Our People

Paul Garrett is the principal executive of Garrett Consulting Inc. and is directly responsible for all investment, insurance, and employee benefit product sales; marketing; administration; and all compliance regulation for the organization. He has been a practicing financial planner for more than 34 years. Prior to forming Garrett Consulting in 2000, Paul held the positions of executive vice president, Oak Brook Securities Corporation, Oak Brook, Illinois (five years); investment specialist, New England Securities, Chicago, Illinois (six years); and senior investment officer, Inland Securities Corporation, Oak Brook, Illinois (two years).

Paul's primary specialization is in investment planning, with an emphasis on qualified and nonqualified retirement plan consulting for small- and medium-sized businesses. He currently commands a client base of more than 300 individual, business, and institutional investors and advises on more than $155 million for these clients. Paul was highlighted as one of the top 7 percent of financial advisors in the region as a Five Star Wealth Manager¹ in the November 2010–2021 issues of Chicago magazine. Paul has successfully completed the Agency Management Training Council (AMTC) management course. He holds FINRA Series 6, 7 (General Securities Representative), 22, 24 (General Securities Principal), 63, and 66 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network®.

Paul coordinates total financial plans for business and personal clients and is experienced in the areas of business and personal life insurance, retirement, business strategy, employee benefit, executive benefit, disability insurance, estate, college funding, and tax planning. He has been a frequent guest speaker on many financial topics and is a regular guest and periodic host on WJJG's (AM 1530) Money Talks radio show. Paul also regularly conducts popular, educational public and corporate financial seminars in the area. Additionally, Paul has had numerous articles published in the Chicagoland press and has had clients featured in Money magazine and the New England Securities corporate Image Brochure. Paul is also licensed with Commonwealth Financial Network and the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Paul is a key member of the firm's management team. He plays a major role in the identification, selection, and training of new associates within the organization. Paul resides in the western suburb of Oak Brook. He is active in the community, serving as a director of DuPage Habitat for Humanity, a fundraiser for several local charitable organizations, and a member of several professional organizations, including the Better Business Bureau. Paul is an accomplished guitarist and bassist who also enjoys swimming.

 

Paul Garrett is proud to have been recognized as a Summit Club advisor for 2022—a distinction based on annual production that places him/her among the top 19 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Summit Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Summit Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.

1. Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria, including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, education, and professional designations. 5,635 Chicago area wealth managers were considered for the award; 382 (7 percent of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. (The criteria provided reflect the most recent year for which the advisor received the award. The criteria used, the number of wealth managers considered for the award, and the percentage of those who receive the award may vary from year to year.) These awards are not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance. Your experiences may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Photo: Randy Belice

Shelly is the friendly face of Garrett Consulting and our office manager. In addition to being the first point of contact and overseeing the day-to-day operations in our office, Shelly is the go-to person for important client-service matters. She has been with us for over 15 years.

Photo: Tom McCluskey