Sharon Allen

About Sharon Allen

Sterling Wealth Management is a fee-only private wealth management firm created with the individual in mind…their own personal family office. When I founded the firm in 2004, it was with a desire to be a “beacon of light” in the financial services industry, to elevate the conversation around true wealth, client service, and technical excellence. I love creating and growing a group of likeminded professionals that are the third party steward for our clients, working closely with each client’s unique team of professional advisors.Being the oldest child of a middle-class family in the Chicago suburbs, I was the first person in my extended family to go to college. Graduating from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign with my Finance degree, I began a professional journey of intimate involvement in all levels of managing the financial lives of affluent families and individuals. I am now the “personal chief financial officer” for my clients, specializing in helping them create tailored financial plans to help guide them through life’s transitions, such as transferring wealth to the next generation, loss of spouse, divorce, retirement, job changes or sale of a business. Being a positive voice within the financial services industry and giving back is important to me. I am an adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois in the Certified Financial Planning program, as well as a guest lecturer on various financial planning, investing and business topics. I am an active member of the nationally recognized wealth management study group, Family Wealth Advisors Council, and co-author of Caught in the Middle: How Does The Sandwich Generation Woman Not Get Squeezed?Community is very important to me. I give of my time as Board Chair of the University of Illinois Employee’s Credit Union, and Board and committee member of various non-profits in our area. As a mother of two, I also enjoy being actively involved in the local school community.

Experience

1. CEO & Co-founder

   Sterling Wealth Management

   Sep 2004 — Present · Urbana-Champaign, IL, US

   Founder and President of Sterling Wealth Management, an independent fee-only wealth management firm specializing in helping successful families and individuals prosper in every way and leave meaningful legacies.

Education

• Institute of Certified Bankers

  CTFA, Certified Trust & Financial Advisor

• Northern Illinois University

  Finance, Accounting

  1990 — 1992

• College for Financial Planning

  CFP (r), Certified Financial Planner

• Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Bachelor's, Finance, Investments

  1992 — 1995

Skills

• Wealth Management Services
• Leadership
• Portfolio Management
• Strategic Planning
• Financial Planning
• Financial Analysis
• Family Office
• Investments
• Personal Financial Planning
• Insurance Consulting
• Board Development
• Published Author
• Finance
• Estate Planning
• Charitable Gift Planning
• Strategic Financial Planning
• Credit Unions
• Wealth Management
• Management
• Investment Advisory
• Financial Services
• Board of Directors
• Holistic Financial Planning
• Retirement Planning
• Asset Managment
• University Teaching
• Strategy
• Consulting
• Risk Management
• Web Authoring
• Board of Director Experience