I help people deal with the situation I found myself in – their financial lives turned completely upside down turned upside down due to divorce, death of a spouse, career change or other major life shift.

As a financial advisor, my primary goal is to help you protect what you already have, be your guide in helping you purse your objectives and help you secure financial independence.

I take my work seriously.  I am a Financial Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and have received multiple industry awards which include attending Barron's Top Women Advisors Summit, hosted by Barron's magazine(1).   In addition to these, I have been featured on local and national radio, on television, and in print media (including WBBM radio Noon Business Hour, Market Watch.com, Fox News, First Business [syndicated TV program], the Financial Advisor IQ [division of the Financial Times] and Nurses.com). 

As seen in Chicago Magazine, I have been named one of the recipients of the Five Star Wealth Managers Award every year since 2012, including 2019(2). This award recognition was also noted in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine.

In addition, I was honored to receive the "Woman of the Year" award from the National Association of Professional Women and was inducted into their “Women of the Year Circle” for 2016 & 2017 (3).  I am a member of the International Women's Leadership Association and the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago.

I have been named a “Premier Advisor” from 2013-2016 and 2020, which recognizes select Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors (4).


I have become known for creative audience presentations which combine investment concepts with a variety of everyday situations to help take the mystery out of managing your money. My most popular events include “Beauty & Her Financial Beasts,” “Investment Recipes” cooking demonstration, “What Do Chocolate, Emotions & Money Have in Common,” and “Prince Charming Is Not a Financial Plan.” My love of teaching financial concepts has evolved into helping parents teach their children how to avoid financial pitfalls with my, “How to Tame the Money Monster” presentation.

I can offer a wide range of investment products and planning services for every stage of life.

I graduated from Eastern Illinois University and hold Series 7, 31, 63 and 65 registrations along with insurance licenses and am a member of the Financial Planning Association.

My greatest assets are my husband, Keith, and my daughter, Amanda, and her family.  We live in Lincolnshire, IL.



1) PALM BEACH (November 30, 2016)— Judith A. McNiff, CFP

Women Advisors Summit, hosted by Barron’s magazine to promote best practices in the industry and the value of advice to the investing public.  The invitation-only conference was held at The Breakers, November 30 – December 2 in Palm Beach, FL…Judy was one of approximately 500 financial advisors who were selected by their firm to attend and participate in the conference. Participating firms included: Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Edward Jones, LPL Financial, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James Financial, RBC Wealth Management, Robert W. Baird & Co., Stifel Nicolaus, UBS  Financial Services Inc., and Wells Fargo Advisors.

2) The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Active as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process1); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients; 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. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or awarded. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided and is not indicative of the winner’s future performance.

2019 – 5430 (Chicago) wealth managers were considered for the award, 429 (8% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2018 - 5449 (Chicago) wealth managers were considered for the award, 435 (8% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2017 - 3781 (Chicago) wealth managers were considered for the award 437 (11% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2016 – 3411 [Chicago] wealth managers were considered for the award, 725 (22% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2015 – 5833 [Chicago] wealth managers were considered for the award; 716 (13% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2014 - 8131 [Chicago] wealth managers were considered for the award; 755(6% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2013 - 3998 [Chicago ] wealth managers were considered for the award; 782 (3% of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

2012 - 2970 [Chicago] wealth managers were considered for the award; 791 (3 % of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers.

To qualify as having a favorable regulatory and complaint history, the person cannot have: 1. been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a suspended or revoked license, or payment of a fine, 2. had more than three customer complaints filed against them (settled or pending) with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process, 3. individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint filed with a regulatory authority, 4. filed for bankruptcy, or 5. been convicted of a felony.

The Research & Development Committee of The National Association of Professional Woman selects the “Woman of the Year” nominees from the top 2% of its over 480,000 members using major search engines.  Nominees are interviewed and selected after considering prominence in their profession, commitment to further expand their role within their industry and their leadership achievements thus far.  They are chosen both on regional and national levels to represent their professional industry.

The Premier Advisor distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production and professionalism. Additional criteria, including length of service, may also be used to determine recipients.

 

 

CAR #0720-00665