Anna Kim: Shout Out: Mark Mappa, a financial planner who loves sports cars

Nov. 6--Mark Mappa is a financial planner and independent advisor who works in Glenview. He lives in Buffalo Grove with his wife and three kids, loves Chicago sports and sports cars. He recently wrote a book about personal finance called "Cash Flow is King."

Q: Could you tell me a little bit about your book and what inspired you to write it?

A: (I've worked for) 30 years in the financial services industry, and have developed the philosophy and the mindset of what I've learned that works and what doesn't work in managing and advising people on their personal finance ... I thought it'd be a great opportunity for (clients) to see what is Mark's mindset and thought process.

Q: Is there a boiled down philosophy of guidance that you give people?

A: I'm a big believer in working with an independent financial advisor. The other thing that I think is very important is not to take on too much risk. In other words, I tell people all the time: you make more when you lose less. The other thing I mention (in the book) is: think and manage your money like the wealthy. You don't have to be wealthy to use the same strategies and concepts and philosophies the wealthy do. ... During retirement, it should be about creating cash flow, replacing their earned income when they were working with the amount of assets and social security or pensions that they created at retirement.

Q: What's your life like outside of your business?

A: We have a family getaway or vacation home in Florida just outside of Orlando and we go there numerous times throughout the year. I enjoy sports, playing sports ... I'm a big sports car enthusiast, I have a Corvette. I've had several of them so I like driving that around.

Q: Is there something that in your life that you look forward to each day or each week that makes you happy?

A: My motivation is when my family's happy and when I can make my clients and new clients feel secure and comfortable with their financial planning and retirement planning.

Q: Do you have like a personal life philosophy that that drives you?

A: Something along the lines of, "Always look to help others first."

Q: Do you do you have any pet peeves? What bothers you in life?

A: People who are not courteous or that are disrespectful ... people should just be nice to each other.

Q: Do you have a favorite restaurant in town?

A: My wife's favorite, which is probably my favorite, and not just because it's hers, is Wildfire. We go there a lot, especially for celebrations, like for birthdays and stuff. It's kind of our go-to.

Q: What's the best advice you've ever received?

A: Somebody said once, how you think is everything: it determines your behavior ... If your mindset is to be nice and courteous to other people, that's going to be the way you think. If you're just not a courteous person or you're disrespectful, your actions are going to play out that way. At least that's how I see life a lot of times.

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