsorship for FPA North Shore Council
    • Illinois FPA Advisory Board
    • FPA Illinois Board of Directors 2005
    • Rotary Club of Wilmette, Illinois

PROFESSIONAL & MEDIA RECOGNITION

  • Worth's annual list of "The Best Financial Advisers" from 1996 to 2002
  • Medical Economics as one of the 150 best financial advisers for doctors since 2000 to 2005
  • University of Illinois Business School Alumni Association Leadership Award in 2005
  • Contributor to Beyond the 401(k), a book published by Investors Press
  • Contributor to Everything Money, published by Adams Media Corporation
  • Contributor to Easy Ways to Organize Your Taxes and Money by Publications International in 1999 and updated in 2006
  • Contributor to Tips from the Top by Alpha
  • Interviewed by several newsletters
    • Accounting Today
    • AICPA Planner
    • Dow Jones Investment Advisor
    • Investment News
    • Moneysworth
  • Answered financial and investment questions on several websites
    • www.fundsinteractive.com
    • www.quicken.com
    • www.aol.com
    • www.HowStuffWorks.com
  • Contributed to articles
    • Chicago Sun-Times newspaper
    • Chicago Tribune newspaper
    • Money Magazine
    • Fortune Magazine
    • Bloomberg
    • Kiplinger Personal Finance
    • Medical Economics
    • North Shore Magazine
    • Illinois CPA Society Insight Magazine
    • numerous other publications
  • Television appearances
    • Nationally on Fox's Money program
    • locally on Financial Solutions (AT&T-public access)
    • Making Money (CLTV)
    • Accountability (WCIU- Stock Market Observer)
    • Locally on ABC 7 Chicago
    • Locally on Fox 32 Chicago
  • Radio appearances
    • Lee Ann Trotter's local radio show on US99
    • The Noon Business Hour on WBBM 780 AM with Sherman Kaplan & Kris Kridel
    • WGN RADIO 720 AM Money Show with Bill Moller

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