Matt Krajniak CFP®, CMFC
Matt Krajniak graduated from Benedictine University in 2004 with a B.B.A. in Finance and a minor in Economics. He worked for a local financial planning firm as an analyst until 2006, where he developed a passion for financial planning. Matt joined Waddell & Reed in 2006, securing his Series 66 and Series 7 registrations held through LPL Financial, and beginning with a clientele of his own. While building his practice, Matt completed the required coursework and experience requirements to obtain his CFP(r), and became a Certified Financial Planning (™) professional. A believer that education and knowledge provide value, Matt also became a Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC). The practice grew steadily over the next decade, until the decision was made to leave a captive agency and become an independent Financial Planner.
Financial planning is about having the right tools, at the right time, and using them the right way. Retirement accounts, bank savings, insurance, and a comprehensive plan tying them together; need to be created and maintained in a purposeful and thoughtful way. Having dealt with the results of not having a plan when things go wrong, Matt believes very strongly in the idea of being prepared for the “what if” moments in life. This might include things like job loss, forced retirement, health issues or early death, financial strains, long-term care situations, and a host of other things that may be uncomfortable to think about. Matt’s practice is designed to make the complex simple, with solutions that are easy to understand and that are also effective–because being simple isn’t very helpful if it doesn’t stand a good chance of working!
When not in the office, Matt spends his time with his wife Reese, their son Jackson, and their Border Collies Healey and Rover. He can usually be found in the garage tinkering with classic British sports cars, and is involved in numerous car clubs such as the Illinois Sports Owners Association, the Austin-Healey Club of America, and the Chicago Mini Motoring Club. Matt and Reese own a small collection of cars (including a pair of Austin-Healeys, several Triumphs, and a classic Mini), and they participate in events throughout the year. Since 2021, they have also found themselves in the world of offroad racing, with Reese behind the wheel of a Polaris RS1 at various tracks in Wisconsin and northern Michigan.
