We make good money but don't feel like we're getting ahead. What's wrong?

Usually the savings rate rather than the investments. Income rose and spending rose with it, so the absolute dollars saved barely moved. We set a target rate, automate an escalation tied to every raise, and route the increase before it lands in checking. That single change outperforms nearly any portfolio adjustment available to you.

What's a mega-backdoor Roth and can we use it?

It's after-tax 401(k) contributions converted to Roth inside the plan, using the space between your pre-tax deferral and the $72,000 total additions limit for 2026. It only works if your plan permits after-tax contributions and either in-plan conversion or in-service withdrawals. It's worth a call to your plan administrator — for a high earner it's the largest tax-advantaged opportunity most people don't know they have.

Do we have to live in Lakeview to work with Aequitas?

No. Aequitas is fee-only and virtual-first — we work with LGBTQ+ households in Lakeview the same way we work with clients across Chicago and the rest of the US. This page is written for the Lakeview demographic, not as a residency requirement.

Is there a minimum account size?

No asset minimum. Engagements are priced based on planning complexity, not portfolio size, so we can work with LGBTQ+ high earners still building wealth — not just clients who already have it.

What happens on the intro call?

Twenty minutes, video or phone. We ask what you're actually trying to figure out, share how Aequitas would approach it, and decide together whether an engagement makes sense. No pressure, no product pitch.

LGBTQ+ couple in Lakeview, Chicago reviewing their financial plan

Chicago · Lakeview

LGBTQ+ financial planning for Lakeview

Two big Chicago incomes, a rental unit or two on Schedule E, and Illinois estate rules that don't play nice with unmarried or newly-married couples.

Schedule a free intro call 20 minutes · video or phone · no product pitch

Quick answer

Is there a financial advisor for LGBTQ+ households in Lakeview?

Yes. Aequitas Financial is a fee-only fiduciary practice serving LGBTQ+ professionals, couples, and families in Lakeview and across Chicago. Meetings are virtual, there is no asset minimum or commission, and plans are built around IL tax, titling, and chosen-family protections.

Source: CFP Board — Code of Ethics & Standards of Conduct

Who this is for

Built for Lakeview LGBTQ+ households

Lakeview surrounds Boystown and hosts a broad LGBTQ+ population — condo owners, small-multi-unit landlords, and dual-income tech and finance households.

Marriage-penalty at Chicago finance / tech incomes is meaningful and hasn't been modeled.
You own a 2–4 unit and the Schedule E is 'handled by the CPA' with no plan.
Cook County over-assessment is a recurring quiet win being left on the table.
Illinois estate exposure is real.

On the ground

Lakeview: dual incomes and the accumulation window

Lakeview households are frequently two mid-career professionals — consulting, law, finance, healthcare, tech — with income that has grown faster than the plan behind it. This is the highest-leverage decade of an accumulation career, and the difference between a 12% and a 22% savings rate over it is measured in years of eventual freedom, not percentage points.

The mechanics: fill both 401(k)s, use the mega-backdoor Roth if either plan allows after-tax contributions with in-plan conversion, fund an HSA if you're on a high-deductible plan and treat it as a retirement account rather than a spending account, then a backdoor Roth and taxable investing. Two high incomes also mean disability coverage deserves a real look — group long-term disability caps out and excludes bonus income, which for a high earner leaves a wide gap.

How we help Lakeview households

Marriage-penalty and filing-status modeling

Two high W-2s stacked can cost you real money at federal and state brackets. We run the numbers before you decide when — or whether — to formalize.

Cook County property-tax appeals

Cook County–style over-assessment is common. We run the appeal cadence and coordinate with a local attorney when the math warrants it — often meaningful dollars back over a decade of ownership.

Illinois estate-tax bypass structure

Illinois's estate-tax exemption is $4M with no spousal portability. For long-partnered couples with a house, a 401(k), and life insurance, that ceiling arrives faster than you think — we build the trust structure that keeps it from becoming a problem.

Next step

Go deeper, or just talk to us

Skim the broader context if you want more before reaching out — or book the call and we'll cover it live.

LGBTQ+ financial advisor in Chicago

The city-wide overview: how Aequitas works with Chicago LGBTQ+ households across cash flow, tax, investing, and estate.

LGBTQ+ tax & cost-of-living guide: Chicago

State income tax, property tax, estate tax, and LGBTQ+ planning overlays specific to Chicago.

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FAQ

Lakeview planning FAQs

This page is part of our wider guide to LGBTQ+ financial planning — how fee-only, fiduciary planning works for queer households, and which topic to start with.

Ready to talk through your plan?

On a free intro call we'll walk through where you are, what you're trying to figure out, and whether an engagement makes sense — no pressure.

Schedule Your Intro Call