Recognitions & Partnerships

We’re honored to be recognized as a finalist for the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards in Thought Leadership and Education. This recognition reflects our team’s ongoing commitment to helping families navigate the complexities of financial planning and special needs planning. We are proud to be named under the Thought Leadership and Education category of the rankings.

Oak Wealth Advisors did not pay to be considered for this award and did not pay to use this award recognition.

About the Finalists, According to ThinkAdvisors:
“In evaluating nominations, we will take into account the following criteria:

The nominee’s impact on the firm, advisors, and the broader professional community and industry.
This impact should include both quantitative and qualitative results – such as the number of advisors affected by the nominee and a clear description of the innovative ways the nominee has contributed to the particular program, firm and broader community, and industry.
A demonstrated ability to achieve goals and display ingenuity in terms of creative thinking and problem solving.
A description of the nominee’s dedication to furthering the development of advisors and the industry – most notably its ability to serve the best interests of clients.
A personal commitment to the highest ethical standards, service and excellence.”

In the USA Today ranking, Oak Wealth Advisors was named #268 out of 1,000 firms nationwide. Within our category of firms managing under $500 million in assets, we ranked #50 and #2 in Illinois.

We view this recognition of a reflection of our ongoing commitment to providing thoughtful financial planning, investment management, and guidance for families navigating special needs planning. We are grateful for the continued trust our clients place in us.

Oak Wealth Advisors did not pay to be included in the rankings.

About the Ranking
USA Today partnered with Statista to develop this year’s ranking. According to their methodology “To determine this ranking, we looked at firms’ assets under management (AUM) over the short and long term. We also looked at the number of recommendations they received from both clients and peers. Firms are grouped by four asset-size categories: up to $500 million in assets, $500 million to $1 billion in assets, $1 billion to $5 billion in assets, and more than $5 billion in assets.”

We are proud to be acknowledged by NEWSWEEK as one of the Top 5% of the advisory firms they evaluated.

The companies on America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms 2025 and 2026 are leading the charge, providing clients with the expertise, transparency and personalized attention they’re looking for. These firms are not only helping individuals and businesses grow their wealth but empowering them to navigate complex financial decisions with confidence.

This rating is as of December 2024 and December 2025, respectively, based upon a survey completed by Oak Wealth and other participating advisers. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers.

We’re honored to be named the 2023 NAPFA Excellence in DEI Award Winner by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, recognizing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial planning profession.

At Oak Wealth Advisors, we focus on serving families who have loved ones with disabilities—providing education, resources, and wealth management services to help them thrive. Our work highlights the talents of individuals with disabilities, from sourcing client gifts and office art to supporting inclusive organizations through creative partnerships.

Founder Mike Walther, a member of NAPFA’s DEI Committee, continues to advance awareness of special needs planning through national conferences and advisor education.