Wealth Planners
WealthPlanners is a Des Plaines, Illinois-based wealth management and benefits consulting firm founded in 1984, serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business plan sponsors with financial planning, retirement plan fiduciary services, and business succession advisory. It now operates as Cambridge WealthPlanners following its March 2026 acquisition by Cambridge Investment Research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersDes Plaines, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wealth Planners does
WealthPlanners, LLC is a Des Plaines, Illinois-based wealth management and benefits consulting firm founded in 1984 by Denny Gustin-Piazza, serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business plan sponsors through a comprehensive suite of personal and business financial planning services. On the personal side, the firm delivers the trademarked Legacy Wealth Optimization System™ alongside wealth coaching, retirement planning, investment planning, insurance analysis, and "The Ultimate Gift Experience" wealth-transfer service, all anchored in a proprietary "Above The Line™" conversation methodology that prioritizes client vision and goals before tactical recommendations. On the business side, the firm provides qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, key employee programs, business succession planning, business coaching, Kolbe Consulting, and 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary retirement plan services to plan sponsors, supported by team credentials including CFP®, CFS®, CEBS, AIF, CPFA™, CIMA®, AWMA, and Certified Kolbe Consultant designations.
The firm operates with approximately 11 employees organized around seven advisors plus client services and operations staff, generating revenue through recurring advisory fees tied to assets under management and fee-based professional services for plan sponsors. Securities are placed through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (FINRA/SIPC) and advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (RIA), and clients access accounts via integrated portals including CIR Statements, NETX Investor, WP Personal Financial Website (emaplan), and Wealthscape. The firm is single-office, Midwest-focused, and growth-constrained by advisor headcount rather than demand.
In March 2026, Cambridge Investment Research acquired WealthPlanners to launch its fifth business model, Cambridge Capital Solutions, creating Cambridge WealthPlanners with seven advisors managing more than $1 billion in combined assets and expected to generate approximately $5 million in annual revenue. The transaction was structured with upfront cash plus three-year installment payments, and founder Denny Gustin-Piazza continues to lead the team alongside her husband Dan Piazza. Cambridge indicated 8-10 additional acquisition deals in its Capital Solutions pipeline, positioning the WealthPlanners deal as the template for a broader advisor succession and continuity platform.
Wealth Planners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wealth Planners
- Legal name
- WealthPlanners, LLC
- Website
- https://wealthplanners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WealthPlanners is a Des Plaines, Illinois-based wealth management and benefits consulting firm founded in 1984, serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and business plan sponsors with financial planning, retirement plan fiduciary services, and business succession advisory. It now operates as Cambridge WealthPlanners following its March 2026 acquisition by Cambridge Investment Research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wealth Planners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management and Financial Planning
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Wealth Planning (Tax, Estate & Succession) (FSAAABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retirement & Pension Wealth (401(k)/IRA/SIPP/Superannuation Retail) (FSAAAAAJ), Broker-Dealer Affiliated Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAB)
Keywords
Where Wealth Planners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Plaines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wealth Planners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wealth Advisory and Planning Services: Recurring advisory fees and planning service revenue from managing client assets and providing comprehensive financial planning. Cambridge WealthPlanners entity expected to generate $5 million in annual revenue. Securities through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor.
- Retirement Plan Services: Fiduciary services to plan sponsors including 3(21) and 3(38) advisor roles, plan design review, investment oversight, and vendor benchmarking. Revenue generated through advisory fees for managing employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Comprehensive wealth planning and advisory services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wealth Planners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WealthPlanners provides comprehensive wealth planning, investment advisory, and benefits consulting services to high net worth individuals/families and business plan sponsors. Its offering centers on a proprietary Legacy Wealth Optimization System™ and Above The Line™ conversation methodology, delivered through a team of credentialed advisors (CFP®, CIMA®, AIF, CEBS, CPFA™, AWMA) and supported by Cambridge Investment Research's broker-dealer and RIA infrastructure.
Product overview
WealthPlanners is a wealth management and financial planning firm offering a comprehensive suite of personal and business-focused services. The firm provides personal planning services including the Legacy Wealth Optimization System™, wealth coaching, personal financial planning, retirement planning, investment planning, insurance analysis, and The Ultimate Gift Experience. For business clients, it offers qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, key employee programs, business succession planning, business coaching, and Kolbe consulting. The firm also specializes in retirement plan services for plan sponsors, including fiduciary governance, investment oversight, vendor benchmarking, and employee financial education. Following its acquisition by Cambridge Investment Research in March 2026, the firm now operates as Cambridge WealthPlanners, part of Cambridge's fifth business model, Cambridge Capital Solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legacy Wealth Optimization System™
Companies that use Wealth Planners
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Wealth Planners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Wealth Planners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cambridge Investment ResearchcoreCambridge Investment Research, one of the nation's largest independent broker-dealers, acquired WealthPlanners as part of its continuity and succession strategy. WealthPlanners had operated as a growth-oriented ensemble with Cambridge since 2010. The acquisition forms Cambridge WealthPlanners with seven advisors managing over $1 billion in combined assets. WealthPlanners founder Denny Gustin-Piazza continues to lead the team. Deal structured with upfront cash and installment payments over three years.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wealth Planners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cambridge Investment Research: The parent organization and acquiring broker-dealer; comparable as a large independent broker-dealer/RIA platform that supports independent advisor ensembles with succession and continuity services, the same model WealthPlanners now plugs into via Cambridge Capital Solutions.
- Truist Wealth (formerly BB&T Scott & Stringfellow): Large bank-affiliated wealth management franchise offering private wealth, retirement plan, and legacy planning services—comparable in offering breadth (planning, retirement, insurance analysis) for HNW and business clients, though operating at vastly larger scale.
- Edelman Financial Engines: Large independent financial planning and investment advisory firm with strong retirement plan services and HNW planning offerings—comparable across planning-first methodology, retirement plan fiduciary services, and HNW segment, though with broader scale and a digital/hybrid model.
- Focus Financial Partners: Wealth management partnership platform supporting independent advisor ensembles with succession and capital solutions—comparable as an aggregator creating continuity/succession pathways, similar in concept to Cambridge Capital Solutions for WealthPlanners.
- Cetera Financial Group: Independent broker-dealer/RIA platform supporting independent advisor ensembles with succession and continuity solutions—comparable structurally as a WealthPlanners-style ensemble operating within a larger IBD/RIA ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Creative Planning: Large independent RIA offering comprehensive wealth planning, retirement plan services, and legacy/estate planning for HNW individuals and business owners—directly comparable in service mix, planning-first methodology, and dual personal/business client focus.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: Independent national wealth advisory firm providing financial planning, investment management, retirement plan services, and legacy/estate planning to HNW families and institutions—comparable in holistic planning approach and dual retail/institutional segment strategy.
- Ronald Blue Trust: Faith-based wealth advisory firm specializing in comprehensive financial planning, legacy/estate planning, investment management, and retirement plan services—comparable in goals-based, planning-led methodology and HNW family/client base.
- Moneta Group: Independent, fee-only RIA providing wealth planning, investment management, retirement plan consulting (3(21)/3(38)), and business advisory services—directly comparable in fiduciary retirement plan services and HNW personal planning focus.
- Mercer Advisors: National RIA providing comprehensive wealth planning, investment management, estate planning, and retirement plan services to HNW families and business owners—comparable in service breadth, fiduciary retirement offerings, and legacy/estate focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wealth Planners social profiles
Digital presenceWealth Planners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wealth Planners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Wealth Planners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wealth Planners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wealth Planners
What does Wealth Planners do?
WealthPlanners provides comprehensive wealth planning, investment advisory, and benefits consulting services to high net worth individuals/families and business plan sponsors. Its offering centers on a proprietary Legacy Wealth Optimization System™ and Above The Line™ conversation methodology, delivered through a team of credentialed advisors (CFP®, CIMA®, AIF, CEBS, CPFA™, AWMA) and supported by Cambridge Investment Research's broker-dealer and RIA infrastructure.
Is Wealth Planners a public or private company?
Wealth Planners is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Wealth Planners founded?
Wealth Planners was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wealth Planners based?
Wealth Planners is headquartered in Des Plaines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wealth Planners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Wealth Advisory and Planning Services are the primary driver. The others are retirement Plan Services.
Who are Wealth Planners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cambridge Investment Research, Truist Wealth (formerly BB&T Scott & Stringfellow), Edelman Financial Engines, Focus Financial Partners and Cetera Financial Group. Direct peers are Creative Planning, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Ronald Blue Trust, Moneta Group and Mercer Advisors.
Does Wealth Planners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wealth Planners.
What industry is Wealth Planners in?
Wealth Planners's product category is Wealth Management and Financial Planning. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAABAE, Private Wealth Planning (Tax, Estate & Succession), with a secondary code of FSAAAAAJ, Retirement & Pension Wealth (401(k)/IRA/SIPP/Superannuation Retail). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.