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Fee-only financial planning firm in Chicago offering holistic advice on flat fee or hourly basis without investment minimums or commission pressure.
Data compiled from public sources
Mindful Money Financial Counsel was founded in 2010 by Colin Chase, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with over 25 years of experience in financial services, including 10 years at Fidelity Investments in various roles from service representative to Vice President Senior Account Executive. The firm is independently owned and operates as a small family business based in Chicago, specializing in serving individuals and couples in their 30s and 40s as well as those nearing retirement.
The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services delivered through flexible engagement models: one-time advice sessions or ongoing relationships. Services include holistic financial strategy, retirement planning optimization, tax reduction strategies, college savings planning, emergency fund assessment, investment strategy development, employer benefits analysis, debt prioritization guidance, home affordability evaluation, and life transition planning (marriage, parenthood, career changes, relocation). They provide objective advice without requirements for clients to move assets to the firm or meet investment minimums.
Mindful Money distinguishes itself through several structural features. The fee-only, commission-free compensation model eliminates conflicts of interest inherent in product sales or assets-under-management fees. They explicitly reject the traditional wealth management model of requiring portfolio turnover to the firm. The founding vision emphasizes alignment with health and wellness care models (physician, therapist) where advisors are compensated for value delivered rather than products sold. The firm values trust, optimism, creativity, wellness, sustainability, compassion, humility, and resourcefulness, with marketing explicitly targeting clients seeking validation, second opinions, and objective guidance rather than sales pitches.
Honestly assessed, Mindful Money operates as a legitimate fee-only advisory firm but lacks the depth of regulatory detail, compliance certifications, or third-party credentialing visible on the website. The firm is not positioned as serving low-income or distressed consumers—the target demographic appears to be middle-to-upper-income professionals navigating complexity rather than those in financial crisis. Clients seeking debt relief, credit repair, or emergency liquidity should look elsewhere. The website provides compelling value messaging but limited transparency on specific fee structures beyond "flat fee" and "hourly-as-needed" language.
This is state-level context for Free Help consumers in Chicago, IL. It does not confirm that Mindful Money Financial Counsel, LLC or this specific location is licensed.
State regulator
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Consumer protection
Source: CreditDoc state-law summary and listed public regulator resources. Verify licensing directly with the listed state regulator before relying on a provider.
Mindful Money Financial Counsel, LLC offers 12 services including Holistic financial planning and strategy development, Retirement planning and optimization, Tax reduction and tax-efficient savings strategies, Employer benefits analysis and guidance, Investment strategy development and selection, and 7 more.
Mindful Money Financial Counsel, LLC has profile signals associated with Married couples and dual-income households navigating financial optimization and life transitions, Professionals in their 30s-40s seeking holistic planning without pressure to consolidate assets, Near-retirees wanting retirement readiness assessment and tax-efficient withdrawal strategy, Higher-income individuals wanting validation and second opinions on financial decisions.
Key strengths: Fee-only compensation model eliminates commission conflicts and product-sale incentives; No investment minimums or requirements to move assets under management to the firm; Founder holds CFP® credential with 25+ years experience including 10 years at Fidelity. Areas to consider: Website lacks listed fee schedule—only vague references to 'flat fee' and 'hourly-as-needed' pricing; Not positioned for low-income, distressed, or credit-impaired consumers; market is affluent professionals.
In the Free Help category, comparable providers include Cinnaire, Debt Relief Center, Working Credit. Each company has different strengths, so compare services, pricing, and consumer complaint records before deciding what to do next.
CreditDoc Profile Note
Mindful Money Financial Counsel is profile signals for affluent or upper-middle-income professionals and couples seeking objective, conflict-free financial planning without commission pressure or asset consolidation requirements. The critical caveat is that this is a boutique advisory firm for financial optimization, not a resource for consumers in financial distress, dealing with debt crisis, damaged credit, or needing emergency liquidity—those consumers require different service categories.
Cinnaire is a nonprofit community development financial institution offering tax credit investing, affordable housing financing, and community wealth-building programs since 1993.
Profile signals: Real estate developers and community organizations seeking multifamily financing with social impact missions, Investors interested in tax credit opportunities (LIHTC, NMTC, Historic Tax Credits) with community development focus
Legal Advocates for Consumers in Debt (LACD) is a Chicago-based non-profit providing free legal assistance to consumers facing debt issues. Currently not accepting new clients.
Profile signals: Chicago-area consumers with legal debt issues who were previously established clients, Consumers seeking non-profit legal advocacy rather than commercial debt relief
Non-profit credit counseling organization offering personalized one-on-one counseling and workshops to help people build and maintain prime credit scores.
Profile signals: People with no credit history or credit-invisible status seeking to establish prime credit for the first time, Black and Hispanic households facing systemic barriers to credit access and wealth building
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