Dennis D. Duffy Financial Coach
Dennis D. Duffy is the founding attorney of the Quad City law firm, Duffy Law Office. Dennis combines an extensive background in business with a wide range of legal experience to provide his clients with a uniquely practical perspective. An attorney since 1989, he now devotes his law practice primarily to estate planning and asset protection. Mr. Duffy also offers frequent educational seminars on a variety of estate planning topics to both the general public and private groups in the Quad Cities area.
As a financial coach, Dennis has been helping clients with the clarity and education needed to be a successful investor his entire career. He obtained his Series 65 licenses in 2004 and coached hundreds of clients on how to avoid the typical myths of investing by presenting educational workshops on a variety of topics. In 2015, he was the founding partner in a Registered Investment Advisory firm, Abundance Financial Coaching LLC that offers fee only planning. He helps his clients learn how to use academic and evidence based investing to avoid stock picking, market timing and forecasting based on past performance to achieve lifelong successful financial peace of mind.
Dennis’s calling as a coach is to help others understand how academic concepts and their application can change their lives. We coach investors to apply the academic principles of the Efficient Market Hypothesis, Modern Portfolio Theory, and the Three Factor Model. In addition, we help clients understand that their own behavior can be the biggest challenge to successful investing. Behavior management by coaching cannot be done by computers, robots or machines alone, if one desires to achieve lifelong investing success.
Professional Experience
Mr. Duffy has been practicing law since 1989, when he joined the general practice firm of Bozeman, Neighbour, Patton & Noe in Moline Illinois. In 1990, with five other attorneys, Mr. Duffy founded the law firm of Anderson & Nelson, with offices in Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport Iowa. He became the Managing Partner, and the firm grew to 12 lawyers practicing in almost every area of business litigation. Mr. Duffy’s practice focused on the representation of small and medium businesses and individuals in the areas of real estate, estate planning and business and tax planning. He founded Duffy Law Office in 1995.
Prior to founding Abundance Financial Coaching, from 2004 through February 2015, Dennis was an owner and principal of another registered investment advisory firm. He was responsible for the amazing growth of that company during his involvement. It grew ten times larger than when he joined the company both in number of client families served and assets under management. He presented hundreds of presentations on prudent investing and the application of academic principles to the average main street investor at the coaching events sponsored by the company for clients, families and guests. The undergraduate B.B.A. education with a major in Finance and his Masters in Business Administration both from the University of Iowa gave him significant training in the concepts needed to convey the powerful message of how to achieve prudent investing.
Before returning to school for his advanced law and business degrees, Mr. Duffy worked for nearly a decade at Per Mar Security & Research Corp. in Davenport, as Vice President.
Mr. Duffy is a member of the American and state bar associations of both Iowa and Illinois as well as the Scott and Rock Island County Bar Associations.
He is an executive member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and former Academy Fellow. The fellow program recognizes Academy members who demonstrate advanced expertise and significant practical experience in the estate planning, trust, tax planning, guardianship, probate and estate administration fields.
He is co-author of the books Estate Planning Basics – A Crash Course in Safeguarding Your Legacy and Legacy Planning – A guide to Preserving your Family Wealth – The Modern Investor – 10 Most Expensive Tax Mistakes That Cost Investors Thousands – The Reluctant Advisor.
Education
Mr. Duffy earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa. While in law school, he served as Case Editor for the Moot Court Executive Board and received the prestigious American Jurisprudence Award for excellence in real estate transfer and finance law.
Personal
A native of Davenport, Mr. Duffy is married and the father of three daughters and is a grandfather of four. He lives with his family in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Ryan M. Denman Financial Coach
Ryan Denman is a partner at Duffy Law Office. Ryan’s goal is to preserve his client’s wealth while giving them peace of mind and unparalleled service. Mr. Denman’s practice includes, but is not limited to, wills, trusts, estate planning and probate law. His background in economics and law allows him to give his clients all of the tools necessary for them to construct their estate plan. Mr. Denman offers frequent educational workshops on a variety of estate planning topics to both the general public and private groups in the Quad Cities area.
As a financial coach, Ryan has been helping clients with the clarity and education needed to be a successful investor. He obtained his Series 65 license in 2013 and coached hundreds of clients on how to avoid the typical myths of investing by presenting educational workshops. In 2015 he was a founding partner in a Registered Investment Advisory firm, Abundance Financial Coaching, LLC that offers fee only planning. He helps clients learn how to use academic based investing to avoid stock picking, market timing and forecasting in order to achieve lifelong successful financial peace of mind.
Experience
Mr. Denman joined Duffy Law Office in 2011 after graduation from the University of Iowa, College of Law. While in law school Ryan was a teaching assistant at the Tippie School of Business at the University of Iowa focusing on macroeconomics. Mr. Denman is a member of the American Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, the Scott County Bar Association, and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
Prior to founding Abundance Financial Coaching, from 2013 through February 2015, Ryan was a financial coach with another registered investment advisory firm. During his college career, Ryan was a teaching assistant at the Tippie School of Business at the University of Iowa. During his time as a teaching assistant Ryan focused his teaching in the area of Macroeconomics. Ryan was responsible for the preparation of lectures, teaching classes, and providing one-on-one assistance for undergraduate students in the area of Macroeconomics. Ryan graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a degree in Economics which leads him to approach investing from an academic standpoint.
Education
Mr. Denman earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa. While in law school he was a member of the journal of Corporation Law, a member of the national Moot Court team, and a teaching assistant in the Department of Economics at the Tippie College of Business.
Personal
A native of Dubuque, Iowa Mr. Denman moved to the Quad Cities during the summer of 2011. He married his wife Kimberly in July 2012 and they reside in Bettendorf, Iowa. Mr. Denman is admitted to practice law in both Iowa and Illinois.
Maritess T. Bott Financial Coach – Rolling Meadows, IL
Maritess Bott focuses her practice on estate planning, probate and trust administration. She employs her knowledge and skills in identifying a client’s objectives and employing innovative strategies to meet his or her goals. She is a valued resource to her clients when they are going through difficult times like a death in the family or an incapacitated family member.
Professional Experience
Mrs. Bott started practicing out of law school at a downtown boutique law firm concentrating on corporate law and estate planning for business owners and high net worth individuals. She continued to work at another downtown firm in advanced estate planning, before starting her own practice in the suburbs in 2007.
Education
Mrs. Bott earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, a Masters of Science degree in Accountancy from Dominican University (formerly Rosary College), and a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School. She has been a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys since 2003, a national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in estate planning. She is only one of three Academy Members in the Chicagoland area. Mrs. Bott obtained her Series 65 license in 2017.
Personal
Mrs. Bott is married and lives with her husband, Gary, and their children, Zachary, Nathaniel and Jocelyn. She loves to spend time with her family especially watching her children play in various sporting events. In her free time, she loves to read and hang out with her friends, and watch reality TV shows.
Victor A. Veprauskas IV
Professional Experience
Victor Veprauskas IV is a shareholder of the Axis Estate Planning law firm. He has been an attorney since 2001, and devotes his law practice to estate planning, asset protection and estate administration. Mr. Veprauskas offers frequent educational seminars on a variety of estate planning topics to both the general public and private groups in the Metro-Detroit area.
Today, in addition to his law practice, Mr. Veprauskas is able to offer clients access to financial planning. Mr. Veprauskas strongly believes in the commitment to acting as a fiduciary to clients through a fee-only approach, i.e., no commissions. Mr. Veprauskas frequently speaks and writes on a variety of financial topics.
Education
Mr. Veprauskas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Wheeling Jesuit University in 1998. Mr. Veprauskas earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He has been a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys since 2018, a national organization dedicated to promoting excellence in estate planning. He is the only Academy member in the Metro-Detroit area. Mr. Veprauskas obtained his Series 65 license in 2020.
Personal
Mr. Veprauskas is married and lives in the Metro-Detroit area. He enjoys his German Shepherds and spending time with his wife. He and his wife actively enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors.
Scott P. Schomer
Professional Experience
Scott Schomer has over twenty years of experience in financial services and a proven track record of helping clients secure their financial independence. He takes a disciplined approach to planning that incorporates customized strategies and ongoing investor coaching, making him the right choice for investors who seek professional advice on their retirement journey.
Mr. Schomer’s wealth of experience in financial planning, law and risk management has helped him to develop a unique approach to help people transition from the stock-picking model to academic-based investment strategies. He helps his clients achieve their goals with a range of services, including estate planning, investment management and more.
Education
A graduate of Boston University School of Law, Mr. Schomer is a frequent lecturer who has appeared on local and national television shows to discuss the importance of financial and estate planning. While he prefers helping clients plan their legacies, Mr. Schomer also has a proven record of protecting his clients through the court system, securing more than twenty-five million dollars in judgments and verdicts. Mr. Schomer has been regularly recognized by his peers for his talents including more than a decade being designated as a California Super Lawyer, a Five Star Wealth Manager, and a life-time member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Personal
Scott lives in Los Angeles and is happily married to his Valley Girl and the father of two adult daughters. In his free time, Scott enjoys travelling, surfing, car racing, guitar, and spending time with his extended family.
Massachusetts Fee Table
Please see this document for our Table of Fees for Services
ADV’s