Thomas (Tom) Nolan helps people aged 50 and older build retirement plans that actually make sense to them. As President of Nolan Wealth Management, he brings together retirement income planning, investment management, and tax planning strategies into one coordinated approach, rather than treating each as a separate decision made in isolation. His goal for every client is the same: a clear picture of where they stand today, a realistic plan for where they are headed, and a steady partner who stays involved for the long run.

Tom believes that sound financial advice should never require a translator. He has built his entire practice around explaining complex topics in plain, conversational language, without industry jargon and without making clients feel talked down to. He meets people without judgment, wherever they are in their financial journey, and works to help them understand their options clearly enough to make confident decisions on their own terms.

Why He Does This Work

Tom has always believed there is real value in simplicity. Early in his career, he noticed how many advisors leaned on complicated language and dense reports, sometimes to sound impressive, often at the expense of the client actually understanding their own plan. He set out to build something different: a practice where clients leave every conversation with more clarity than they walked in with, not less.

Ask Tom about his favorite part of the job, and he will not talk about markets or returns. He will tell you about the moment in a meeting when a client's shoulders visibly relax, the instant they realize their income, investments, and taxes are finally working together instead of pulling in different directions. That moment, watching years of financial stress lift because someone finally has a coordinated plan and the confidence that comes with it, is what continues to motivate him after two decades in this work.

Background

Tom founded Nolan Wealth Management in 2004 and has served as its President ever since. Before launching the firm, he worked as an Investment Counselor at Strong Investments, where he began building the foundation of client-centered, plain-language financial guidance that continues to define his approach today.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Tom also holds the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor^SM designation. His credentials reflect an ongoing commitment to staying current on the technical side of financial planning, so that the conversations he has with clients can stay focused on what matters most to them.

Education

• MBA, Marquette University
• B.S. in Finance, Marquette University
• Diploma, St. Viator High School

Outside the Office

Tom lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Adrienne, and their three children, Everett, Genevieve, and Wesley. Family sits at the center of his life outside of work, and a good deal of his free time goes toward coaching youth soccer, baseball, and basketball in Hinsdale, often for teams his own kids play on.

When he does carve out time for himself, you will usually find Tom on a golf course, though by his own admission, more often in a sand trap or searching the woods for a stray ball than on the fairway. He is a loyal fan of Marquette University basketball along with the Chicago Bulls, Bears, and Cubs, and he is always up for a good plate of Mexican food. Tom also enjoys traveling internationally whenever the opportunity arises, and he stays active in his community as a parishioner at St. John of the Cross in Western Springs and as a recurring Career Day speaker at local area high schools.