As a member of BDF’s Women’s Service Team, Julie Bucaro helps women and their families organize, build and manage their wealth so they can enjoy their lives.
She is passionate about giving recently widowed women peace of mind about their financial security at a time when they are most fragile. “By helping them understand how their assets line up with their lifestyle, I can give them confidence that they are going to be okay or help create a plan so they will be okay. Then I help them simplify their life by creating a more streamlined investment strategy while coordinating their estate planning wishes and being mindful of taxes.”
Julie earned the Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation, giving her a strong foundation in estate planning and trusts that she uses to help widows interpret estate documents and create a plan to reduce their taxable estate. She also helps them evaluate their Social Security benefits and, in some cases, appeal for higher benefits.
Estate planning and trusts also are crucial for families with special needs individuals, many of whom will require financial support for their entire lives. Drawing on her background working with these types of families as a financial planner with Ehlert Financial Group, Julie reviews special needs trusts to make sure they are not only funded adequately, but also appropriate for the client’s situation. She also helps identify government benefits and other support services to supplement the family’s resources.
As a mother of three, Julie understands her clients’ desire to provide for all of the families’ needs, including education. She analyzes the investment performance of 529s and other types of college savings plans, and she advises her clients on choosing a plan that will accomplish their goals, while also demonstrating the effect of that educational investment on the client’s own retirement plans.
Julie first entered the financial planning world working with high-net-worth active traders, and she quickly realized that investments are a small part of true financial planning. “When someone asked an investment question, it was difficult to give good advice without knowing their full situation.” She joined BDF because the firm offers the opportunity to provide comprehensive, financial planning that is free from conflicts of interest.
Julie is an active and well-respected member of the financial planning community. Chicago Magazine named her a Five Star Wealth Manager in 2010 and 2011, and CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice Management published her article, “Smart Financial Decisions While Grieving,” in 2009. A Certified Financial Planner™ and member of the Financial Planning Association, she regularly attends continuing education programs on estate planning, special needs planning and other wealth management topics. She holds a BA in Economics and Biology from Washington University in St. Louis.
If you’re looking for a financial advisor to guide you through the important events in your family’s life, call Julie at 630-875-4907.