Laurie Stegenga

Staying on top of your personal finances can be daunting. I get it. Like everyone else, you have a family, a career, and a half dozen hobbies to which you’d love to devote more time. That’s great! Those are all important things, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about devoting time to those areas of life. But let’s be honest, it’s easy for your finances to get pushed to the background. Who really wants to spend their very limited free time writing out a budget, much less a five-year plan or a list of life goals! Do you feel that even if you had a spare moment to contemplate your financial well-being, you wouldn’t even know where to begin? Perfect! That’s where I come in. I want to help you de-mystify your finances. I want to help you get organized. It IS possible to be at peace with your finances. You don’t have to feel like you’re continuously playing catch-up. Let’s roll up our sleeves together and get started! Why? Because you DO have goals and dreams– and those dreams deserve a fighting chance! Together we’ll use a systematic and comprehensive approach to develop a plan that is completely tailored to you, to your life, and your needs. At Bespoke Planning, my standard of success is simple: to provide a bespoke planning experience that is tailored to each individual client. I’m not a mass market kind of guy. If you’re looking for a mass market experience, or you’re simply looking for an “investment guy,” I’m not it. As a financial planner, I truly love helping clients work through their most difficult financial issues so that they can achieve their goals and live their best life. My wife may think I’m crazy because I spend my free time reading through tax guides and countless blog posts on personal finance– but hey, I love what I do. I feel truly blessed to have found a career about which I am so passionate. I get to see people realize their dreams, mostly by helping them with a lot of the nerdy, nitty-gritty stuff that normal people find to be, quite frankly, super boring. Although the process can be challenging at times, I believe that the results will be richly rewarding! I want to hear you describe your vision of a meaningful life.

Belle Eve believes that every woman has the innate ability to achieve financial freedom and success, and the purpose is to be the trusted partner on this journey. My commitment to women-focused financial planning stems from recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities that women encounter in their lives. Through customized and holistic financial solutions, I aim to break down barriers and promote financial inclusivity for women of all financial backgrounds. With over five decades of life experience, I understand firsthand the unique financial considerations that come with being a woman over 50, from education planning to retirement planning to wealth management and beyond. My personal journey has taught me the importance of adaptability, resilience, and strategic financial planning, and I am passionate about sharing that knowledge with others. Moreover, my experience includes navigating a significant windfall which has provided me with invaluable insights into the complexities of sudden wealth management. a successful transition from retirement to a thriving second career, and a track record of three successful business ventures, my credentials as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) reflect my commitment to achieving excellence in the field of financial planning. Growing up with limited means, I am not just a financial advisor; I am a financial navigator who has walked the path you are on. I am uniquely positioned to provide you with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and a deep understanding of your financial goals. Together, we can create a roadmap to financial success, ensuring your financial future is as bright and secure as it deserves to be.

Our firm’s mission is to help physicians achieve financial peace of mind. We work with you to develop a personalized financial plan that covers your entire financial picture and reflects your unique situation, as well as the unique aspects of financial life as a physician. We then help you manage your investments and implement your financial plan, serving as an ongoing accountability partner and guide to make adjustments over time as life changes. We give you the confidence that you’re in control of your finances and are making the right decisions, while freeing up time and headspace to spend on the things you enjoy. We do our best work with people who recognize the value of financial planning (in addition to investments) and want an ongoing relationship with an advisor, rather than one-time or hourly work. Established Physicians – Organize and manage the growing complexity of your financial life. This includes getting clear on goals, maximizing employee benefits, college planning, reviewing insurance coverage and estate plans, optimizing how you save and invest for various goals as your income rises, and detailed retirement planning to put you on track and make sure you remain there. Preparing for Retirement – Navigate the retirement transition. This includes understanding whether you have enough money to retire, turning your investment portfolio into a “paycheck” in retirement, tax planning to minimize the amount that goes to the IRS, figuring out the best strategy for claiming Social Security, and making healthcare decisions from Medicare to long-term care insurance. In addition to working with clients, we host a personal finance podcast for physicians called The Physician’s Guide to Financial Wellness. Feel free to listen or subscribe here. Prior to co-founding MD Wealth Management, I was a partner at Driehaus Capital Management in Chicago. I’m a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a CFA® charterholder. I have a BA in finance from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in finance and economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Outside of work, I most enjoy spending time with my wife and our four children (three boys and a girl). When not with them, you can find me working out, reading, golfing, listening to podcasts, or watching sports (especially EPL soccer and Notre Dame football).