Steve founded the independent investment advisory firm of Altair Advisers in June of 2002. He has been counseling wealthy families, business owners, and senior executives on their investment, tax, retirement and estate planning matters for over 30 years. Prior to starting Altair, Steve spent nearly two decades with Arthur Andersen, where he was instrumental in designing, establishing and growing its Investment Advisory Services and Personal Financial Planning practices, both in Chicago and nationwide.

Steve’s broad background and expertise has earned him a place seven times on Worth magazine’s ranking of The Nation’s Top Wealth Advisors. Barron’s named him to their 2009 list of the Top 100 Independent Financial Advisers for the third year in a row, and he was selected by Chicago magazine as one of the Top 10 Financial Advisers. He has also been named to Crain’s list of Who’s Who in Chicago Business, and was recognized as one of 55 advisers, “considered by their peers to be among the best in the business” in Mary Rowland’s book, “Best Practices for Financial Advisors.” Steve is a frequent lecturer before investment, financial planning and other professional groups and is often quoted in the national media on investing and personal finance issues.

As an industry leader, Steve has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards and the CCH Financial and Estate Planning Advisory Board. He is currently active in the CFA Society of Chicago and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst^®, (CFA^®) charterholder and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. He is a member of the Illinois and California bars.

Steve graduated with Distinction in Political Science and Communication from Stanford University in 1974, where he was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and earned both his MBA and JD degrees, with Distinction, from Northwestern University in 1978. Steve is active on the Gift Planning Advisory Committee of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Northwestern Memorial Foundation’s Professional Council for Philanthropy, and the Kellogg Alumni Council. He also serves as a board member of the Chicago Youth Centers and the Chicago Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago.