Now is the time. This is the place.

At Brian Thompson Financial, I have a simple goal: to help a new generation of LGBTQ+, mission-driven entrepreneurs live fulfilling lives both professionally and personally. I do this by abiding by four core business values:

• Lead by example: We take care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually in order to be the best we can in serving our clients and show them by example what living a fulfilling life looks like.
• Choose Courage: We embrace our uniqueness and dare to be who we are in the face of uncertainty, discomfort, risk and emotional exposure.  Belonging in this firm doesn’t require you to change who you are, but to be who you are.
• Listen Deeply & Speak with Care: We come to each conversation with an open mind rather than the “right answer.” We tell the whole truth to ourselves, our clients and each other.
• Appreciate all that we have: Rather than focus on extraordinary moments, we appreciate the every-day joy of showing up for our clients and helping make their lives better.

Financial Planning Designed for Your Life

Owning and operating your own business is hard. You may have a passion and vision, but you don’t know how to make it become reality. In other words, instead of being lost in the forest, you don’t even know where the forest is. Or you may have already thrown yourself completely into your passion only to look up and realize it’s become something you don’t even recognize.  As a business owner you’ll have a tangle of conflicting obligations, as well as a lot of opportunity for richness, joy and choice in the future.

Now more than ever, Generation X and Y LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs need a trusted guide and someone that can help manage the multitude of business and life decisions that will inevitably arise. That’s where I come in.

The Advice You Need, When You Need It

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and tax attorney, I have the experience and expertise to help you get clarity around your values, dreams and goals to ensure you’re building something that will serve your great life as well as make a difference in the lives of others. I can guide you through the foundational steps in setting up, organizing or making improvements to your business.  I also provide ongoing support and adjustments that help you respond to what is happening in your business and create new opportunities.

Whether you’re starting your own business, trying to grow an existing one, or realigning your vision, together, we’ll tackle your questions to help you thrive now and in the future by making good decisions today.

Hi. I’m Brian!

As both a tax attorney and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, I provide comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. Whether you’re a small business, freelancer or consultant, this is the place for you.

I hold a special place in my heart for small-business owners. I spent a decade defending them against the IRS as a tax attorney and have become one as a financial advisor. It’s a position filled with hope and opportunity. It gives you the most flexibility to create the life that you want. I also understand the added stresses of running a business while being a person of color and a part of the LGBTQ+ community.  You may feel like you don’t have access to the knowledge that others do. I’m here to help lift some of that weight from your shoulders.

Every client comes to me with different goals and concerns. You may want a business that aligns with your values and authentically represents you. Yet, you don’t know how to get started. In our work together, we help you get clarity around your vision and guide you through the steps to structure your business in a way that serves your life.

You may already have a business that makes good gross revenue but that doesn’t provide much profit. It may also look very different from what you initially imagined. We will create systems that allow you to get back in control and keep moving towards the progress you want.

Or maybe you just feel stuck in the business and need help making ongoing decisions to ensure your business thrives and rewards you with the life you aspire to. In any case, I serve as your guide, advocate and thought partner helping you thrive in business and in life.

Because of my service to the LGBTQ+ community, I was awarded the Inspiring Leader Award by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) in 2018. I was also named to InvestmentNews’ 2018 “40 under 40”. I’m a contributor to Forbes and NAPFA Advisor Magazine’s Efficient Planner Column. You can learn more about me and my story in my profile in the New York Times and on my podcast interview that was featured on The Huffington Post.

I graduated cum laude from DePauw University and obtained my Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. I earned my Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University Center for Professional Planning and received my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2012.

When I’m not doing what I love professionally, I enjoy working out, cooking (and sometimes baking) and exploring Chicago, the best city in the world!