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Generational Wealth Services at Vertex Planning Partners

Shaping your legacy, together.

Is Generational Wealth Right for You?

Generational Wealth services at Vertex offer more than financial management; they provide a comprehensive solution for ultra-high-net-worth families aiming to grow and preserve wealth across generations.

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Our Generational Wealth Services

Our Generational Wealth practice offers a suite of services tailored to the complex needs of high-net-worth families. These include:

Investment Management

Custom strategies designed to grow and preserve wealth.

Estate Planning

Ensuring your legacy benefits the next generation and beyond.

Philanthropic Guidance

Crafting charitable strategies that reflect your family's values.

Risk Management

Protecting your assets and securing your family's financial future.

Risk, Family Governance and Education

Establishing robust financial structures and educating the younger generation about wealth responsibility.

Experience the Vertex Difference

Why Choose Vertex Planning Partners

Choosing Vertex means selecting a partner dedicated to your family’s multifaceted financial needs. Our clients trust us for:

Experience: Our seasoned professionals bring deep industry knowledge.

Personalization: We know every family's needs and preferences are unique, and our strategies reflect this.

Confidentiality: We uphold the highest standards of discretion and confidentiality.

Continuity: We aim to be a stable partner for your family across generations.

Meet Our Generational Wealth Professionals

Our Generational Wealth team is a diverse group of seasoned professionals, each bringing a wealth of experience in their respective fields. From investment advisors to tax specialists, we work collaboratively to ensure your family’s wealth is holistically managed.

Gregory P. Benner,
CPWA®, CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, AIF®, RMA®

Managing Partner

Scott A. Sandee, 
CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA

Managing Partner

Christopher C. Huston,
CIMA®, CAIA®, AIFA®, AIF®

DIRECTOR OF
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Steven P. Franzen, 
CPA, PFS, CGMA

Managing Partner

Ready to Secure Your Family's Future?

Embarking on your family’s wealth preservation journey with Vertex Planning Partners is straightforward. Contact us to schedule a private consultation, where we’ll discuss your family’s financial landscape, aspirations, and how working together can develop your journey towards financial security and legacy planning.

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3000 Woodcreek Drive,
Suite 100
Downers Grove, IL 60515

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Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Vertex Planning Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Vertex Planning Partners, LLC is a separate entity from LPL Financial.

The LPL Financial registered representative(s) associated with this website may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

© 2024 Vertex Partners. All rights reserved.

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Connecting with Vertex Planning Partners is your first step towards a tailored financial future. Reach out to discuss guidance that aligns with your unique financial goals and aspirations.

Connect With Us

Schedule a meeting with a  Vertex Planning Partner Advisor who will answer any questions you might have. 

p: 630.836.3300 – e: in**@ve************.com

We’re here to help. Email or call us and speak with a Vertex Planning Partner Advisor who will answer any questions you might have: 630.836.3300 or in**@ve************.com

Gregory P. Benner, CPWA®, CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, AIF®, RMA®

MANAGING PARTNER

Gregory P. Benner, CPWA®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, AIF®, RMA® has over twenty-two years of experience as a financial advisor. Greg’s practice is based on developing holistic financial plans that help his clients integrate sophisticated retirement, tax, risk management and estate planning strategies into an actionable plan, then stay the course as their behavioral coach.

Prior to founding Vertex Planning Partners, LLC, Greg spent four years as a founding partner of a Registered Investment Advisory firm affiliated with LPL Financial. He also spent seven years with JPMorgan Chase as a Senior Financial Advisor and was a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Life.

Greg holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certificant. He also holds the Chartered Financial Consultant®, Chartered Life Underwriter®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary™, and Retirement Management AdvisorSM designations. He earned a B.S. in Finance from Miami University.

He and his wife Lindsey reside in Naperville, IL with their daughter and twin sons.

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Scott A. Sandee CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CEPA

MANAGING PARTNER

Scott Sandee brings over 20 years of experience as Managing Partner. He is responsible for leading the firm’s efforts in assisting middle-market business owners and seven and eight-figure families to plan and realize financial goals based on their unique aspirations and situations.

With a privately held family business background, Scott has helped owners prepare for and execute a successful transition. In addition, he works with business owners and their advisors to develop financial strategies to maximize sales proceeds and minimize future taxes.

Before joining Vertex, Scott served in financial planning and investment strategy roles at Oxford Financial Group, Capital Group, and The Northern Trust Company, working with Chicago’s HNW/UHNW families clients.

Scott holds the Certified Financial Planner®, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor designations. Scott earned his B.S. in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University, and his family resides in Wilmette, IL.

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Christopher C. Huston, CIMA®, CAIA®, AIFA®, AIF®

dIRECTOR OF PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
MANAGING PARTNER

Christopher Huston brings over 17 years of experience to his role as Director of Portfolio Management. He is responsible for leading the firm’s efforts in investment research, portfolio construction and design, capital markets analysis, trading, and portfolio implementation. In addition to his role as Director of Portfolio Management, Chris manages Vertex’s investment technology systems and the team supporting Vertex’s investment process.

With a background working in trust banking, Chris has brought and implemented an investment process consistent with the Code of Ethics and Standards brought forth by the CFA Institute as well as applicable Fiduciary Standards for both firm level and client level portfolios. Vertex incorporates a formalized process of portfolio construction to monitor risk, returns, taxes and expenses in client portfolios. This process consists of Investment Policy Statement construction, asset allocation and selection, quantitative and qualitative due diligence, monitoring and reporting. He is well-versed in technical and fundamental analysis, structured portfolio management, and results-driven performance analytics.

Prior to joining Vertex, Chris served in both portfolio management and investment strategy roles at the Northern Trust Company, working with HNW/UHNW families, business owners, retirement plans and foundations. Previously, at JPMorgan Chase he worked as a banker on Chicago’s North Shore.

Chris holds the Chartered Investment Management Analyst®, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® designations. He currently is a CFA Level II candidate. Chris earned his B.A. in English from Bucknell University. He and his wife reside in Chicago, IL.

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Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PFS, CGMA

MANAGING PARTNER

Steven P. Franzen, CPA, PFS, CGMA is a public accountant and consultant with more than 23 years of experience helping individuals and businesses reduce their tax liability.  He began his career under the guidance of Patrick M. De Sio, CPA, CGMA and in 1996 became Mr. De Sio’s partner in De Sio, Franzen & Associates, Ltd. Steve’s expertise include entity design, complex tax strategies and multigenerational wealth transfer.  As Managing Partner, Steve conducts his practice under the philosophy that the client’s investment in their CPA should yield a return on that investment – most of the time that return is realized when working with clients on planning for their future. In an effort to increase the planning capabilities of the firm,  Steve formed Vertex Accounting Partners, LLC to ensure their guiding philosophy will continue well into the future.

Steve is a certified public accountant and has earned the professional designations of Personal Financial Specialist and Chartered Global Management Accountant.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.  Steve earned a B.S. degree in accounting from Millikin University.  He and his wife Kristie live in Sugar Grove, IL with their three children.

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Peter M. Babilla, CFP®, CRPS®

SENIOR WEALTH ADVISOR

Peter Babilla brings 40 years of experience in investment management and fiduciary* financial consulting to Vertex Planning Partners, LLC.

Pete graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance.

He began his career in 1983 with a focus on institutional fixed-income portfolio management, primarily working with community banks. After a decade serving institutional clients, Pete shifted his focus to working with individuals, families and business owners, providing guidance and education in all areas of Wealth Management.  Among his areas of focus are accumulation and retirement planning, investment management, risk management, and estate and wealth transfer.

Pete’s planning philosophy allows him to create a personalized program for clients, based on their own unique goals and circumstances.  The extensive investment and planning platform offered by Vertex enables him to create a highly customized program, tailored to each individual client.

Pete and his wife Suzanne have two children, and have resided in Wheaton, Illinois for the past 30 years.  He enjoys golf, reading, and traveling with his family.  Pete gives back as a past Board Member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, where his focus is on improving the lives of those living with epilepsy.

Pete works as fiduciary for his clients and holds the CERTIFIED FIANANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation and the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®) designation.

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JUSTIN J. D'AGOSTINO, CFP®, ChFC®, CRPC®, AIF®

PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR

Justin D’Agostino joined Vertex Partners in 2019 and is a Private Wealth Advisor that serves a select group of business owners and affluent families. He specializes in investments, financial planning, and succession planning. His interest and knowledge in providing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to clients was sparked when he worked at a boutique tax and wealth management firm in Michigan. He has nine years of experience in the financial services industry, and his mission is to provide every client with targeted, comprehensive financial advice and to help them implement customized strategies designed to move them closer to accomplishing their unique goals.

Justin attended Hillsdale College where he earned his BA in Accounting and Financial Management and was a member and captain of the football team. Justin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ and Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ designations.

Justin and his fiancé, Alexandra, reside in Chicago, Illinois. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys golfing, playing soccer and spending summer weekends with his family.

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Julie Hupp CFP®, MBA

PARTNER

Julie Hupp, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has worked in the accounting and corporate finance field since 1987. She began her career as a CPA with Deloitte & Touche, specializing in the financial needs of small businesses. Then spent the next 13 years in corporate financial planning and business development at Baxter and TAP Pharmaceuticals. Recognizing her passion for personal financial planning, Julie started her business in 2006 where she focuses on comprehensive financial planning strategies and implementation.

Julie graduated from University of Illinois with a BS in Accountancy. She received her Master’s in Management with a concentration in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1994.

Outside the office, Julie is the co-founder of the 12 Oaks Foundation, which has merged with Cal’s Angels, and is a former Board member. Julie enjoys cooking, reading, running, triathlons and doing almost anything outdoors. A great weekend is spending time with her husband and two adult kids boating at their lake house in Wisconsin.

Michael D. Bellis, CFP®, CLU®

MANAGING PARTNER

Michael D. Bellis, CFP®, CLU® began his career as a financial planning professional in 1994. His practice is centered on holistic financial planning, astute risk management strategies and empirical, research-driven portfolio construction. He began his career in partnership with his father under the name Bellis & Associates. Together, their practice and reputation for excellence dates back more than 40 years and includes multiple generations of the same families. After his father’s retirement several years ago, Mike continued to build a client-centric, consultative practice before forming Vertex.

Mike holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and is also a Chartered Life Underwriter. He has been an active member of both the Society of Financial Services Professionals and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He earned a B.S. in Business & Marketing from Illinois State University. Mike is a lifelong resident of Naperville, Illinois. He and his wife Tanja have three children.

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