CFP®
Advisor
Mary Erl is the newest member of the Inspirion team. She previously owned and operated her solo financial planning practice for over 15 years. Prior to that she had a career in information technology culminating in product management for the mainframe line. Mary’s longtime interest in the stock market and personal finance led to a new path as a Certified Financial Planner®.
Mary has a BA focused in business and finance from DePaul University and earned her CFP® designation in 2008. She has always worked as a fiduciary, putting her clients’ best interest first.
Mary and her husband Roger live in Lindenhurst. She was president of the Lindenhurst-Lake Villa Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve as director. Mary was on the board of Lupus Foundation of Illinois and created their first website.
What do you enjoy most about being a financial advisor?
Working closely with clients, earning their trust and getting them to the point of confidence in their plan, helping them clarify their goals and visualize how their plan plays out over their retirement. I enjoy the rewarding feeling that comes as we close in on those goals.
How will your past experiences benefit your clients at Inspirion?
My IT career gave me a solid foundation in problem solving, technology, and customer service. My various roles allowed me to improve my communication skills, translating tech jargon into laymen terms for our customers. I like learning about my clients’ goals, addressing questions about their plan, strategizing solutions, and having good conversations where we all come away a little wiser.
What do you love to do outside of work?
Stay active! I multi-task on a stationary bike that has a laptop desk attached and usually make phone calls or read while pedaling at a leisurely pace. I enjoy spending time with the people I love, walking our dog, paddleboarding, golfing, gardening and cooking.
What was the most influential book you’ve read and why?
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This book helped me define who and what is truly important to me, my values, and the type of person I want to be. Having that clarity helps me make decisions based on my values such as making time to be active and eat well, and spending time engaging with the people that are most important to me.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Our 37th wedding anniversary and counting! Starting and running my solo financial planning practice for over 15 years – and now integrating my practice with Inspirion. Here we have more knowledge and resources all focused on the best interest of the clients.