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In 1988, Mark co-founded Vermillion Financial Advisors, Inc. (VFA). His vision for VFA was to fill a niche providing individuals and business owners with true comprehensive financial planning to support objective investment advice, and business planning services. Currently, Mark specializes in assisting high net worth clients in excess of $1,000,000, who are over 50 years of age with Comprehensive Personal Financial Planning and investment advisory services. These services include designing solutions for providing financial security to last throughout retirement, to make sure clients are only paying their fair share of taxes, ensure family members are provided for should an incapacitation (or death) occur and selection of risk appropriate investments. In addition to his client's responsibilities, Mark wears many hats as the company's President and Managing Advisor. Mark is not only involved in the day-to-day direction of the marketing, financial consulting and operations functions of VFA, he also serves as an accomplished public speaker and conducts seminars on an array of financial topics ranging from investment portfolio design, successful retirement transition planning, wealth transfer, and tax reduction strategies. Mark is a member of, and has served on, many boards of directors and committees for various charitable organizations as well as organizations related to the future of the financial planning profession. Because of his background, expertise and position within the financial planning community, Mark has become a favorite resource of many media outlets. He has been involved, or featured, in numerous articles, radio broadcasts, television shows, and on-line websites. Some of the more recognized media outlets include CBS' "60 minutes", the Daily Herald, the Chicago Tribune's "Ask an Expert", the Chicago Sun Times, USA Today, Forbes, CNBC, Financial Planning Digest, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, and Bloomberg Wealth Manager, to mention just a few. (View all media recognition) Mark's experience in financial planning has earned him numerous awards and recognition within the financial planning profession. Over his career he has obtained many professional designations and licenses, including a number of FINRA Stockbroker and General Securities Principal licenses, an insurance license, Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF^®), and Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS^®). In 2009, with Mark's leadership, Vermillion Financial Advisors decided to change platforms and become a "fee for service" advisory firm, affording our clients a more extensive and less restrictive menu of financial planning services, a wider array of financial and investment products. Mark makes his home in Palatine with his wife Laura and four sons, John, Joseph, Christopher and Stephen. Mark's hobbies include running (having completed seven marathons), golf, cycling, hiking, and traveling to experience new places with his family.

Vermillion Financial Advisors has been providing investment management, personal financial planning, and business consulting services since 1988. We specialize in serving individuals over the age of 50, who wish to be proactive in addressing their personal finances. These individuals are often interested in planning for a secure retirement and confirming they have sufficient funds to last throughout retirement. They also want to engage the services of a professional to assist the family when a loved one passes or becomes incapacitated. Clients generally seek Vermillion Financial Adavisors' advice as the result of many common changes in life but most often as of a monetary windfall (e.g. an inheritance, sale of a family business, severance package or retirement buyout), an unexpected life event (e.g. death or change in health status of a loved one). Often it is simply because time is too limited for busy clients to properly address their financial planning needs or because personal finances have become too complex. Business owners often seek VFA advice to evaluate current employee benefits, strategic planning, or business succession.