Independent · Fiduciary
Clarity at every altitude.
Independent financial planning and investment management for families and individuals.
100% Fiduciary · Independent · Research-Driven
What We Do
Six disciplines, one standard of care.
Investment Management
Portfolios built to beat their benchmark, not mirror it — disciplined, rules-based strategies with a defined risk budget.
Tax Planning and Preparation
Year-round tax strategy and return preparation, coordinated so your plan and your filings tell the same story.
Estate Planning
Beneficiary alignment, trust coordination, and generational transfer planning.
Retirement Planning
When you can retire, how much you can spend, and how to draw down accounts in the right order.
Insurance and Risk Management
Coverage reviewed against what your family actually needs — life, disability, liability — with no products to sell.
Compensation and Benefits Coordination
Equity awards, deferred compensation, and benefit elections, optimized as part of the whole picture.
People
The people behind the process.
Matthew R. Heckler, JD
Founder, CEO
Matt founded K2 Wealth Management after nearly two decades advising executives and their families — at Goldman Sachs and The Ayco Company, Cerity Partners, and finally as Director of Corporate Executive Services at Telemus. His practice provides a one-stop-shop for senior corporate leaders: income tax, estate planning, insurance, benefits, and investments. Matt holds a Juris Doctor and is licensed in investments and insurance.
Carol Chen, CFA
Founder, CIO
Carol leads the research behind K2's investment strategies. Before K2, she spent more than seven years at MSCI, where as an Executive Director she was a subject-matter expert on index methodologies including factor investing, and six years at Markit, where she led the design of its global ETF classification system. Carol is a CFA® charterholder and a former member of the Women in ETFs Membership Committee.
Stephanie Laude, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Stephanie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional who has spent her career in Chicago's independent advisory community. Before joining K2 in 2025, she advised individuals and families for nearly a decade at BDF and its successor firm Corient. At Corient she developed expertise in holistic financial planning and client relationship management. Stephanie served on the board of the Financial Planning Association of Illinois for three years and is involved with Impact Grants Chicago.
Catherine Nicolas
Client Service Manager
Catherine spent nearly a decade at Ayco, a Goldman Sachs company, providing one-on-one financial counseling to senior executives at Fortune 1000 companies. She also served as a regional training coordinator and mentored new associates. At K2, she supports the team and clients with all their administrative needs.
Contact
Contact our Chicago office.
A first meeting is simply that — a conversation. No pressure, no obligation.
Chicago Office
1200 N Ashland Ave – Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60622
admin@k2wealthllc.com
Call us to schedule: (872) 227-7652
Or request an introduction: