Joseph Spokas
CPA/PFS, CFP® | Financial Advisor
JOSEPH SPOKAS
CPA/PFS, CFP® | Financial Advisor
EXPLOREJoseph Spokas
MY WHY
Why I Became a
Financial Advisor
Becoming a financial advisor for me was a natural progression. As a tax professional, I am typically faced with needing to inform clients of the ramifications of their past investment decisions. As their financial advisor, I am better equipped to help direct their financial success through a more disciplined and tax- efficient approach. Offering financial planning solutions has allowed me to broaden my services and provide well-rounded perspective to clients seeking financial guidance beyond tax planning assistance.
ABOUT JOE
Joe Spokas, CPA/PFS, CFP® joined Forum Financial Management in 2002. Before joining Forum, he was one of the first registered representatives with the Terra Financial Companies, the CFO of a large commercial printing company in suburban Chicago, a partner in several accounting and tax practices and now a partner of a CPA firm with his son Matt Spokas.
With more than 40 years of experience in public accounting and investment planning, he is active in many industry-related organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Illinois CPA Society, AICPA Personal Financial Planning Section and Financial Planning Association.
Joe is also involved in his community, having served for seven years as treasurer of the school board and religious education board at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lombard, Illinois. He has been active in several youth sports organizations and coached Little League baseball and fast-pitch softball for many years.
Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Personal Financial Specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, where he was a member of the hockey team.
Joe lives in Downers Grove with his wife, Mary Ellen. He loves golf and enjoys playing bridge, racquetball, biking and spending time with his family and friends.
FORUM ARTICLES & INSIGHTS
A PERSONAL APPROACH
Tell Us About Your Financial Life and Aspirations
Your experience begins with an initial meeting to identify your financial vision for the future and risk tolerance levels. We review our investment philosophy and approach with you so that you fully understand each milestone of our process and how our relationship will evolve over time.
PREVIOUS 
Discuss Topics Crucial to Your Financial Success
Over the course of the next few meetings, the content and breadth of each meeting is defined by your personal needs. We can review your estate planning and risk management needs, discuss retirement accumulation or distribution planning, evaluate educational funding needs, review your tax situation, and go over any other items crucial to your financial success.
PREVIOUS Develop a Strategic Plan Unique to You
Once you select an allocation, we put together a strategic implementation plan that will coordinate investment of your portfolio between qualified (tax-advantaged) assets and non-qualified assets in order to maximize tax efficiency. The topics we address during our time with you vary depending on your unique needs and situation.
Putting Your Plan Into Action
We establish your Forum account based on the portfolio allocation we discussed and what we learned about your risk tolerance and financial goals. With your new Forum account now in place, you will have the opportunity to access your Forum Client Portal for the first time and connect with members of the Forum Client Service team.
Review Goals and Plans When Your Life Changes
You will receive reporting that will clearly show your performance net of all fees and compared to applicable market indexes. Additionally your assets are held at a reputable third-party custodian that furnishes independent monthly reports so you can feel confident about the safe handling of your money.
