Michael A. ConnorRegistered Principal, Founder and Partner

Arthur Michael Connor, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, AIF®, with over 30 years in the financial services industry, is a Founding Partner of Independence Capital Financial Partners, LLC. (ICFP), a financial services and employee benefits practice, in Lombard, Illinois.  He specializes in personalized wealth management and retirement and estate planning, in addition to employee benefit planning for small/medium business and professional markets. Along with three partners, Mike formed Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group in 1990,  a financial services and employee benefits practice, in Oak Brook, Illinois, where he was active until forming ICFP in March of 2012.

A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, he has completed post-graduate studies at the American College achieving certifications as a Chartered Financial Consultant®, a Chartered Life Underwriter®, and Registered Health Underwriter®. 

Mike’s contributions to his community have included his position as former president of his parish school board, and as a former coach and manager of his community Little League.  Mike is a current Board Member and Officer of Blue Cap, an organization supporting people with developmental disabilities.  

Mike and his wife, Anne, reside in Summerville, South Carolina. They have two children; Michael and Karen, and six grandchildren; Kaitlyn, Kira, Tyler, Elizabeth, Anthea and Michaela.

For 85 years the CLU® has been the respected risk management credential for advisors. Designees have completed eight or more college-level courses representing an average study time of 400 hours. Topics for required courses include insurance and financial planning, life insurance law, estate planning, and financial planning for business owners and professionals. Elective courses include such advanced topics as income taxes, group benefits, retirement planning, and health insurance. CLU® designees must meet experience and continuing education requirements and must adhere to a high ethical standard. The mark is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator with the top level of academic accreditation.

The ChFC® designation has been a mark of excellence for almost thirty years and currently requires nine college-level courses, the most of any financial planning credential. Average study time to earn the ChFC® exceeds 450 hours. Required courses cover extensive education and application training in financial planning, income taxation, investments, and estate and retirement planning. Additional electives are chosen from such topics as macroeconomics, financial decisions for retirement, and executive compensation. ChFC® designees must meet experience requirements and adhere to continuing education and ethical standards. The credential is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator with an 85-year heritage and the highest level of academic accreditation.

The RHU® designee has completed two required and one elective college-level course covering such topics as group benefits, individual health insurance, and managed care. Total average student study time exceeds 150 hours. The credential is offered by The American College, a non-profit educator with an 85-year heritage and the highest level of academic accreditation. RHU® designees must meet experience, ethics and continuing education requirements.

The AIF® Designation certifies that the recipient has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. To receive the AIF® Designation, the individual must:

1. Meet prerequisite criteria based on a combination of education, relevant industry experience, and/or ongoing professional development
2. Complete a training program
3. Successfully pass a comprehensive, closed-book final examination under the supervision of an approved proctor
4. Agree to abide by the AIF® Designee Code of Ethics.

In order to maintain the AIF® Designation, the individual must annually attest to being in compliance with the AIF® Designee Code of Ethics, and accrue and report a minimum of six hours of continuing education. The AIF® Designation is administered by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the standards-setting body of fi360.