The Hidden Impact of Fees
17 October 2026
Do you know how much you pay in fees from your investment accounts? If not, it’s something you should probably look into.
I’m Steven Johnson, a financial advisor in Illinois. I help everyday people understand their money and build a plan for what’s ahead – without the jargon, and without making you feel like you should already know all this.
Knowing what comes in and what goes out is where every plan starts. I’ll help you see it clearly and give you the tools to track it yourself.
We’ll start with your goals and how much risk you’re comfortable with, then look at what will actually get you there.
Are you on track? We’ll find out — and if you’re not, we’ll build a plan to get you there.
Look at your taxes before they’re due instead of after. There are usually ways to owe less, this year and in the years ahead.
About twenty minutes. You tell me what’s going on and what’s worrying you. I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right person to help.
If it makes sense to keep going, I’ll build a plan around your actual situation — your income, your goals, your timeline. Not a template with your name on it.
I’ll keep working with you as things change, and explain what I’m doing and why as we go. My goal is for you to understand your own money well enough that one day you won’t need me.
I spent two decades doing financial analysis for large corporations, most of it for companies caught up in class-action lawsuits. The work was challenging and fast-paced, but it left me feeling unfulfilled.
What I actually enjoyed was helping family members with their own money — filing taxes, working out how to invest for retirement, the ordinary things. It made me realize how fortunate I’d been to learn all this, and how many people never get the chance.
So in 2026 I left, and started this practice to do that work full time.
I treat every client with the same care I’d give my own family. That means putting your interests first, recommending only what I’d invest in myself, and never taking a fee or commission based on which investments I recommend.
You’ll always know the risks involved, where your money is and how it’s invested, and exactly what you’re paying me. I invoice in detail, and I don’t take payment without your explicit approval.
My goal isn’t to be your advisor for life. It’s to give you the tools to manage your own money one day. It’s also why I take on low-income clients pro bono, with a focus on building habits that last.
Do you know how much you pay in fees from your investment accounts? If not, it’s something you should probably look into.
One of the first questions I’m typically asked whenever I meet with a potential client is: “What should I invest my money in?”
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re worried you’ve missed your chance, the next twenty minutes are free and there’s nothing to prepare.