Education & Certifications:

• B.S. in Finance, DePaul University
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, & 65

Background & Expertise:

After graduating from DePaul University, Joe started his career with Northwestern Mutual in 2002 and has established himself as a leader in both his firm and industry in helping clients plan for financial security. Joe maintains a lifelong commitment to continuing education as evidenced by his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.

Joe is committed to a team-based approach for delivering wealth management services. Teaming up with Rich Woo to create Catalyst Planning Partners in 2017 has provided the opportunity to offer a wider array of services with a diverse and talented team.

Professional Approach:

Joe and his team are committed to providing sophisticated, state of the art financial strategies and delivering them as straightforward, easy to understand advice. Joe’s team focuses on streamlining the financial lives of time-pressed entrepreneurs, individuals with high net worth, and those preparing for retirement.

Joe’s approach at Catalyst Planning Partners is to provide tax-smart investment ideas along with comprehensive financial planning strategies to help our clients achieve financial security. We do all this while having a focus on socially responsible investing.

In My Free Time:

Joe grew up in Kansas and Texas but settled in Chicago after college with his wife Lauren and two daughters, Clara and Tessa. Joe enjoys reading, talking politics, golf, cycling, and platform tennis, and he is a big sports fan (Chicago White Sox, Bulls, and Green Bay Packers). After performing extensively all over the world as a professional Irish dance for Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company and the acclaimed show, Riverdance, Joe remains involved in coaching kids (including his own two girls) for international competitions at the Trinity Academy of Irish Dancing in Chicago.

Education & Certifications:

• B.S. in Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Fellowship, University of Southern California
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, & 65

Background & Expertise:

Rich grew up in a suburb of Chicago (Glenview) and quickly learned the importance of financial planning after his mother tragically passed away in a white-water rafting accident. After attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Rich worked in corporate finance for several years before starting his financial planning career at the beginning of 2009. He quickly built a successful solo financial practice but desired to build a more dynamic team that could serve a multi-generational client base.

Teaming up with Joe Smith, they formed Catalyst Planning Partners, a firm focused on helping individuals and families protect and achieve their most important financial goals. Catalyst Planning Partners is focused on helping clients optimize, execute, and review their dynamic life and financial plan.

Professional Approach:

Rich’s mission is to love and serve God, family, friends, clients, as well as the multi-generations of people he will never see or meet and thereby make a profound impact on this world. Rich and his team will first help you articulate your objectives and then plan around those objectives using analysis, strategic thinking, insurance, and investments. The team will then consistently review your plan to make sure you stay on track. Rich specializes in working with business owners, executives, and families that are pre-retirees/retirees.

In My Free Time:

Rich is involved with TEDx Chicago, GRIP Outreach For Youth, and Breakthrough Ministries.   He enjoys spending time with his wife, Hannah and son, Lyon, as well as golfing, traveling, and serving at his local church.

Education & Certifications:

• B.A., Wesleyan University
• M.B.A. in Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
• Certified Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®)

Background & Expertise:

Before joining Northwestern Mutual and while raising her family, Jennifer founded a personal training business and co-owned a gym in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago. She has since worked in the financial services industry for over 10 years with experience in capital markets, syndicated finance, and M&A. After serving as a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Jennifer joined Catalyst Planning Partners in 2021 to serve in an organization that provides a wholistic approach to helping clients achieve their goals and prioritizes exceptional customer service.

Professional Approach:

As a Wealth Advisor for Catalyst Planning Partners, I help affluent individuals and families achieve their financial goals. My job is straightforward -- to earn your trust through sound and unbiased advice, grounded in proven investment principles that create and preserve long-term wealth. 

I believe in the power of knowing where you’re going and how to get there.  I’m committed to working with you every step of the way, from taking time to understand your unique goals and dreams, to developing a comprehensive financial plan, to expert plan execution.  Finally, I’m committed to monitoring and adapting your plan for life’s inevitable changes and challenges.

In My Free Time:

Jennifer lives in downtown Chicago with her husband Kevin. They are enjoying their empty nesting years by taking advantage of the multiple cultural activities Chicago has to offer.  They also enjoy getting outside the city to golf, ski and visit family.

Education & Certifications:

• B.A. in Psychology, Trinity International University
• M.B.A., Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
• Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®)
• FINRA Series 6 & 63

Designations:

• MBA and WMCP®

Background & Expertise:

Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Marcus excelled in leadership, operations, logistics and strategy at Target and American Hotel Registry. He joined Northwestern Mutual Chicago in 2020 and successfully managed his own financial planning practice.

Marcus joined Catalyst Planning Partners in 2024 to provide a wholistic approach that helps clients achieve their goals while utilizing a team of experts that provide exceptional service.

Professional Approach:

Marcus’s mission is to guide clients to experience joy and impact with their resources. He enjoys discovering what motivates someone to succeed as well as solving complex problems and helping people move forward in their financial journey. He believes listening, empathy, and trust are key to an effective client/advisor relationship.

In My Free Time:

Marcus enjoys spending time with his wife, Missy, and their 2 girls Izzy and Elly. He serves on the Chicago council for International Justice Mission and in various roles at his local church. In his minimal free time, he enjoys golfing, grilling, playing basketball, and keeping a good Wordle streak alive.