Dario Kerkez

Dario Kerkez, CFP®, CEPA®, is a Chicago-based wealth advisor who brings together nearly two decades of holistic financial planning and thoughtful exit planning to help individuals, families, and business owners make confident, disciplined financial decisions. He provides forward-looking guidance designed to simplify financial complexity, reduce risk, and build long-term, sustainable wealth.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, he provides comprehensive wealth management, integrating investments, tax strategies, retirement planning, insurance, and estate planning into a unified approach tailored to each client’s goals. Dario is a go-to resource for employer-sponsored 401(k)/403(b) retirement plans, guiding small and mid size companies, healthcare, nonprofits, and government organizations through fiduciary requirements, plan design review, and employee financial education.

As a CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR (CEPA®), he specializes in helping privately held businesses plan for growth, succession, and future transition. He works with owners to accelerate value, reduce business risk, and coordinate the personal financial impact of an eventual sale or generational transfer. His work bridges the gap between the owner’s personal balance sheet and the enterprise they have built, ensuring both are prepared for a successful exit, whenever that time comes. Dario’s process incorporates succession planning, leadership continuity, and collaboration with the owner’s CPA, attorney, banker, or M&A team.

Born in Europe and a graduate of the University of Belgrade with a B.A. in Industrial Engineering, Dario approaches financial planning the way high-performing organizations approach operations: with clarity, efficiency, and measurable outcomes. His engineering background brings structure, systems thinking, and financial acumen to both personal wealth planning and business strategy, benefiting clients who value thoughtful, process-driven guidance.

A lifelong learner with a deep curiosity for financial history, markets, and global events, Dario is equally passionate about making complex ideas simple and empowering for the people he serves. Outside the office, he enjoys exploring new places with his family, staying active in sports, and unwinding by Chicago’s lakefront.

Those who work with Dario often note his mix of warmth, wit, and genuine enthusiasm for helping others. He brings a friendly, down-to-earth style to every conversation, paired with a deep commitment to guiding clients toward decisions that shape their financial future and their family’s wellbeing.