About Focus

• Focus Financial Advisors is an independently-owned investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  We offer investment management and comprehensive financial planning on a fiduciary, fee-only basis.

• Today we are proud to be celebrating our 29th year of providing objective, independent, and unbiased financial services to our clients.
  Our firm was founded in 1984 by Bob Lawrenz. At that time, we did business under his name, as Robert Lawrenz Consulting Services. From the very beginning, we worked on a fee-only basis, refusing commissions and other incentives. The firm initially provided investment advice and asset allocation models to clients, who would bring the plans to their brokers for implementation. Our current owner and company president, Fred Raffety, joined Bob's firm in 1987. Together, Bob and Fred continued to work under the business model that Bob had established at the firm's onset. As time went by, more and more of their clients requested that Bob and Fred become more directly involved with the management of their investments. These same clients had been expressing dissatisfaction with their brokers, who they saw as being commission-driven, and whose loyalty was to the brokerage firm as opposed to the clients they were serving. In response, Bob and Fred started managing their client's money directly on a discretionary basis as part of each client's comprehensive financial plan.

• In 1999, Bob started the process of turning the reigns of the firm over to Fred.
  Not long after the transition, Fred made the decision to change the name of the company to Focus Financial Advisors. He also decided to expand the capabilities of the firm by bringing on a team of professionals with complementary skill sets who shared Fred's desire to provide a high level of personal service to people who need financial planning and wealth management. Today the team at Focus remains dedicated to the values established by our founder, and we are more equipped than ever to provide the kind of service that our clients deserve.

Jon Aldrich

• CPA, CFP®, Principal & Financial Planner
• Jon Aldrich joined Focus Financial Advisors in 2004.
  He is primarily involved in portfolio management and investment selection, and he also is active in the financial planning process for our clients. After graduating from Rockford West High School, Jon earned his accounting degree from Northern Illinois. Jon is a CPA and a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner). Before joining Focus, Jon worked for a national public accounting firm and was also the Chief Financial Officer of a Rockford based manufacturing company.

• Jon and his wife, Tammy, have two sons.
  He enjoys golfing, boating, snowmobiling and coaching his son's teams in football, baseball and basketball. He is active in the community, and is currently on the Board of Directors of Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center, where he serves as treasurer. Jon also served as treasurer while he was on the board of Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum in Rockford. Jon is a member of several professional organizations, including the Financial Planning Association (FPA), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), and the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS).

Janet Prader

• Information Technology Specialist & Network Administrator
• Janet Prader has been with Focus for 15 years.
  Her computer expertise allows us to stay current with ever-changing technologies. She also spends a great deal of time servicing client accounts and placing securities trades. She has lived in the northern Illinois area for over 25 years.

• Janet has two adult daughters.
  When she is not serving clients at Focus, she spends her spare time golfing, working on her family tree, and collecting memorabilia from the famed Wagon Wheel Resort. Janet also volunteers her time to several area charities.

Fred Raffety

• JD, CFP®, MBA, Owner & Financial Planner
• Fred joined Focus in 1987 and became the owner in 1999.
  Fred is involved in all aspects of the business, but concentrates most of his time consulting with clients on financial planning and investment matters. Fred is also in charge of fixed income investments and bond laddering. A Minnesota native, Fred has lived in the northern Illinois area for over 30 years. He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Dakota. Fred came to Focus with 24 years of experience in financial services, having served in bank trust departments in Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Belvidere, Illinois.

• Fred has previously served as President of both the Belvidere YMCA and Highland Hospital.
  He has also served on the board of directors of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, and is a past member of the Rotary Club of Belvidere, and Rockford East Rotary Club. Fred enjoys jazz, classical music, art and travel, and spending time with his grandchildren!

Martha Whitman

• Office Manager & Compliance Manager
• Although she wears many hats here at Focus
  Martha dedicates most of her time to managing the day-to-day affairs of the office, and making sure that the firm remains in compliance with the myriad of regulations that our industry is subject to. And as all of our clients know, Martha is always willing to help service their accounts. Martha has earned associates degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting, and has taken continuing education classes in financial planning.

• Martha is married and has three children, and two grandchildren.
  When she is not doting on her granddaughter, she enjoys walking, reading and swimming. Martha is a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and is involved with Rockford MELD, and organization whose work she feels very strongly about.