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Volatility often tempts investors to time the market, which refers to trying to predict short-term price movements to buy or sell investments accordingly. Many investors seek to hoard cash and search for the perfect moment to invest. We are of the view that time in the market far outweighs attempting to time markets, as market timing can be a costly mistake. Furthermore, investors should always have a disciplined equity portfolio re-balancing strategy to ensure their exposure is not overly concentrated in one segment of the stock market. 1.) There is a Cost to Timing the Market Investors that think they can navigate markets through short-term buying and selling are doing so at the expense of long-term wealth generation. Often, the best days in the market occur during periods of market volatility. Missing the best days in the market proves costly for long-term returns. Consider the twenty-year time period from January 2003 through December 2022. A long-term investor who started with $100,000 in the S&P 500 in January 2003 would have seen their savings grow to $648,440 by December 2022. Conversely, a market timer who missed just the best 10 days during that twenty-year time period would have generated less than half of the returns than if they had stayed invested over the whole period. Source: VisualCapitalist, August 14, 2023. 2.) Implement a Dollar-Cost Averaging Strategy with Cash Cash has historically been a losing strategy versus stocks. According to Morningstar, there are very low odds of cash outperforming the stock market over long periods of time. Source: Morningstar: Cash Is No Longer Trash, but the Opportunity Cost Might Be Greater Than You Think, August 1, 2023. Those with excess cash on the sidelines and a long-term horizon would benefit from a dollar-cost averaging strategy. Dollar-cost averaging is a disciplined method of investing in the stock market, especially for those who have concerns about stock market investing. It is the practice of investing a fixed amount of cash into the stock market at a regular frequency, regardless of market conditions. A good example of this in practice is contributing a portion of your paycheck to your 401(k) or IRA each month. Utilizing a dollar-cost averaging strategy helps investors: Enforce disciplined investing habits, Remove emotion from the equation, Bolster their diversification, as cash can be used to purchase underweight areas of their equity portfolio, and Avoid the temptation to time the market. At RISE Investments, we embrace the dollar-cost averaging approach for our clients when adding to equity positions. 3.) Consider Re-balancing Investors that are overexposed to one segment of the stock market should always consider re-balancing. Up until very recently, the performance of the market-cap weighted S&P 500 index was being driven by a narrow group of mega-sized stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”. Meanwhile, the median stock in the index (i.e. the equal weighted S&P 500) underperformed. Due to their outperformance, Magnificent 7 stocks and the market-cap weighted S&P 500 have become much larger portions of many investor portfolios. According to Lyrical Asset Management, last year’s narrowness in market breadth approached the highest in a generation, as defined by the 3-month relative performance periods of the market-cap weighted S&P 500 versus the equal-weighted S&P 500. Historically, when the market-cap weighted S&P 500 outperforms the equal-weighted by such a margin, the subsequent 1, 3, and 5-year time periods favor diversifying into the equal-weighted S&P 500. Source: Lyrical Asset Management, September 5, 2024 Furthermore, during the same time periods of narrow market breadth, owning the cheapest quintile of stocks (i.e. value stocks) has historically led to greater future outperformance versus the market-weighted S&P 500. Source: Lyrical Asset Management, September 5, 2024 Over the past handful of months, Vince and I have taken active measures to re-balance our client’s equity allocations into equal-weighted S&P 500 and value strategies. We have conviction that this disciplined approach benefits our clients by reducing overall risk while also bolstering future potential returns. Conclusion Investing in the stock market may seem tedious, especially when market volatility is heightened. However, success can be drastically improved by putting three portfolio management tips into practice - staying invested, dollar-cost averaging, and disciplined portfolio re-balancing. Disclosure RISE Investment Management, LLC ("RISE" or "RISE Investments") is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. This publication is solely for informational purposes and past performance is not indicative of future results. Any historical returns, expected returns, or projections are provided for informational purposes only. Any description of products, services, and performance results of RISE contained in this publication are not an offering or a solicitation of any kind. No advice may be rendered by RISE Investments unless a client service agreement is in place. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RISE Investments and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. All of the information in this publication is believed to be accurate and correct as the date set forth. RISE does not have or accept responsibility or an obligation to update such information.

“Fee-only” and “fee-based” sound like the same thing, but they aren't. The difference can determine whether the advice you receive is built around your interests or someone else's commission target. What is a Fee-only Financial Advisor? A fee-only advisor is compensated exclusively by the fees clients pay directly. The fees are typically a percentage of assets under management, a flat retainer, or an hourly rate. Fee-only advisors do not accept commissions, referral fees, or other payments from the sale of financial products such as mutual funds, insurance policies, or annuities. What is a Fee-based Financial Advisor? A fee-based advisor charges client fees, similar to a fee-only advisor, but can also earn commissions from selling certain financial products. That dual compensation structure is the entire distinction. Fee-based is not a stricter version of fee-only, but rather a hybrid model that layers potential commission income on top of fees. What's the Core Difference Between Fee-only and Fee-based Advisors? The difference is the source of income beyond client-paid fees. Fee-only advisors have one revenue stream, which is what the client pays them for advice and execution. Fee-based advisors have two or three revenue streams; client fees, product commissions and in some cases revenue sharing agreements with certain third-party asset managers. That second stream introduces the possibility that a recommendation earns the advisor extra compensation depending on which product is chosen, regardless of the product is the best fit for the client or not. Are Fee-only Advisors Always Fiduciaries? Yes. When they are Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) or investment adviser representatives, fee-only advisors are held to a fiduciary standard under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, meaning they're legally required to act in the client's best interest at all times, not just when giving “investment advice” in a narrow technical sense. Are Fee-based Advisors Fiduciaries Too? Sometimes. A fee-based advisor may be a fiduciary when acting in an advisory capacity, but can switch to a lower “suitability” standard when selling a financial product they earn a commission or transaction-based compensation from, such as an annuity or a proprietary fund. That standard only requires the product to be suitable, not necessarily the best option available for the client. The advisor can move between the two standards within a single client relationship, which makes it harder for clients to know which set of rules applies to any given recommendation. Why Does the Commission Structure Matter to Me As a Client? It matters because commissions can create an incentive for advisors to recommend the option that pays the then more, rather than the option with the lowest cost or the best fit for the client. This isn't necessarily about bad actors, but more so a structural conflict of interest that exists whether or not any individual advisor acts on it. Fee-only compensation removes that incentive by design, since the advisor's income doesn't change based on which specific investment or product is chosen. How Can I Tell If an Advisor is Fee-only or Fee-based? Just ask them directly. You can also check their Form ADV Part 2A on FINRA's BrokerCheck website. Form ADV is a disclosure document that every RIA files and it describes compensation arrangements in the “Fees and Compensation” section. Advisors who are dually registered as both an investment adviser representative and a broker-dealer registered representative are typically fee-based, since broker-dealer registration allows commission income. Does Fee-only Mean an Advisor is Automatically Cheaper? Not necessarily. Fee-only advisors are compensated transparently but their fees, which often range from 0.50% to 1.25% of client assets under management annually, are not always lower than what a fee-based advisor charges. The advantage of fee-only compensation is clarity and alignment, not guaranteed lower cost. Clients should compare the total, all-in cost of advice, including any embedded product fees, regardless of the compensation model. Is Fee-only or Fee-based Better for My Situation? For most clients seeking ongoing financial planning, retirement guidance, or investment management, fee-only advice tends to minimize conflicts of interest, since compensation doesn't change based on specific investment product recommendations. Fee-based arrangements can make sense for clients who need a specific commissioned product, such as certain types of insurance, as part of a broader plan. However, it's worth understanding, product by product, whether a commission is involved and whether a fee-only alternative exists. About RISE Investments RISE Investments is a Chicago-based financial advisor that delivers tailored investment management and comprehensive financial planning services. We are fee-only and have a fiduciary duty to our clients, which consist of working professionals, business owners, retirees, pre-retirees, and multi-generation families. We serve our clients by designing and executing on clear, actionable financial plans and investment strategies built around our clients goals, responsibilities, and legacy intent. Disclosure RISE Investment Management, LLC ("RISE" or "RISE Investments") is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. This publication is solely for informational purposes and past performance is not indicative of future results. Any description of products, services, and performance results of RISE contained in this publication are not an offering or a solicitation of any kind. No advice may be rendered by RISE Investments unless a client service agreement is in place. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RISE Investments and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. All of the information in this publication is believed to be accurate and correct as the date set forth. RISE does not have or accept responsibility or an obligation to update such information. Please note, this article is for education purposes and should not be treated as tax or legal advice. This article is not a substitute for legal or tax advice from your professional legal or tax advisor.

Equity performance continued to be led by cyclical sectors, such as domestic small cap equities. Short-term interest rates rose on expectations of future Federal Reserve rate hikes. Small cap value equities represent a core weighting in RISE client equity allocations. Second Quarter Update Equities rose in the second quarter led by cyclical asset classes, such as U.S. small cap equities. Progress towards a resolution of the Iran conflict, strong earnings growth, and economic momentum offset concerns of tighter monetary policy through the quarter. The new Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh, is inheriting an economy that is growing above trend and an inflationary backdrop that is above their long-term target of 2.0%. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta Fed GDPNow real GDP estimate for 2026:Q2. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Consumption Expenditures Index for May 2026. The fixed income market has reflected the economic backdrop with Two-Year Treasury yields ascending to 4.1% compared to a Federal Funds target range of 3.50% to 3.75%. The Two-Year Treasury yield is a reasonable indicator of future Federal Reserve policy, signaling tighter monetary policy ahead despite political pressure for looser policy. This set up allows for higher levels of current income for fixed income clients and re-balancing opportunities for those who are overweight equity exposure. The Case for Small Cap Value Equities Recent headlines have been centered around multi-trillion-dollar market capitalization growth companies, including a stampede of initial public offerings (SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic, among others). Despite this excitement, a lesser owned corner of the equity market has been quietly outperforming. What are Small Cap Value Equities? Small cap value equities have small market capitalizations and cheap valuations. Within an equity style box, they reside in the bottom left corner. They generally comprise of cyclical old-economy industries, especially when compared to large cap growth equities which dominate many investor’s equity portfolios today. Why Have Small Cap Value Equities Outperformed Over the Long-Term? Since 1926, small cap value equities are the best performing equity asset class despite higher volatility. Small cap value equities have a unique return profile, which increases diversification benefits of owning them. For instance, small cap value equities provided healthy returns leading up to, and following, the 2000 tech bubble burst. The rationale for long-term outperformance of small cap value equities has been well documented by academic studies. The two most common reasons include: Size Premium: Small market capitalization companies outperform large market capitalization companies as investors are compensated for greater risks, such as higher volatility and lower liquidity. Value Premium: Value equities outperform growth equities, as they are perceived as riskier, which compensates investors with higher return. Why are Small Cap Value Equities Attractive Today? The favorable economic backdrop supports owning cyclical assets, such as small cap value equities. Additionally, from today’s valuations, the historic forward 5-year annualized return for small cap value equities is approximately 13%. Looking Forward and Parting Thoughts The first half of 2026 exemplified the value of diversification. Exposure across company sizes, geographies, and asset classes drove materially different, and in many cases better, outcomes than concentration in a single area of the market. As we enter the second half of the year, we are focused on the macroeconomic backdrop, geopolitical developments, and navigating a higher-for-longer rate environment. Real GDP is tracking toward approximately 2.2% growth for the full year, which is healthy but not immune to risk. Oil prices and the trajectory of the Iran conflict remain a wildcard for inflation and consumer spending, yet a sustained de-escalation could be a meaningful tailwind in the second half of the year. With the likelihood of tighter monetary policy ahead, we are maintaining a shorter duration position in fixed income, favoring the income available in short-to-intermediate U.S. Treasuries while preserving flexibility as the inflation picture evolves. Near-term market headlines, Fed press conferences, and a geopolitical flare-ups can feel urgent in the moment but rarely change the fundamentals of a well-constructed financial plan. Our job is to ensure your portfolio reflects your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. Not the day-to-day noise in any given quarter. As always, we welcome the opportunity to discuss this letter or answer any questions you may have. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time. Sincerely, The RISE Team Footnotes [1] Small Cap Value is the S&P 600 Value Index. Large Cap Growth is the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Performance data as of 6/30/2026. [2] Monthly data is from 7/1/1926-5/31/2026 per Dimensional Fund Advisors. Small Cap Value is the Fama/French U.S. Small Value Research Index. Large Cap Growth is the Fama/French U.S. Large Growth Research Index. [3] Small Cap Value is the Russell 2000 Value Index. Large Cap Growth is the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Returns are annualized. Disclosure RISE Investment Management, LLC ("RISE" or "RISE Investments") is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. This publication is solely for informational purposes and past performance is not indicative of future results. Any description of products, services, and performance results of RISE contained in this publication are not an offering or a solicitation of any kind. No advice may be rendered by RISE Investments unless a client service agreement is in place. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RISE Investments and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. All of the information in this publication is believed to be accurate and correct as the date set forth. RISE does not have or accept responsibility or an obligation to update such information. Please note, this article is for education purposes and should not be treated as tax or legal advice. This article is not a substitute for legal or tax advice from your professional legal or tax advisor.

At RISE Investments, we help working professionals, business owners, and retirees navigate the complexities of financial and wealth management with clarity and confidence. Our experienced team of CFP® professional financial advisors offer comprehensive guidance and execution across all areas of wealth management, including investment management, financial planning, tax reduction strategies, and estate planning. As a fee-only fiduciary, we’re legally bound to putting your best interests first. RISE INVESTMENTS Fiduciary Financial Advisors Personalized financial planning and investment management designed to help you make confident decisions at every stage of your financial life. Start a conversation RISE Investments is a Chicago-based financial advisor that delivers tailored investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to our clients. Established in 2019, we are committed to offering highly personalized advice and solutions to help our clients achieve long-term financial security and growth. We are fee-only, meaning we do not sell products or accept commissions, transaction-based compensation, or revenue sharing agreements with third-parties. We have a fiduciary duty to our clients, which consist of working professionals, business owners, retirees, pre-retirees, and affluent families. We serve our clients by designing and executing on clear, actionable financial plans and investment strategies built around our clients goals, responsibilities, and legacy intent. Meet our advisors FEATURED IN Our Services Financial Planning Learn More Investment Management Learn More Tax and Estate Planning Learn More Why Choose RISE Investments We offer a unique value proposition within the wealth management industry. With over two decades of industry experience and a future runway measured in several decades, the independent advisory setting allows RISE Investments to grow alongside our clients and bridge the gap between our client's evolving multi-generational financial planning and investment needs and best-in-class solutions to meet those needs. Fiduciary As a fiduciary, we serve as partners to our clients, upholding the highest standard of care and acting solely in our clients' best interest every step of the way. Additionally, our independent structure allows us to select the best solutions for you, unburdened by product-sale incentives. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioners For 50 years, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals must meet extensive training and experience requirements, and commit to CFP® Board's ethical standards that require putting clients' interests first. That's why partnering with a CFP® professional gives clients confidence today and a more secure tomorrow. Only 30% of U.S. financial advisors are CFP® practitioners. Chartered Financial Analyst® Charterholder A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) is a professional who has demonstrated expertise in investment management, financial research, and portfolio management. The CFA® charter is a globally recognized credential that's considered the pinnacle of professional development in investment management. Independent Ownership RISE is 100% independent and employee owned. This independence enables us to maintain a client-first approach and provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for our clients. Discipline and Integrity With a focus on long-term capital appreciation and tax efficiency, we seek to maximize client outcomes while safeguarding assets, treating each client’s portfolio as a unique entity tailored to their specific financial goals. Frequently Asked Questions For convenience, we have developed a list of some of the most common questions our prospective clients ask. If you have a specific question, please contact us. We're happy to answer any questions you may have! How Do I Become a Client? You can become a client by contacting us or calling us today at 312-620-4492. When you contact us, we will answer any questions you have and discuss your goals, circumstances, and objectives to determine if we are a mutual fit for each other. If there is a fit, we will guide you through each step of becoming a new client. Respecting your time and minimizing administrative work is one of our highest priorities when onboarding new clients. What is RISE's Approach to Investing? As a fiduciary, we put your best interests and financial well-being at the forefront of our investment strategy. We provide customized and tailored investment solutions aligned with your specific goals and objectives, incorporating robust risk management techniques to safeguard your investments. With a disciplined approach and a focus on fundamentals-based investing, we identify opportunities that not only meet your objectives but also enhance your overall financial health. As market conditions or your needs change, we may adjust your asset allocation to keep your portfolio positioned to meet your long-term objectives. Our advisors are dedicated to making informed investment choices grounded in a few fundamental principles, providing a reliable path to financial success.Asset AllocationUnbiased ProcessLong-term PerspectiveTax and Cost EfficiencyIntelligent ImplementationOpportunistic Investing (as appropriate) What are RISE's Fees? We are "fee-only", meaning we do not earn commissions or any transactional-based compensation. Rather, we utilize a tiered fee structure that is based on the scope of services you desire and size of your investment portfolio. This aligns us with only your interests, not our own. The only way we do better is if you do better. We believe our tiered fee structure is highly competitive in the industry. The fees our clients pay are most often lower than fees charged for comparable service standards by other financial professionals. Click here to learn more about financial advisor fees. We do not have any hidden or layered fees, and we do not receive compensation from anyone aside from our clients. Is There a Minimum Investment Amount to Become a Client? No. Unlike most financial advisors, we do not require you to have a certain amount of assets to become a client. Rather, we accept new clients based on mutual fit, circumstances, and scope of services desired. What Types of Investments Does RISE Help Manage for Clients We primarily invest our client’s portfolios in listed common stocks, fixed income securities, and funds (such as stocks, bonds, real estate investment trusts, mutual funds, and exchange‐traded funds). As appropriate per client circumstances, needs, and suitability, we may also invest a portion of our client’s portfolios in privately placed funds and investments, such as private real estate, hedge funds, private equity, private credit, and other non-listed pooled investment vehicles. We tailor each of our client's investment portfolios for their specific goals and objectives, incorporating robust risk management techniques to safeguard their investments. How Does RISE Protect Client Assets Safeguarding client assets and maintaining privacy of confidential client information is at the forefront. We utilize Charles Schwab to custody our client's assets, helping to reduce potential conflicts of interest and promote transparency. Charles Schwab has been in business for over 50 years and is widely regarded as one of the most reputable and safest custodians in the industry, regulated by both the SEC and FINRA, ensuring adherence to stringent financial standards. Click here to learn about how Charles Schwab helps to protect client assets. We take the issue of cyber/data security seriously and have implemented the following framework to protect client data: "Clean desk" policies and procedures Employee specific login usernames and passwords on company computers Virus and malware protection Segregation of all client information and documentation on the company's secure network (Microsoft OneDrive), which requires additional password and security requirements to access. What is RISE's Financial Planning Process? It starts with building a relationship. The more complete our understanding of your life, goals, and objectives, the more comprehensive our solutions. Whether you have a clear vision for the future or need guidance to shape it, we play a privileged role in helping our clients discover, design, and bring their possibilities to life. Discovery: It starts with a conversation. During our first meeting, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of your financial goals, assets, liabilities, values, interests, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Construction of Your Plan: We'll leverage the information you provide to us to analyze your current course of action and potential alternative courses of action. Evaluation and Review: During our second meeting together, we'll present your plan, recommended course of action, and our analysis of your current investment portfolio. We'll walk through all key aspects of your plan, answering any questions you have. Finalization: Sometimes new information comes up during the Evaluation and Review stage. If any adjustments to your plan are needed, we'll make the adjustments and deliver a revised plan. Implementation: We'll work together to begin implementing your financial plan. Implementation includes our client onboarding process, beginning with account opening and consolidation, followed by a portfolio transition conversation, tax considerations, and any advanced planning priorities, if applicable. Monitoring and Re-Evaluation: As your goals, priorities, and circumstances change, so too does your plan. We'll continuously monitor and adapt your plan as appropriate to ensure it remains aligned with your aspirations and responsive to new opportunities and challenges you are presented with. What Should I Expect When Working with a Financial Advisor? As your wealth grows, so does the complexity of managing it well. Our financial advisors serve as a strategic partner for you, helping to coordinate each dimension of your financial life into one cohesive plan. We proactively support our clients in four key areas including: Comprehensive Financial Planning Investment Management Tax Optimization and Advanced Planning Legacy and Estate Planning Strategies You may already have a financial team in place, and you may even have a financial plan in place. However, even strong plans can be subject to costly blind spots. When your outside professionals and advisors, such as your estate attorney, CPA, or insurance experts, should be involved, we coordinate seamlessly with them to treat your portfolio as a unique entity rather than a model to be applied. About

RISE Investments is a Chicago-based fiduciary financial advisor. We provide our clients with tax-efficient portfolio management and asset allocation strategies customized to your unique goals to maximize your wealth and financial outcomes. We serve working professionals, retirees, and high-net-worth families. Investment Management Optimize Your Investment Portfolio With a disciplined approach and a focus on fundamentals-based investing, we design and manage personalized investment portfolios that not only meet your goals and objectives but also enhance your overall financial health. As a fiduciary, RISE Investments puts your best interests and financial well-being at the forefront, incorporating robust risk management techniques to safeguard your investments. Speak with an advisor Our Core Investment Philosophy Our advisors are dedicated to making informed investment choices grounded in a few fundamental principles, providing a reliable path to financial success. Fiduciary Pledge Asset Allocation Unbiased Process Long-Term Perspective Tax and Cost Efficency Opportunistic Investing Markets Evolve, and So Do We Fiduciary Pledge Our fee-only structure is simple and transparent. As a fiduciary investment advisor, our client's best interests and goals are always put ahead of our own. Unbiased Process Investment decisions should not be driven by emotion. We utilize an unbiased, emotion-free process to vet, due diligence, and select investments for our clients. We combine our team's CFA® charterholder acumen with our investment and financial markets expertise to deliver value and long-term results for our clients. Asset Allocation Asset allocation is the biggest determinant of your portfolio's returns. As a crucial element of investing, asset allocation results in balancing of risk and reward. A well-crafted allocation reduces the impact of volatility, enhances a portfolio's resilience, and allows you to navigate various market conditions with greater confidence and stability. Long-Term Perspective Our investment decisions are driven by a long-term, fundamentals-based outlook. We approach investing for our clients as if we are part owners of the businesses we invest in, not traders of companies' stocks. We strive to maximize investment returns based on the investment risk you can, or desire, to take. Generally, we view risk as permanent impairment of capital which is typically recognized as paying too high of a price for an investment versus the estimated intrinsic value. Tax and Cost Efficiency Investment fees, expenses and taxes are inevitable, yet they are a drag on investment performance. We seek to minimize all costs of investing but also believe there is incremental value in paying for the right active managers that add incremental value. We incorporate both active and passive strategies into our client portfolios. Opportunistic Investing Markets can be inefficient, especially at extremes when emotions prevail among market participants. Market inefficiencies can commonly create pricing dislocations and attractive entry points in financially strong businesses that possess long-term competitive advantages. We may seek to take advantage of inefficiencies when they present themselves. Markets Evolve, and So Do We The only constant is change, and we treat that as an advantage, not a threat. Access to deep research and timely insight allows us to stay clear-eyed and confident, adjusting as circumstances shift in our clients' lives and in the markets around them. Our Investment Process We first identify your investment goals, objectives, and risk tolerance. We follow a structured process to establish your target asset allocation and build you a goals-based investment portfolio tailored to your specific goals and objectives. 1) Identify Your Goals and Objections We start by working with you to identify and understand your time horizon, goals, objectives, liquidity needs, and attitude toward investing. This entails you completing a client profile questionnaire and one or more personal conversations with your advisor. 2) Develop an Asset Allocation Plan Based on your goals and objectives identified in step 1, we will craft you a personalized asset allocation to maximize your returns relative to your risk tolerance. Determining the most appropriate asset allocation policy is paramount to your investment strategy. 3) Tax-Smart Implementation We take a comprehensive and tax-smart approach that integrates your asset allocation across all your accounts instead of considering each account in a silo. If you have new cash to be invested, we will dollar-cost-average your cash into the allocation. If you have any existing concentrated stock positions, we utilize strategies to manage the associated tax implications. 4) Ongoing Management and Monitoring The work we do for you does not stop after your investment strategy is implemented. From there, we continuously monitor your portfolio, re-balancing and tax-loss harvesting when appropriate. Over time, your portfolio can drift away from the targeted allocation. We regularly monitor this and make adjustments as appropriate to ensure your investment strategy remains aligned with your goals and objectives. 1 Identify Your Goals and Objectives We start by working with you to identify and understand your time horizon, goals, objectives, liquidity needs, and attitude toward investing. This entails you completing a client profile questionnaire and one or more personal conversations with your advisor. 3 Tax-Smart Implementation We take a comprehensive and tax-smart approach that integrates your asset allocation across all your accounts instead of considering each account in a silo. If you have new cash to be invested, we will dollar-cost-average your cash into the allocation. If you have any existing concentrated stock positions , we utilize strategies to manage the associated tax implications. 2 Develop an Asset Allocation Plan Based on your goals and objectives identified in step 1, we will craft you a personalized asset allocation to maximize your returns relative to your risk tolerance. Determining the most appropriate asset allocation policy is paramount to your investment strategy. 4 Ongoing Management and Monitoring The work we do for you does not stop after your investment strategy is implemented. From there, we continuously monitor your portfolio, re-balancing and tax-loss harvesting when appropriate. Over time, your portfolio can drift away from the targeted allocation. We regularly monitor this and make adjustments as appropriate to ensure your investment strategy remains aligned with your goals and objectives. Frequently Asked Questions How do RISE's financial advisors build a portfolio? A well-constructed portfolio is built around the client's time horizon, risk tolerance, tax situation, and specific goals, using an asset allocation framework designed to balance expected return against volatility. What is asset allocation and why does it matter? Asset allocation is how a portfolio is divided among asset classes, such as equities, bonds and fixed income, cash, and alternatives. Asset allocation is the primary driver of a portfolio's long-term risk and return characteristics, generally mattering more than individual security selection. Getting this right for your specific timeline and goals is typically higher-impact than trying to pick winning stocks. At RISE, we take it a step further and incorporate underlying category allocations for each asset class. For example, instead of just bucketing all equities together, we structure a targeted allocation for each equity category: Large cap growthLarge cap blendLarge cap valueMid cap growthMid cap blendMid cap valueSmall cap growthSmall cap blendSmall cap valueInternational developedEmerging markets What is the difference between financial planning and investment management? At RISE, our investment management service is a subset of our comprehensive financial planning service. Our clients can choose to utilize our investment management service on a stand-alone basis, or as part of a comprehensive financial planning relationship. When you work with a RISE advisor for investment management as part of a comprehensive financial planning relationship, it ensures that your asset allocation and investment strategy remain integrated and aligned with the rest of your financial plan. How should I manage RSUs and stock options as part of my investment portfolio? We evaluate equity compensation alongside your total portfolio, since concentrated stock positions from RSUs or ISOs can create outsized company-specific risk. A common approach we may recommend is systematically diversifying vested shares while managing the tax impact of sales and vesting events. However, your unique goals and circumstances will dictate our recommendation specific to your situation. Should I diversify out of my company stock? While your unique goals and circumstances will dictate our recommendation specific to your situation, a general rule of thumb is to limit any single stock position to a small percentage of your total net worth. Relying on your employer as your main source of income plus having a concentrated stock position in the company can expose your financial life to outsized idiosyncratic risks tied to that one individual company. Our recommendation for your specific situation would depend on variables such as tax cost, blackout periods, conviction in the company, your timeline, risk tolerance, and goals. Does RISE consider alternative investments? Yes, we do in addition to traditional stocks and bonds. We have access to a full suite of best-in-class alternative investment fund managers and investment strategies, and we combine that with our team's extensive private markets expertise and experience to identify, fully vet, and recommend alternative investments for our clients.Certain alternative investments can provide diversification, tax, and risk management benefits over a full market cycle, yet they also come with unique risks and things to consider relative to traditional stocks and bonds. Alternative investments are typically accessible and most suitable for Accredited Investors and high-net-worth families with investment time horizons of 5-10 years or longer. What's the difference between a CFP® and a CFA®? A CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) credential focuses on comprehensive financial planning (retirement, tax, investment, estate, and cash flow strategy), while a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) credential focuses on investment analysis and portfolio management. RISE's advisors hold both credentials, combining planning breadth with investment depth.For 50 years, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals must meet extensive training and experience requirements, and commit to CFP® Board's ethical standards that require putting clients' interests first. That's why partnering with a CFP® professional gives clients confidence today and a more secure tomorrow. Only 30% of U.S. financial advisors are CFP® practitioners.A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) is a professional who has demonstrated expertise in investment management, financial research, and portfolio management. The CFA® charter is a globally recognized credential that's considered the pinnacle of professional development in investment management. How do I get started? You can become a client by contacting us or calling us today at 312-620-4492. When you contact us, we will answer any questions you have and discuss your goals, circumstances, and objectives to determine if we are a mutual fit for each other. If there is a fit, we will guide you through each step of becoming a new client. Respecting your time and minimizing administrative work is one of our highest priorities when onboarding new clients. Tax and Estate Planning

RISE Investments is a Chicago-based fiduciary, fee-only financial planning firm helping professionals, business owners, retirees, and high-net-worth families with retirement, tax, investment, stock compesation, estate, and comprehensive wealth planning. Financial Planning Tax-Smart Financial Planning Built Around Your Life We work closely with you to build a comprehensive financial plan built around your life and goals, not financial products. The most effective financial plans serve a guide to help you make prudent decisions, track progress, handle both expected and unexpected events as you go through life, and determine if you’re on track along the way. Whether you are a high net worth individual, a high earner starting to build wealth, a mid-career professional, just sold a company, or are planning for retirement, our team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional advisors are here to provide support where you need it most. Get Started Employee Benefit Optimization Employee Benefit Optimization For many professionals, employer benefits and equity compensation represent one of the largest and most complex pieces of their overall financial picture. We'll help you maximize the after-tax value of your benefits and create a strategy that coordinates each benefit into your broader tax, cash flow, and long-term wealth picture. Incentive stock option (ISOs) planning Non-qualified stock options (NSOs) Restricted stock units (RSUs) Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) Net Unrealized Appreciation 401(k), 403(b), and deferred compensation retirement plan elections Pension distribution elections 401(k) rollovers Employer-sponsored life insurance and disability coverage Risk Management & Insurance Risk Management & Insurance We take a comprehensive look at where your financial plan is exposed and help close those gaps thoughtfully without over-insuring or paying for coverage you don't need. This includes reviewing life insurance needs to ensure your loved ones can maintain their lifestyle if life takes an unexpected turn. As an independent, fee-only fiduciary, we have no incentive to sell insurance products. Our role is to give you an objective assessment of your needs and, where appropriate, coordinate with trusted insurance professionals to help you implement the right coverage. Education Planning Education Planning We'll help you prepare for the cost of college or other post-secondary education, whether for children, grandchildren, or yourself. Education planning involves selecting the optimal savings vehicles, determining an appropriate funding timeline, and coordinating contributions in a way that balances education goals with tax-efficiency and your other financial priorities. 529 Savings Plans Roth IRAs Coverdell ESAs Estate & Charitable Planning Estate & Charitable Planning We'll help you build an estate plan and giving strategy that reflects your values and protects your legacy. This includes reviewing and coordinating beneficiary designations across accounts, working alongside your attorney to ensure your estate documents align with your current wishes, and evaluating strategies like gifting appreciated stock directly to charity or using a Donor-Advised Fund to bunch multiple years of giving into a single tax year. We also help you navigate more complex planning opportunities, such as leveraging current estate and gift tax exemption levels before they change, and ensuring that both family and philanthropic goals are met as efficiently as possible. Retirement Planning Retirement Planning The process starts with establishing realistic retirement goals and understanding your investment time horizon. We'll project future income needs, coordinate income sources, and create a sustainable cash flow strategy to maximize the longevity of your nest egg and help you retire with confidence. Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies Social Security optimization Healthcare planning Pension and employer benefit analysis Retirement income planning Monte Carlo analysis to stress test withdrawal rates with sequence of returns risk Investment Planning Investment Planning A disciplined process of building and managing a customized portfolio designed to help you reach your specific financial goals. We start by gaining an understanding of your time horizon, risk tolerance, tax situation, and what the money is actually for. From there, we'll recommend a diversified asset allocation and adjust it over time if your goals or life circumstances evolve. The most prudent investment strategies are designed for the long-term and they do chase short-term performance. Rather, they help to assure you achieve sufficient returns to support your goals without taking excessive risk or causing needless anxiety. Asset allocation is the mix of stocks, bonds, and other securities in your portfolio. It helps balance risk and growth over time, and it is the biggest determinant of your portfolio's returns and risk profile. Tax Planning Strategies Tax Planning Strategies Taxes can quickly erode the returns of an otherwise strong financial plan. Tax planning involves proactive and ongoing coordination of income, deductions, and investment decisions to minimize current and future tax liabilities. Roth IRA conversion strategies Tax-advantaged saving strategies Tax-loss harvesting Inherited asset planning Strategic timing of disqualifying dispositions on ESPP shares Asset location and withdrawal strategies Cash Flow & Debt Management Cash Flow & Debt Management Cash flow planning is the process of understanding and coordinating your money coming in and going out. It involves closely tracking income and expenses, identifying spending patterns and trends over time, and using that insight to make informed, proactive financial decisions. This discipline helps to ensure you can comfortably cover ongoing expenses, work steadily toward your financial goals, and avoid the kind of cash shortfalls that force reactive, costly decisions down the road. Key Planning Expertise Our advisors understand your goals and concerns may go far beyond investment returns. Preserving what you have built, minimizing unnecessary tax erosion, and creating a lasting legacy are of equal importance. As key part of the planning process, our advisors develop personalized strategies tailored to the unique aspects of your life and wealth. We'll provide you with insights to understand the connections between your decisions and their impact on complex, interrelated questions. Retirement Planning The process starts with establishing realistic retirement goals and understanding your investment time horizon. We'll project future income needs, coordinate income sources, and create a sustainable cash flow strategy to maximize the longevity of your nest egg and help you retire with confidence.Tax-efficient withdrawal strategiesSocial Security optimizationHealthcare planningPension and employer benefit analysisRetirement income planningMonte Carlo analysis to stress test withdrawal rates with sequence of returns risk Investment Planning A disciplined process of building and managing a customized portfolio designed to help you reach your specific financial goals. We start by gaining an understanding of your time horizon, risk tolerance, tax situation, and what the money is actually for. From there, we'll recommend a diversified asset allocation and adjust it over time if your goals or life circumstances evolve. The most prudent investment strategies are designed for the long-term and they do chase short-term performance. Rather, they help to assure you achieve sufficient returns to support your goals without taking excessive risk or causing needless anxiety. Asset allocation is the mix of stocks, bonds, and other securities in your portfolio. It helps balance risk and growth over time, and it is the biggest determinant of your portfolio's returns and risk profile. Tax Planning Strategies Taxes can quickly erode the returns of an otherwise strong financial plan. Tax planning involves proactive and ongoing coordination of income, deductions, and investment decisions to minimize current and future tax liabilities.Roth IRA conversion strategiesTax-advantaged saving strategiesTax-loss harvestingInherited asset planningStrategic timing of disqualifying dispositions on ESPP shares Asset location and withdrawal strategies Cash Flow & Debt Management Cash flow planning is the process of understanding and coordinating your money coming in and going out. It involves closely tracking income and expenses, identifying spending patterns and trends over time, and using that insight to make informed, proactive financial decisions. This discipline helps to ensure you can comfortably cover ongoing expenses, work steadily toward your financial goals, and avoid the kind of cash shortfalls that force reactive, costly decisions down the road. Employee Benefits Optimization For many professionals, employer benefits and equity compensation represent one of the largest and most complex pieces of their overall financial picture. We'll help you maximize the after-tax value of your benefits and create a strategy that coordinates each benefit into your broader tax, cash flow, and long-term wealth picture. Incentive stock option (ISOs) planningNon-qualified stock options (NSOs)Restricted stock units (RSUs)Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs)Net Unrealized Appreciation401(k), 403(b), and deferred compensation retirement plan electionsPension distribution elections401(k) rolloversEmployer-sponsored life insurance and disability coverage Risk Management & Insurance We take a comprehensive look at where your financial plan is exposed and help close those gaps thoughtfully without over-insuring or paying for coverage you don't need. This includes reviewing life insurance needs to ensure your loved ones can maintain their lifestyle if life takes an unexpected turn. As an independent, fee-only fiduciary, we have no incentive to sell insurance products. Our role is to give you an objective assessment of your needs and, where appropriate, coordinate with trusted insurance professionals to help you implement the right coverage. Education Planning We'll help you prepare for the cost of college or other post-secondary education, whether for children, grandchildren, or yourself. Education planning involves selecting the optimal savings vehicles, determining an appropriate funding timeline, and coordinating contributions in a way that balances education goals with tax-efficiency and your other financial priorities.529 Savings PlansRoth IRAsCoverdell ESAs Estate & Charitable Planning We'll help you build an estate plan and giving strategy that reflects your values and protects your legacy. This includes reviewing and coordinating beneficiary designations across accounts, working alongside your attorney to ensure your estate documents align with your current wishes, and evaluating strategies like gifting appreciated stock directly to charity or using a Donor-Advised Fund to bunch multiple years of giving into a single tax year. We also help you navigate more complex planning opportunities, such as leveraging current estate and gift tax exemption levels before they change, and ensuring that both family and philanthropic goals are met as efficiently as possible. How We Build Your Plan Our process starts with building a relationship. The more complete our understanding of your life, goals, and objectives, the more comprehensive your plan will be. Whether you have a clear vision for the future or need guidance to shape it, we play a privileged role in helping our clients discover, design, and bring their possibilities to life. Discovery It starts with a conversation. During our first meeting, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of your financial goals, assets, liabilities, values, interests, time horizon, and risk tolerance. We'll request key information from you to create your plan. 1 Construction of Your Plan We'll leverage the information you provide to us and our team's financial planning expertise as we construct your plan. No two financial plans are alike, although it typically takes our team one to two weeks after receiving your information to complete, examine, and rigorously stress-test your plan. 2 Evaluation and Review We'll present your plan, results, and our analysis of your current investment portfolio. We'll walk through all key aspects of your plan, answering any questions you have. Lastly, we'll provide our recommended investment portfolio, tax strategies, and all other key tailored recommendations that will help you achieve your goals. 3 Finalization Sometimes new information comes up during the Evaluation and Review stage. If any adjustments to your plan are needed, we'll make the adjustments and deliver a revised plan. Once all aspects of your plan have been agreed upon, we'll finalize your plan and proceed to implementation. 4 Implementation We'll work together to begin implementing your financial plan. Implementation includes our client onboarding process, beginning with account opening and consolidation, followed by a portfolio transition conversation, tax considerations, and any advanced planning priorities, if applicable. 5 Monitoring and Re-Evaluation Regular reviews and adjustments keep your plan responsive to new opportunities and challenges presented, allowing you to stay on track as you navigate your financial journey. As your goals, priorities, and circumstances change, so too does your plan. 6 Investment Management