{"url":"https://nivawealth.com/firms/certified-tax-service-110960","iapdUrl":"https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/110960","regulatoryAum":313859000,"crd":"110960","adviserRoster":{"asOf":"2026-10-09","items":[{"crd":"1391828","suffix":"III","lastName":"MARIEN","firstName":"CHARLES","middleName":"ANTHONY"},{"crd":"4693343","suffix":null,"lastName":"MUCH","firstName":"CHRISTOPHER","middleName":"TODD"},{"crd":"5871153","suffix":null,"lastName":"MUCH","firstName":"JONATHON","middleName":"COREY"},{"crd":"712126","suffix":null,"lastName":"MUCH","firstName":"TODD","middleName":"WAYNE"}],"total":4,"loadedAt":"2026-10-10T00:20:19.761928+00:00","sourceUrl":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/CompilationReports/IA_INDVL_Feed_10_09_2026.xml.zip"},"history":[{"filedOn":"2021-04-21","regulatoryAum":267659000,"clients":238,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2021-12-22","regulatoryAum":308038000,"clients":245,"employees":9,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2022-12-21","regulatoryAum":266419000,"clients":249,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2023-12-22","regulatoryAum":274197000,"clients":244,"employees":8,"offices":1},{"filedOn":"2024-12-20","regulatoryAum":298694000,"clients":247,"employees":8,"offices":2},{"filedOn":"2025-12-23","regulatoryAum":313859000,"clients":249,"employees":9,"offices":2}],"secFileNumber":"801-25781","legalName":"Certified Tax Service, Inc.","displayName":"Certified Tax Service","slug":"certified-tax-service-110960","website":"https://ctsfinancialgroup.com/","classification":{"segment":"individuals","segmentLabel":"Wealth management","type":"independent_wealth_manager","typeLabel":"RIA","feeDisclosure":"full"},"linkedinUrl":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/1311857","founded":"1972","organization":"Illinois corporation","fiscalYearEnd":"September","headquarters":{"street":"737 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2120","city":"Chicago","state":"IL","stateName":"Illinois","country":"United States","postalCode":"60611"},"tradeNames":["CTS Financial Group"],"registration":{"secApproved":"22 November 1985","noticeFilings":null,"latestNoticeFiling":null},"wealthAumPerClient":1260477.9116465864,"staff":{"employees":9,"advisory":4,"brokerDealerReps":0,"insuranceAgents":4,"promoters":0},"aum":{"regulatory":313859000,"discretionary":313859000,"discretionaryAccounts":732,"nonDiscretionary":0,"nonDiscretionaryAccounts":0,"wrapProgram":null,"nonUsClientsPct":0,"nonAumClients":0},"clientTypes":[{"label":"Individuals (other than HNW)","clients":160,"regulatoryAum":51498000},{"label":"High-net-worth individuals","clients":89,"regulatoryAum":262361000}],"feePrograms":[{"role":"main","program":"Investment Management Fee","feeBasis":"range","fee_tiers":null,"sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=999325","versionId":999325,"ratePeriod":"annual","fee_billing":"arrears","submittedOn":"2025-12-23","documentName":"DISCLOSURE BROCHURE","fee_rate_low":1,"fee_rate_high":2,"fee_negotiable":true,"minimum_account":null,"feeMinimumPeriod":null,"fee_minimum_annual":null},{"role":"other","program":"Financial Planning and Consulting","summary":"Financial planning and consulting is charged a fixed fee, generally $500 to $7,500, or an hourly rate of $125 to $500, negotiable.","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=999325","versionId":999325,"submittedOn":"2025-12-23","documentName":"DISCLOSURE BROCHURE"}],"brochureCoverage":{"scope":"sec_inventory","status":"reviewed","checkedAt":"2026-10-22T08:27:10.884378+00:00","documents":[{"name":"DISCLOSURE BROCHURE","status":"read","sourceUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=999325","versionId":999325,"submittedOn":"2025-12-23"}]},"custodians":[{"name":"Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.","shortName":"Charles Schwab","location":"Westlake, TX","smaAssets":248795619},{"name":"Nationwide Securities, LLC","shortName":"Nationwide Securities","location":"Louisville, KY","smaAssets":43495147}],"custodyNote":"Certified Tax Service has custody of $99.5M for 111 clients.","otherCustodians":[],"leadership":[{"name":"Todd Much","title":"President and Chief Executive Officer","crd":"712126"},{"name":"Charles Marien","title":"Executive Vice President / Chief Compliance Officer","crd":"1391828"},{"name":"Christopher Much","title":"Vice President and Chief Investment Officer","crd":"4693343"},{"name":"Jonathon Much","title":"Vice President and Chief Operating Officer","crd":"5871153"}],"ownership":[{"label":"Todd Much","detail":"President and chief executive officer in the 25% to 50% ownership band and a control person, since August 1981."},{"label":"Charles Marien","detail":"Executive vice president / chief compliance officer in the 25% to 50% ownership band and a control person, since October 1984."},{"label":"Christopher Much","detail":"Vice president and chief investment officer in the 10% to 25% ownership band and a control person, since October 2013."},{"label":"Jonathon Much","detail":"Vice president and chief operating officer in the 10% to 25% ownership band and a control person, since June 2015."}],"branchOffices":null,"filedOffices":{"otherThanPrincipal":1,"privateResidences":1},"listedOfficeAddresses":1,"foreignOffices":[],"officesByState":[{"state":"Illinois","offices":1,"addresses":[{"street":"737 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2120","city":"Chicago","headquarters":true}]}],"brochureServices":["education planning","estate planning","insurance","tax planning","tax preparation"],"advFacts":{"source":{"file":"ia100226.zip","asOf":"2 October 2026"},"telephone":"312-337-1040","stateRegisteredReps":4,"otherAdviserReps":0,"compensation":["A percentage of assets under management","Hourly charges","Fixed fees (other than subscription fees)"],"activities":["Financial planning services","Portfolio management for individuals and/or small businesses","Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)"],"financialPlanningClients":"1-10","assetMix":[{"label":"Exchange-traded equity securities","percent":6},{"label":"U.S. government/agency bonds","percent":4},{"label":"Securities issued by registered investment companies or business development companies","percent":73},{"label":"Cash and cash equivalents","percent":3},{"label":"Other","percent":14,"detail":"Variable Annuities."}],"privateFunds":0},"sources":{"adv1FilingDate":"23 December 2025","adv1Url":"https://reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/110960/PDF/110960.pdf","brochureDate":"23 December 2025","brochureUrl":"https://files.adviserinfo.sec.gov/IAPD/Content/Common/crd_iapd_Brochure.aspx?BRCHR_VRSN_ID=999325","iapdCompiledDate":null,"retrievedDate":"15 October 2026","retrievedOn":"2026-10-15","updatedOn":"2026-10-22","holdingsUpdatedOn":"2026-10-21","adv1Pages":{},"brochurePages":{}},"otherBusiness":[],"faq":[{"question":"How many clients does Certified Tax Service have?","answer":"Certified Tax Service has 249 clients and manages $314 million for them, as of December 2025. They include 160 individual clients and 89 high-net-worth individuals.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 23 December 2025","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What services does Certified Tax Service offer?","answer":"Certified Tax Service provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, selecting other managers, education planning, estate planning, insurance, tax planning, and tax preparation.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file; Part 2A brochure, Item 4","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How much does Certified Tax Service charge?","answer":"Certified Tax Service charges 1.00%–2.00% a year for its Investment Management Fee. The fee is billed in arrears and is negotiable.","source":"DISCLOSURE BROCHURE, filed 23 December 2025","sourceRef":{"doc":"brochure","section":"fees"}},{"question":"Which custodians does Certified Tax Service use?","answer":"Certified Tax Service’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $249M and Nationwide Securities, LLC (Louisville, KY), with $43.5M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 23 December 2025","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"custodians"}},{"question":"How many financial advisors does Certified Tax Service have?","answer":"Certified Tax Service has 4 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 9 employees, and 4 perform investment advisory functions. 0 employees are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 4 employees are licensed insurance agents.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"What does Certified Tax Service invest in?","answer":"At the end of its last fiscal year, Certified Tax Service’s separately managed accounts held 73% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 14% other, 6% exchange-traded equities, 4% U.S. government and agency bonds and 3% cash and equivalents. The 14% other category is described as: Variable Annuities.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"Who owns Certified Tax Service?","answer":"Certified Tax Service’s direct owners are Todd Much, Charles Marien, Christopher Much and Jonathon Much, each holding 50% or less.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 23 December 2025","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"scheduleA"}},{"question":"How does Certified Tax Service get paid?","answer":"Certified Tax Service is paid through a percentage of assets under management, hourly charges and fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"employees"}},{"question":"How do I contact Certified Tax Service?","answer":"Certified Tax Service’s main office is at 737 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2120, Chicago, IL 60611. Its phone number is 312-337-1040. Its website is ctsfinancialgroup.com.","source":"Form ADV Part 1A, Item 1.F, filed 23 December 2025","sourceRef":{"doc":"adv1","section":"offices"}}],"holdings":null,"notice":"Compiled from public SEC Form ADV filings on the dates in `sources`. Facts as filed; not a rating, ranking, or recommendation. Niva is not affiliated with this firm. Disciplinary history is deliberately not included here or on the page; the SEC publishes the complete record at the `iapdUrl` above."}