About Us
We help business owners and other busy professionals plan their finances and manage their investments. We use systematic methods to increase the chances of success for each client in both financial planning and investing. Our objective advice can be a key ingredient in the financial well-being of each client, especially when you retire or sell your business.
How We Got Started
With 12 years of industry experience in 2010, Mike Sedlak (CFA, CFP, MBA) founded Golden Trail Advisers to focus on the financial planning and investment needs of business owners and other busy professionals.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (4)
"Mike is super knowledgeable and even more helpful. "
"Because you are dealing with bright, young and caring people."
Products & Services
Your business is probably your most valuable asset. We help you account for your business in your personal financial plan. Whether you ultimately...
Golden Trail Advisers offers comprehensive wealth management for business owners, corporate executives and other high net worth individuals. We al...
When you need to count on expertise, we're here to help. Golden Trail Advisers offers free consultation calls to clients in and around Burr Ridge. ...
Recommendations Given (3)
"Kerry is the kind of place we like to work with...Kind, caring and very good at their craft. "
"They help you put your best foot (and ankle) forward. Great doctors with an excellent support..."
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"They help you put your best foot (and ankle) forward. Great doctors with an excellent support staff. I always like going to their office."
Recent Activity
Amanda, my business coach, gave me a format for transitioning to each new year. I have been using it with good results for 8-9 years. My business groups also have done it - and they like it.
Amanda recommends 4 categories for your bullet point list:
- What went right?
- What went wrong?
-...
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Amanda, my business coach, gave me a format for transitioning to each new year. I have been using it with good results for 8-9 years. My business groups also have done it - and they like it.
Amanda recommends 4 categories for your bullet point list:
- What went right?
- What went wrong?
- Who should you thank?
- Who should you forgive?
You can add your top 3-5 priorities for the next year. Hint: you want those to make it into the "What Went Right?" category next year.
Give this a shot. Browsing through your notes, calendar and goals can help you see how much you actually got done. It's a great way to establish a productive mindset going into the new year. Have fun if you decide to do this.
Happy New Year!
We have stayed in touch with our wealth management clients by phone, virtual meetings, email and newsletters. Clients have graciously accepted that we could not sit down at our conference table, especially during the worst part of this pandemic.
As we continue steps toward opening up, my...
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We have stayed in touch with our wealth management clients by phone, virtual meetings, email and newsletters. Clients have graciously accepted that we could not sit down at our conference table, especially during the worst part of this pandemic.
As we continue steps toward opening up, my biggest concern is that about 1/3 of people who have COVID-19 show no symptoms. That means one of our staff or I could unknowingly infect one of our clients. That would be horrible.
Or, it could happen the other way - one of our clients could infect a member of our team. We have the right number of people working at Golden Trail and someone getting sick for two or more weeks would be very difficult to navigate.
We use Redtail and have been very happy with the functionality and service. We looked at Salesforce and that was too cumbersome. Redtail has some integrations with TD Ameritrade that are useful, too.
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We use Redtail and have been very happy with the functionality and service. We looked at Salesforce and that was too cumbersome. Redtail has some integrations with TD Ameritrade that are useful, too.
Recently, we were referred by a CPA to a potential 401(k) client. With 20+ years experience in retirement plans, a solid product and competitive pricing, I thought we were a shoe-in.
Toward the end of the meeting, the client said that he was impressed with our capabilities, but he had a long...
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Recently, we were referred by a CPA to a potential 401(k) client. With 20+ years experience in retirement plans, a solid product and competitive pricing, I thought we were a shoe-in.
Toward the end of the meeting, the client said that he was impressed with our capabilities, but he had a long relationship with Charles Schwab. I encouraged him to work with Schwab because I believe that a good relationship with your financial adviser is important. I respected his loyalty.
I thought the case was closed, but the phone rang a few weeks later and the client had decided on us for his 30-person 401(k) plan. A different division of Charles Schwab handles 401(k) plans and he felt more comfortable with us.
I was especially happy about this case because while we supported the client's best interest and existing business relationship, ultimately we were selected.
I think it would be hard to get business owners to attend a seminar on bookkeeping - even if they should. Business owners are the busiest people I know. Maybe send out a tip each month or quarter to a targeted list of prospective clients. Use a professional firm who can assist with the list...
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I think it would be hard to get business owners to attend a seminar on bookkeeping - even if they should. Business owners are the busiest people I know. Maybe send out a tip each month or quarter to a targeted list of prospective clients. Use a professional firm who can assist with the list and the content so it is compelling. Marketing is a tricky business. As John Wanamaker said long ago, "half of the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."
One of our services is retirement plans for closely-held businesses. Our first client resulted from a chance encounter with a doctor in the neighborhood. Our friend and neighbor was taking a walk and stopped to chat. She asked if we handle 401(k) plans. Her medical group became the first new...
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One of our services is retirement plans for closely-held businesses. Our first client resulted from a chance encounter with a doctor in the neighborhood. Our friend and neighbor was taking a walk and stopped to chat. She asked if we handle 401(k) plans. Her medical group became the first new client of Golden Trail Advisers.
The moral of the story is that as a business owner, you could be meeting your next new client any time and any place. Always be ready to help.