Matt Spokas
MY WHY
Why I Became a Financial Advisor
As a CPA and a financial advisor, I help clients by focusing on their overall financial situation. I like to think of my approach as wearing two hats for clients, where we start with the entire picture including tax strategy and then build a financial plan.
Throughout my career in tax and accounting, I have observed how faulty short-term decisions can affect the long term. When you see it in real numbers, you want to help, which is why I became a financial advisor.
My experience across tax and financial services has given me the opportunity to build lasting relationships with individuals and families and work with business owners as they navigate an increasingly complicated tax landscape. I recognize the higher risk that goes along with trying to grow a business and walk in understanding the risk and reward. Business owners need to think about how to allocate resources in the short term and the long term, which is sometimes overlooked, and this is where I can be of assistance.
It is rewarding to be able to help people by finding great solutions and being a source of support. Let’s look at financial and tax and find out what is happening. That is how I bring together accounting, problem solving and financial planning to help clients reach their financial goals.
About Matt
Matthew Spokas, CPA joined Forum Financial Management in 2010 and currently serves as Financial Advisor in the Lombard Office. He is also a partner at Spokas & Associates CPAs. Prior to joining Forum, Matt served as a mortgage analyst at Chicago Bancorp.
With 15 years in the financial services industry, Matt specializes in tax planning for individuals and small businesses as well as in real estate.
Matt is a Certified Public Accountant. Matt earned a master’s degree in business administration with a focus in accounting from DePaul University in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
Matt is an avid golfer who likes to travel. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.
MY ARTICLES & INSIGHTS
A PERSONAL APPROACH
Tell Us About Your Financial Life and Aspirations
Your experience begins with an initial meeting to identify your financial vision for the future and risk tolerance levels. We review our investment philosophy and approach with you so that you fully understand each milestone of our process and how our relationship will evolve over time.
PREVIOUS 
Discuss Topics Crucial to Your Financial Success
Over the course of the next few meetings, the content and breadth of each meeting is defined by your personal needs. We can review your estate planning and risk management needs, discuss retirement accumulation or distribution planning, evaluate educational funding needs, review your tax situation, and go over any other items crucial to your financial success.
PREVIOUS Develop a Strategic Plan Unique to You
Once you select an allocation, we put together a strategic implementation plan that will coordinate investment of your portfolio between qualified (tax-advantaged) assets and non-qualified assets in order to maximize tax efficiency. The topics we address during our time with you vary depending on your unique needs and situation.
Putting Your Plan Into Action
We establish your Forum account based on the portfolio allocation we discussed and what we learned about your risk tolerance and financial goals. With your new Forum account now in place, you will have the opportunity to access your Forum Client Portal for the first time and connect with members of the Forum Client Service team.
Review Goals and Plans When Your Life Changes
You will receive reporting that will clearly show your performance net of all fees and compared to applicable market indexes. Additionally your assets are held at a reputable third-party custodian that furnishes independent monthly reports so you can feel confident about the safe handling of your money.
