About Us

With a 50+ year career as a trusted financial steward, there is little Richard Barrett hasn’t seen or overcome for his clients. Born to be both a leader and a solver of problems, Dick is passionate about treating clients like family to help them achieve their goals in his role as Founder and Managing Director at Barrett Group Wealth Management.

After beginning his career at the investment firm F.I DuPont, Dick moved his financial practice to a predecessor firm for Wells Fargo Advisors. The industry has taken notice of his work throughout the decades - he has been bestowed several recognitions including 2024 Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network Platinum Council, and the Southern Illinois University’s (his alma mater) School of Business Hall of Fame. Unsatisfied by the homogenous nature of the industry, Dick pioneered the Barrett Group to enforce a higher standard of goal-oriented care, communication, and service for his clients.

An active member of his professional community, Dick was the charter president of the Hinsdale Gateway Rotary Club, co-chairman of the Laidlaw School Board of Western Springs, member of the Oak Brook Association of Commerce and Industry, and director of the Ruth Lake Country Club. He’s worked with the Fire & Police Pension Plan for Illinois and has been featured in the Chicago Tribune’s ‘Ask the Expert’ column. In addition to lecturing at the University of Illinois, Dick also graduated from the Securities Industry Association Institute held at the Wharton School.

Of all his accomplishments in life, Dick is the proudest of the great family he’s built in Burr Ridge. Dick serves as a Board Member for Hinsdale Hospital Foundation, is the founder of the Barrett Family Foundation as well as the Goodfellows Group Partnership that serves to lift up the less fortunate. Beyond that, Dick loves traveling the globe, hitting the links, or spending time at his home in New Buffalo, MI. When you see him, be sure to ask about his time as an experienced yachtsman who has sailed worldwide.

The Platinum Council distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by business production from the previous year and professionalism.

For Jessie Barrett, being a financial advisor has always been a family business. Not only did Jessie follow his father’s footsteps into the industry, he makes a personal promise to treat his clients like family as Managing Partner at Barrett Group Wealth Management. To accomplish this, he draws on three abiding principles: always putting the wonderful people he serves before himself, caring about what’s most important to them, and always keeping them on track toward their goals.

Having started at Wells Fargo Advisors at the turn of the century after working on the Chicago Board of Trade and the floor of the NYSE, Jessie incorporates over 20 years of diverse experiences when helping clients build, manage, and transition their wealth. He specializes in simplifying complex concepts to give families, foundations, and pension plans cost-effective, objective, and unbiased guidance. Jessie pioneered The Barrett Group with his father Dick Barrett to assist clients in taking control of their destiny while truly identifying with them, seeking the positive in every situation, and offering ‘only the best’ financial vehicles. In addition to a B.A. from DePauw University, his commitment to lifelong learning and constant improvement led him to earn the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Jessie Barrett, CFP®, Managing Director has been named as a 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager! 

The importance of family goes well beyond professional responsibilities for Jessie. Of all his accomplishments in life, he’s most proud of his son Chase. A lifelong resident of the Hinsdale area, giving back to his community is important to him. Jessie serves on the HCS Family Services Board of Directors for nearly 10 years. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family in Clarendon Hills, hitting the trail on his bike or the links with his clubs.

CA Insurance License #: 0E02435
Resident State: IL

The award was issued on 10/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 01/09/2024 through 08/09/2024. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 6273 Chicago area wealth managers were considered for the award; 400 (6% percent of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

At Barrett Group Wealth Management, Michael is excited to combine his technical acumen and relationship-building skills to help clients achieve their financial goals. Known for his ability to simplify complex financial strategies, Michael’s focus on delivering thoughtful, personalized solutions aligns perfectly with our mission.

Michael brings a wealth of expertise in financial analysis, commercial banking, and private debt, along with a proven ability to build lasting client relationships. His diverse experience includes roles as Relationship Manager, Portfolio Manager, and most recently, Vice President of Credit at InvestBev, where he successfully launched a private debt fund specializing in whiskey industry lending. Michael’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach make him a valuable addition to our leadership team.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys a full family life with his wife, their two young sons and their dog. He is also an avid golfer and serves as Membership Chair for the Ambassador’s Council of the First Tee of Greater Chicago, an organization dedicated to youth development through golf.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Armed with the soul of an artist, Jennifer Johnson goes far beyond her role as Senior Client Relationship Manager at Barrett Group Wealth Management. In addition to streamlining operations and solving issues, she builds strong relationships by demonstrating trustworthiness, reliability, and true care for those she serves.

Jenn is at her best nailing down details and getting everyone on the same page to collaboratively exceed client expectations on the path to achieving their goals. She has expertise in estate processing issues as well as using tools like eMoney to assist clients with complex inquiries and contributes to the Barrett Group’s marketing efforts. Always seeking to improve her knowledge and capabilities, Jenn supported herself full-time while earning a degree from Loyola University Chicago as an adult learner.

Jenn is an avid supporter of ‘My Half of the Sky’ to help women in her community affected by trafficking, addictions, or life as a refugee. After growing up in Melrose Park, she now loves living in Aurora with her husband and their ‘perfect’ dog. In her personal time, you’ll find Jenn putting her soul into ceramic creations, saying hello to the many dogs that populate Aurora, or making every moment count with her friends & family.

Having gained deep proficiencies in many different aspects of financial services over his 25+ year career, Robert Bullard ensures operational excellence for both clients and advisors alike as a Senior Registered Client Relationship Manager at The Barrett Group. Without question, Rob has always been at his happiest when solving problems for his colleagues and clients.

Armed with a strong work ethic, Rob honed his skills in research, analysis, writing, critical thinking, and communication at places like Chicago Investment Group and David A. Noyes & Co. As he worked with The Barrett Group as a Governance Specialist while he was at Wells Fargo Advisors, he already had familiarity with the practice and was a natural addition to the team. He backs all this up with a master's in Political Science from Roosevelt University.

A lifelong resident of the Chicagoland area who now resides in Tinley Park, Rob makes sure to enjoy all the city has to offer. In his free time, he can be found bullseye-ing womp rats in his T-16 back home.