The questions we hear most
Every plan we build starts with your actual questions, not a product. These are the four we hear first from people who are five to fifteen years from retirement, or already there.
Can I afford to retire?
A clear, numbers-first answer that accounts for a longer life expectancy and the income you'll actually need.
When should I take Social Security?
Timing, spousal and survivor benefits, and how the decision fits with the rest of your retirement income.
How do I leave a legacy?
Estate and charitable planning that reflects your intentions for family, causes, and the next generation.
What about rising health care costs?
Medicare, long-term care, and a plan that doesn't let medical expenses quietly erode your savings.
Why clients choose Fortis
Unbiased Advice
As an SEC-registered investment advisor with no affiliations to banks, brokerage firms, or product companies, our only incentive is your outcome.
A True Fiduciary
We are legally bound to act in your best interest, with personalized, low-cost, tax-efficient portfolios built for you, not for a sales target.
Transparent, Fee-Only Pricing
No commissions, no hidden fees, and no charge for the initial analysis. You'll always know exactly what you pay and why.
Proven, Verified Strategies
Our investment strategies are independently verified under the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS), a standard few boutique firms meet.
Thirty years of experience, one client at a time
Meridith Hutchens has spent more than thirty years managing portfolios and advising families through every kind of market. She founded Fortis Private Wealth to bring institutional-caliber research to individual clients, delivered in clear language and without a sales agenda.
She lives and works in Lake View East, and most of her clients come to her around a turning point: retirement, a career transition, an inheritance, or life after divorce or loss. Her goal is simple: that every client understands their own plan well enough to feel confident in it.
Two ways we work with you
Retirement planning for women in Chicago
A written plan that turns savings into reliable income: Social Security timing, withdrawal strategy, tax planning, health care costs, and the longevity math that generic plans ignore. It begins with a complimentary retirement analysis.
- Retirement income strategy
- Social Security and Medicare planning
- Planning after divorce, widowhood, or an inheritance
Wealth management for women in Chicago
Institutional-caliber portfolios built on quantitative research and verified under GIPS, managed by a fee-only fiduciary and explained in language you'll actually want to read.
- Low-cost, tax-efficient portfolios
- Quarterly plain-language market commentary
- Coordination with your CPA and estate attorney
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Start with a clear picture of where you stand
A 30-minute conversation and a written analysis of your retirement outlook. No fee, no obligation, and no pitch.