Drew Grider Named Among Top Chicago Suburb Financial Advisors

The annual ranking, conducted in partnership with SHOOK Research, sifted through more than 52,000 nominations nationwide. Analysts evaluated candidates based on revenue trends, compliance records, and qualitative due diligence interviews. Because client objectives vary widely, the methodology explicitly excludes portfolio performance, focusing instead on the breadth and integration of services provided to families.

Leelyn Smith operates on a model that merges wealth management, tax strategy, and CFO services into a single practice. Grider credits this integrated approach for the firm’s growth, which now serves over 900 families across 31 states. By housing tax professionals and financial planners under one roof, the firm aims to coordinate every dimension of a client's financial life rather than relying on disparate departments.

Reflecting on the recognition, Grider emphasized that the firm’s success remains rooted in the day-to-day engagement with clients. He noted that while the firm’s structure provides the necessary context for complex planning, the core of the business is defined by deep personal familiarity with the situations and priorities of those they serve.