Our team
When working with you, we take a team approach to the planning process. This means each client benefits from the familiarity of working with their primary advisor, supported by our whole team to give you the best service and input when making decisions.
As a Senior Financial Advisor and the Managing Partner of Bluestem, Jake leads our team in simplifying and bringing peace of mind to our client’s financial lives. He has served in this role since 2011 when he and Advisor Emeritus, Karen Folk, partnered to create Bluestem Financial Advisors. [Read More]
MaryBess’ role as Director of Client Services and Operations is to focus on you, the client. MaryBess works with the team to provide an exceptional client experience and ensures your needs are met satisfactorily and promptly. She also handles the daily and back-office operations of the firm. MaryBess received her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and before joining Bluestem in 2014, spent five years as the assistant business manager for a local religious organization. MaryBess was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana and has a passion for community service, serving on several committees for local non-profits.... [Read More]
Rodney joined Bluestem as an Associate Financial Advisor in late 2019, after working for four years at a regional wealth management firm. Rodney holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. [Read More]
Josh attended Eastern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in Finance with a specialization in financial planning. After working for 3 years in the financial services industry, he joined Bluestem in early 2014 and discovered his passion doing fee-only financial planning. Josh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor. As a Lead Advisor at Bluestem, Josh is driven to help clients remove worry from their financial lives through a hands-on.... [Read More]
Joe is a central Illinois native who grew up in close proximity to Champaign-Urbana. He earned his Associate’s degree at Parkland College and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting through Colorado State University’s Global Campus. Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Joe’s past work experience includes customer service, human resources, and accounting. Through this range of experience Joe has seen both the human as well as the numbers side of business operations... [Read More]
Tim is the newest member of the Bluestem team after joining as a Financial Planning Resident in 2023. He spent most of his life in Champaign, where he graduated from Centennial High School and earned his degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [Read More]
On September 1, 2016 Karen transitioned to Emeritus status began her retirement. While no longer involved in the day to day operations of the business, Karen is still an integral part of the firm, working on educational materials and mentoring staff. Karen has a Ph.D. in Family and Consumption Economics, holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, and is a retired NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor. Prior to opening Folk Financial... [Read More]
Nick joined Bluestem in early 2018 as an associate financial advisor after 12 years as a tax accountant. Nick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CPA, and has experience with business and individual taxation, with focuses on multi-state and international taxation. He enjoys taking the stress and confusion out of the tax preparation process for his clients, and looks forward to doing the same for other aspects of client’s financial lives. Nick graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2005 with a Bachelors in Business... [Read More]
![Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in Mathematics and a Master’s from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Mathematics and in Education. Rachel spent 20 years teaching high school math before deciding to explore other paths. Rachel is an East Coast transplant to the Midwest, who is very happy to be transplanted. All of her grandparents grew up in the Midwest, so… [Read More]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57472d2b1d07c0426d6d89b5/1569475107413-TP8KGDHHGDFQ8YRZVCTZ/Bluestem_19web.jpg)
Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in Mathematics and a Master’s from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Mathematics and in Education. Rachel spent 20 years teaching high school math before deciding to explore other paths.… [Read More]
Julie recently joined the Bluestem team after 7 years as an editor for Smile Politely, a culture magazine in Champaign-Urbana. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and began her career as a third grade teacher before taking the winding path to becoming a Client Services Associate. [Read More]
Bluestem provides a supportive team environment that encourages each team member to further their professional growth and personal development. If this sounds like the type of environment you would like to be a part of we encourage you to take a look at our career opportunities page.
Why Bluestem?
Bluestem's name comes from native Illinois prairie grasses known for their extensive root system. We believe the key to financial progress begins with growing deep financial roots through comprehensive planning.
Our Services
Peace of mind comes from attention to all aspects of your financial life. While taxes and investments are key components of your personal financial plan, we take time to understand you - your goals, your values, your relationships, your personal history, every aspect of your finances – and our availability to you as part of your retainer helps us be effective, trusted guides during your life’s transitions.
Fee Structure
Fee transparency and fiduciary responsibility are of the utmost importance to our firm. Our fees are Retainer-Based, which means we charge an annual, fixed-fee based on your financial situation. We use Net Worth for our calculation to reflect the fact that we look at your entire financial picture. These fees are determined as follows:
Our Clients
We enjoy working with a variety of client situations and life stages, but have developed unique expertise in helping clients in the following situations:
Prioritizing savings plans for the future (emergency savings, children's college, retirement, etc.)
Navigating financial decisions around life changes including starting a family, buying a home, or career changes
Cashflow planning and student loan strategies for advanced degrees and professional education
Insurance needs for protecting new and growing families
Simplifying and consolidating financial accounts and complexity accumulated over a lifetime
Determining resources needed to afford desired lifestyle in retirement and keeping goals on track
Navigating the transition to retirement, including creating a Retirement Paycheck from the portfolio
Planning and implementing a strategy for charitable and family gifting
Decision-making and evaluating career opportunities of tenure track and administrative positions
Coordination of retirement plans from various university positions, including expertise in the State University Retirement System (SURS)
Tax planning for supplemental income sources including book and patent royalties, honorariums, and consulting