Hammortree Financial Services

What Hammortree Financial Services does

Hammortree Financial Services is a privately held, founder-led financial advisory firm established in 1986 by Annette Hammortree and headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois, with a secondary office in Rosemont. The firm provides relationship-based financial planning across five practice areas: retirement planning, business succession and exit planning, special needs planning, generational wealth transfer, and tax efficiency. Its primary customer segments are retirees, multi-generational families, business owners, families with members who have special needs, and — more recently — women navigating life transitions. Approximately eight team members operate from two Illinois offices; revenue-producing advisors are Annette Hammortree (CLTC, RICP; Series 7, 63, 26) and Tim Urban (Certified Exit Planner), supported by directors of insurance and investment operations and client service staff. The firm reaches clients through content marketing, educational webinars, community involvement in Crystal Lake and McHenry County, and a multi-generational referral flywheel. Securities and registered advisory services are delivered through a broker-dealer partnership with Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America; the firm is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. The technology stack includes a proprietary "Living Balance Sheet" interactive web tool that consolidates assets, liabilities, insurance, and cash flow for clients, complemented by standard integrations with SEI, Brinker Capital, and American Funds for investment operations. The revenue model is recurring advisory fees plus commissions, with a three-step Discovery → Strategy → Implementation & Support engagement process. No external capital has been raised, AUM and revenue are not publicly disclosed, and there are no AI/ML capabilities evident in the operating model.

Name

Hammortree Financial Services

Legal name

Hammortree Financial Services

Website

https://hammortreefinancial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hammortree Financial Services is a privately held, founder-led financial advisory firm in Crystal Lake, Illinois, providing retirement, business succession, special needs, generational, and tax-efficiency planning for retirees, families, business owners, and women in transition across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital/Hybrid Robo-Wealth & Retirement Advisory (FSAEABAK)

Keywords

• Retirement planning services
• Financial advisory services
• Special needs planning
• Business succession planning
• Generational wealth planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory Services: Comprehensive financial planning and advisory services including retirement planning, business planning, special needs planning, generational planning, and tax efficiency strategies. Services are relationship-based with ongoing client support and strategy adjustments over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hammortree Financial Services is a privately held financial advisory firm that delivers personalized retirement, business succession, special needs, generational, and tax planning services to individuals, families, and business owners. Engagements follow a three-step Discovery, Strategy, and Implementation & Support process grounded in customized, relationship-based advisory relationships. Securities products and advisory services are offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC.

Product overview

Hammortree Financial Services offers a comprehensive suite of financial planning services centered around retirement, business, and special needs planning. The core offerings include Retirement Planning (focused on sustainable income and tax management), Business Planning (succession and exit strategies), Special Needs Planning (for families with disabled members), Generational Planning (wealth transfer across generations), and Tax Efficiency Services. The company provides an interactive web-based tool called Living Balance Sheet that consolidates client financial pictures including assets, liabilities, insurance, and cash flow. Additionally, the firm offers a robust Resource Center network covering Retirement, Investment, Insurance, Estate, Tax, Money, and Lifestyle topics. The business operates through Park Avenue Securities LLC (a subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company) and is registered with FINRA and SIPC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retirement Planning Comprehensive retirement planning service focused on managing income, taxes, longevity risk, and supporting the lifestyle retirees have earned through decades of work. Includes Social Security timing, tax-efficient withdrawals, and required distribution planning.
• Business Planning Business succession, exit planning, and value protection services for entrepreneurs and company leaders preparing to transition their enterprise. Includes buy-sell agreements, business valuation, and tax-minimizing exit strategies.
• Special Needs Planning Lifelong care and financial support planning for children with disabilities while preserving government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid and creating structures that protect their future after parents are gone. Includes special needs trusts and ABLE accounts.
• Generational Planning Wealth transfer and multi-generational financial planning that coordinates investments, insurance, estate planning, and tax strategies to eliminate gaps and maximize opportunities across generations of a family.
• Tax Efficiency Services Strategic tax planning around withdrawals, Social Security timing, investment income, and required distributions to reduce the client's lifetime tax burden and keep more money working for them.
• Women in Transition Services Financial guidance service for women experiencing divorce, widowhood, or sudden financial responsibility, providing clarity and confidence in managing household money they had not previously handled alone.
• Living Balance Sheet Interactive web-based financial planning tool that provides a consolidated view of the client's complete financial picture including assets, liabilities, insurance protection, and cash flow, updated daily. Grounded in a philosophy that challenges traditional financial thinking; used to support comprehensive financial decision-making within the firm's advisory engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of people who work with a financial professional believe they are on track to meet their financial goals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurities products and advisory services are offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. PAS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Hammortree Financial Services is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian.
• Guardian Life Insurance Company of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuardian Life Insurance Company of America is the parent company of Park Avenue Securities LLC. Provides insurance products including whole life insurance with cash value accumulation used in retirement planning and IRA maximization strategies. Annually declares dividends through Guardian's Board of Directors.
• SEIsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSEI provides investment management platform used for client account access. Clients can access SEI investor connect for account management. SEI also provides Independent Advisor Solutions for investment management.
• Brinker Capital InvestmentssupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party investment management firm referenced in client educational videos. Provides investment management solutions available to clients through the advisory platform.
• American FundssupportingTechnology or IntegrationInvestment fund family available for client portfolios. Listed among helpful links for client account access.
• The Guardian NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarketing and content partnership providing pre-approved educational content on topics including retirement planning, insurance, and investment strategies. Guardian-branded content includes Mind Body and Wallet studies and Vanguard research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edward Jones: Large U.S. financial advisory firm with a relationship-based, branch-office model serving individuals and families in local communities. Highly comparable to Hammortree's person-to-person advisory approach, multi-generational client focus, and retirement-planning emphasis.
• Ameriprise Financial: Comprehensive financial advisory firm offering retirement, estate, and wealth planning for individuals and small-business owners through a national advisor network. Comparable to Hammortree in target clientele, holistic planning philosophy, and advisor-led distribution model.
• Raymond James Financial: Diversified financial services firm with a strong independent advisor channel serving affluent individuals, families, and business owners. Comparable to Hammortree in offering retirement, estate, and succession planning through dedicated local advisors.
• Robert W. Baird & Co. Employee-owned financial services firm with a regional branch model serving individuals, families, and businesses with wealth management and retirement planning. Comparable to Hammortree in community-rooted, relationship-driven advisory model and high-touch private client focus.
• Waddell & Reed Advisors: Financial advisory firm serving individuals and families with retirement, investment, and financial planning services through a network of local advisors. Comparable to Hammortree in target client, comprehensive planning scope, and advisor-led community-based distribution.
• Northwestern Mutual: U.S. financial services firm combining wealth management, retirement planning, and life insurance for individuals and business owners through a captive advisor network. Comparable to Hammortree in holistic planning (retirement, estate, business succession) and in-office advisor model.

Broad incumbents

• Commonwealth Financial Network: Large independent broker-dealer and RIA platform supporting thousands of independent financial advisors nationwide. Comparable to Hammortree as the type of infrastructure that supports independent practices; Hammortree operates via a similar channel (Park Avenue Securities).
• Cambridge Investment Research: Major independent broker-dealer supporting independent advisors with practice management, compliance, and product access. Comparable to Hammortree's position as an independent advisor using a registered broker-dealer for securities distribution.
• Cetera Financial Group: Independent broker-dealer and wealth management hub supporting independent advisors with retirement, investment, and planning solutions. Comparable to Hammortree as a representative using a similar independent channel for securities and advisory services.
• LPL Financial: Largest independent broker-dealer in the U.S., supporting thousands of independent advisors with wealth management, retirement, and planning services. Comparable to Hammortree's operating model of independence paired with a registered broker-dealer infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hammortreefinancialservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hammortree-financial-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hammortree Financial Services