Karen L. DeRose, CFP®, CRPC®
President and Managing Partner
"My passion is listening to clients and translating their wants, needs and values into a plan that builds and preserves their wealth over their lifetime. This leads to a long-term relationship as we create the life they value and the legacy they envision.”
Karen first began her financial planning practice after working with her father at his incredibly successful insurance practice. As she worked with her father and his clients, she was regularly asked financial questions outside the realm of insurance. It was then when she realized that people needed financial advice on all aspects of their lives, and that insurance can only solve one need. Thus, Karen’s vision for her own financial planning practice came to light. Her time with her father was invaluable. Not only was he instrumental in nudging her toward financial planning, but he also taught her the value of providing excellent service to her future clients. Providing quality advice and service was paramount to selling a product.
In 1996, Karen founded DeRose Financial Planning Group to help her clients take their financial planning to the next level. At that time, comprehensive financial planning was still in its relative infancy, as most “planners” simply sold investments or insurance. She envisioned a practice where a customized, comprehensive financial plan could be tailored to each of her clients’ financial lives. She has been doing so ever since.
Karen is Past Chairman of the prestigious Resource Group, comprised of the top financial advisors within Lincoln Financial Advisors and Past Chairman & Founding Member of The WISE Group - Lincoln’s women advisor’s network. She believes in collaborating with other trusted advisors by adding value and resources to her client relationships through business development. Karen is also the Past President of the BNI Wildfire Group and a member of The Executive Guild. She has appeared on ABC Chicago, NBC Chicago and has been listed in Chicago Magazine’s “Five-Star Wealth Advisor” since 2010[1], Women in Financial Services (WIFS) Circle of Excellence Award since 2011[2], and Women’s Choice Award since 2011[3]. In 2019, Karen was the recipient of the inaugural WISE Innovator award for her devotion to promoting and mentoring women in the industry.
Karen holds her FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 registrations and is licensed to provide health and life insurance in several states.
Karen lives in Deerfield and has been happily married to her husband, Tony, for over forty years. Together, they have two grown sons, Anthony, and Nick, both of whom are Partners at DeRose FPG. Karen loves to travel, hike, participate in yoga sessions, scuba dive, and is an avid reader. Her family is an active member of Holy Cross Church in Deerfield, Illinois. Karen is also a Board Member of Spirit Air LLC, a not-for-profit that provides flights for “life”, and participates in several local charity events. In her rare downtime, Karen enjoys dining at farm-to-table restaurants or indulging in quality dark chocolate and a nice glass of French Sancerre at home with her husband.