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Lester Financial Group, LLC

Updated today

Client assets under management

$398,589,024

Clients

784

7% high-net worth

Advisors

4

of 5 employees

Firm type

Supported

1-3 advisors or $200M+ in AUM

Clients per advisor

196

Very High

Average account size

$508,404

About

Lester Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual and high‑net‑worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning and consulting services. The firm reports approximately $398.6 million in discretionary assets across about 784 client accounts and provides advice on asset allocation, investment selection, and estate and risk‑management planning.

Portfolios are tailored to clients’ objectives, time horizons, and stated risk tolerances and employ a mix of approaches such as asset allocation, dollar‑cost averaging, technical analysis, and both long‑ and short‑term holdings; accounts are typically managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed at least quarterly by the firm’s principal. For execution and custody the firm recommends a national custodian and may aggregate client orders into block trades and use dollar‑cost averaging as part of implementation.

Noteworthy differences from many peers include formal promoter referral arrangements under which the firm pays referral fees and management personnel who are also licensed insurance agents and may receive separate insurance commissions, each of which is disclosed as a potential conflict of interest. The brochure also highlights the firm’s use of third‑party service providers that employ artificial intelligence/machine‑learning components and describes periodic due diligence on those providers, and the firm operates with all reported assets managed on a discretionary basis and no stated account minimum.

Client services

Financial planning Portfolio management

Expertise

Annuities General estate planning guidance

Fee options

Fixed

Fixed fee arrangements from $500 to $25,000 depending on services provided

Percentage

Maximum 2.00% annually

Project-based

$100 - $500 per hour depending on negotiation and complexity

Other

Fee-only: Hourly fees range from $100 - $500 per hour; Fixed fee arrangements range from $500 - $25,000

Main office location

Lester Financial Group, LLC

301 N. Neil St., Suite 400

Champaign IL 61820, United States

Number of offices

2

Most active in

Florida · Illinois · Indiana · Louisiana · Missouri · Texas · Wisconsin

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Todd L

Series 63, Series 65

Champaign, IL

Lester Financial Group, LLC

Todd Lester is a financial advisor with Lester Financial Group, LLC in Champaign, IL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including OsaiC Wealth, Inc., Arbor Point Advisors, and Securities America Advisors, Inc. Additionally, he offers fixed insurance products as an insurance agent. Lester Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages discretionary accounts through a small team, tailoring portfolio management and planning based on client objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Annuities General estate planning guidance
user avatar

Blake L

Series 66

Champaign, IL

Lester Financial Group, LLC

Blake Lester is a financial advisor at Lester Financial Group, LLC in Champaign, IL, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at OsaiC Wealth, Inc., Securities America, Inc., and Gilliam Mease Advisors. Lester Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing discretionary accounts through a small team. The firm’s investment approach is tailored to client objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, employing strategies such as asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and technical analysis.

Annuities General estate planning guidance
user avatar

James P

ChFC®, Series 63

Champaign, IL

Lester Financial Group, LLC

James Ploeger is a ChFC® with 58 years of industry experience, currently serving at Lester Financial Group, LLC since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Arbor Point Advisors, Securities America Inc., and Valmark Securities, among others. He is also the owner of Ploeger & Associates, Inc., a company engaged in the sale of non-equity insurance products. Lester Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing discretionary portfolios through a small team. The firm’s investment approach is tailored to client objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, utilizing various strategies including asset allocation and dollar-cost averaging.

Annuities General estate planning guidance
user avatar

Michael F

ChFC®, Series 63

Champaign, IL

Lester Financial Group, LLC

Michael Farr is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 37 years of industry experience. He is currently with Lester Financial Group, LLC and has held roles at firms including Securities America Advisors and Arbor Point Advisors. He serves as a board member for VNA Hospice of the Wabash Valley. Lester Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing discretionary accounts through a small team. The firm’s investment approach is based on client objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance, employing a mix of strategies including asset allocation and dollar-cost averaging.

Annuities General estate planning guidance
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