Broker Check

1095 Pingree Rd, Suite 202, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

312.897.3650

About Us

We Believe

When employees feel well-compensated for their service, your business runs better.

The imperative to mitigate our client's fiduciary risk, inherent in the sponsorship of qualified plan offerings, and every action we take is in the exclusive interest of our plan participants and their beneficiaries.

We have a socioeconomic responsibility to help our client organizations offer a financial benefit to their employees that continues to loom ever more important to their financial wellness, due in large part to the heightening risk that exists within the future of entitlement programs such as social security.

We collaborate with our clients in an independent manner, dedicated to the employer sponsored retirement plan market space and working Americans who deserve to retire with dignity.

We envision our client's investment in their employee's financial wellness becoming the crown jewel in their total rewards strategy, a true differentiator in their pursuit to become and remain an employer of choice when attracting and retaining top talent.

“Our relentless focus on the mitigation of fiduciary risk, combined with our uncompromising commitment to advise in the best interests of our plan participants and their beneficiaries are the cornerstones of what defines us as a partner.”

- Michael K. Smith, Managing Partner


Our Value Proposition

"We believe that regardless of the number of clients we have at any point in time, we are an equal number of phone calls away from being out of business. We are always on trial from a service standpoint, and that inherent awareness is what drives our relentless and on-going pursuit of continuous improvement."

"Our client relationships originate and are sustained through our passionate belief in our social responsibility to prudently guide plan participants to financial wellness. It is this belief that becomes the foundation of our partnerships and investment fiduciary relationships."

- Michael K. Smith, Managing Partner


Our Purpose

  • Offering business leaders access to enduring employee benefits to enhance recruitment, retention, and loyalty.
  • Delivering time-tested comprehensive systems for education, onboarding and maintenance of employee retirement plans.
  • Responsible as investment fiduciaries to act in the exclusive benefit of the participants with skill, diligence and expertise to meet plan objectives.
  • Serving employers and participants to their best interests and for the best achievable results.


About Us

The Team

Jerry Kalish

Jerry Kalish, AIF®, AIFA®

Managing Partner, Insight Financial Advisors, LLC

Michael K. Smith

Michael K. Smith
C(k)P, CPFA, CRPS, AWMA, AIFA, QKA

Managing Partner, Insight Financial Partners, LLC

847.867.9271

Morgan Burkle

Morgan Burkle, CPFA®

Partner, Insight Financial Partners, LLC

815.341.5518

About Us

Strategic Partners

James Cwik

James Cwik

Vice President - Employee Benefits, Relation Insurance Services

630.464.2266

Rodney P. Crandall

Rodney P. Crandall

Insurance Consultant, E4 Insurance Services


About Us

What differentiates us

The Department of Labor's Fiduciary Rule has evolved. Consistent with that evolution, the employer sponsored retirement plan market and the financial services industry are both subjected to unprecedented levels of liability, exposure to class action litigation, uncompromising Fiduciary standards, extensive regulatory oversight and transparent disclosure mandates, fee pressure and intense competition.

What has always differentiated us is our exclusive focus and unwavering commitment to the employer sponsored retirement plan market. Total Reward Strategies that include Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans, Nonqualified plans, ESOPs and HSAs.

We recognize that our employer partners and the senior leadership that sponsors these retirement plan strategies and solutions are not dedicated to the retirement plan business, and our prudent expertise is designed specifically to mitigate the relentless fiduciary responsibility and liability that coincides with that sponsorship.

While this market continues to be served by generalists across the financial services industry, many of these advisor relationships are not taking on Fiduciary responsibility and liability through a service level agreement. With Fiduciary relationships under increasing regulatory scrutiny, it should be emphasized that this can lead to increased plan sponsor liability.

A plan sponsor does not have to be an expert to meet their Fiduciary responsibilities and obligations, they simply need to hire advisors that are, such as Insight Financial Partners, LLC. for investment fiduciary services.


About Us

Our credentials

CEFEX Certification

The Centre For Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) promotes fiduciary best practices in the investment management industry. It is an independent global assessment and certification organization. It works closely with investment fiduciaries and industry experts to provide comprehensive assessment programs to improve risk management for institutional and retail investors. CEFEX certification helps determine the trustworthiness of investment fiduciaries.

This mark indicates the independent verification of Insight's adherence to established standards of excellence. Our use of this mark demonstrates we have successfully completed the certification process and maintain the CEFEX registration.

See Our CEFEX Registration and CEFEX Resources

Better Business Bureau

Insight Financial Partners, LLC BBB Business Review
See Our BBB Accreditation

About Us

Our partners and how we work together

LPL Financial

LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”) is the nation's largest independent broker/dealer (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2024), and is the broker/dealer for Insight Financial Partners.

LPL Retirement Partners is the retirement plan-focused division of LPL Financial. Through its integrated business platform and team of retirement industry experts, LPL Retirement Partners supports the operational and practice management needs of retirement plan advisors who offer retirement plan services to plan sponsors and their employees.

See Our LPL Financial Resources Page

Wealthancy Financial

Ryan is the Founder and Lead Financial Educator at Wealthency Financial Education, a strategic partner of Insight Financial Partners, LLC. Wealthency aligns with Insight Financial Partners' commitment to providing comprehensive financial solutions by providing “customizable and engaging financial education programs that aid in decreasing financial stress levels, empowering healthy behaviors, and increasing productivity and retention. (wealthency.com)

Ryan brings over two decades of expertise to the realm of financial empowerment. With a robust academic background as a Professor of Economics and Finance, Dr. Decker serves as the Founding Director of the Center for Financial Literacy at North Central College. His commitment to financial education extends beyond the classroom, demonstrated through compelling TEDx and keynote presentations.

Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Dr. Decker gained valuable experience as a Former Transfer Pricing Manager at PwC, adding a strategic dimension to his multifaceted career. His ability to blend financial strategy with diverse experiences positions him as a valuable partner to Insight Financial Partners, LLC.

LPL Financial is not affiliated with, nor endorses, any of the entities above.

Global Retirement Partners

Insight Financial Partners, LLC has joined forces with Global Retirement Partners, LLC. The GRP Advisor Alliance is a robust group of retirement plan advisors from across the country with a shared vision for retirement plan focused practices and dedicated to the positive advancement of the retirement plan landscape.

Global Retirement Partners Financial Overview

  • Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • Largest retirement plan-focused hybrid OSJ with LPL Financial*, a FINRA registered broker-dealer
  • 3,000 investment advisory clients

*14,000 Advisors Representing over $450B in Assets under Advisement

Insight Financial Partners, LLC partners with time-tested plan providers to deliver turnkey solutions and an exceptional plan participant experience-driving innovation in the retirement plan industry through a coordinated effort of the industry's more experienced advisors. Insight Financial Partners, LLC is fundamentally committed to educating the millions of Americans with access to qualified plans through innovative financial wellness programs, engaging educational materials, and the ability to deliver our services nationwide in a cost-efficient manner at scale.

  • Independent investment advice
  • Written Investment Fiduciary Service Level Agreements, both 3(21) and 3(38)
  • True, Open Fund Architecture solutions
  • Bundled and Unbundled solutions
  • In-House ERISA guidance & expertise
  • Time-tested Workplace Financial Wellness solutions

Insight Financial Partners, LLC, in collaboration with Global Retirement Partners, LLC, works across the industry with key advisors, firms, and governmental agencies, aiming to be not only the best in the industry, but the best for the industry.

GRP Advisor Alliance is an independent network of retirement plan focused advisors. Global Retirement Partners and GRP Advisor Alliance are not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial.
 


Insight Financial Partners supports McHenry County’s economic development by helping local employers design effective workplace retirement and financial planning programs, 401(k), 403(b), Defined Benefit, Nonqualified and ESOP plans. These services strengthen workforce attraction and retention through total reward strategies that promote long-term financial stability within the community.

Contact Us

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