Our Story
Physical and financial health often go hand in hand, and both can suffer based on circumstances out of our control. Ed Whitaker’s mom, Ruth Whitaker, learned this lesson the hard way.
While her husband enjoyed a life of perfect health, Ruth suffered from chronic conditions. However, following a sudden brain aneurism, it was her husband who passed away first. Now a widow in her 60s, Ruth faced the prospect of living the rest of her life with meager Social Security payments as her sole income stream. Losing her house seemed like a certainty.
“Losing a loved one is never easy. Without proper planning, dealing with the financial fallout can make it unbearable,” Ed says. “A few hours with a financial professional could’ve saved mom many headaches.”
After Ed saw what his mom went through, the painful experience is what continues to fuel Ed and led to two of Whitaker Wealth Management Services’ core principles: always expect and account for the unexpected, and treat clients as if they were your own family.
Meet Our Team
Raymond (Ed) Whitaker, CLU®, ChFC® Founder/Investment Adviser Representative
Ed Whitaker started his career in the financial services industry in 1979 offering insurance products and services. In 2013, he became an Investment Adviser Representative and is able to offer investment advisory services and a variety of financial and retirement planning services. He prides himself on a results-focused approach.
“My goal is to stay in step with your changing objectives, the availability of new concepts, varying conditions in the financial markets and changes in tax law,” Ed says. “My primary focus is working with clients who are approaching or beginning retirement. Over the years, it has been my pleasure to work with local retirees as well as business owners, medical professionals and corporate executives.”
Ed proudly served clients of the First National Bank in Tremont from 1997 to 2022. That affiliation began when Ed was asked to establish and manage a financial services division to provide customers with convenient and wide-ranging financial consultations. In 2022, Ed and his wife, Kim, made the decision to found WWMS in order to better serve his clients. “It was the best decision we’ve ever made,” Ed explains. “Our operations have improved tremendously. Rather than being a one-man show, we’ve assembled a team of professionals, capable of providing reliable, consistent service to our clients.”
A graduate of Bradley University, Ed’s professional designations include Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®). Staying active in the community is important to Ed, who is on the Dirksen Congressional Library board, and in the past, served on the Pekin Police Pension board and was a board member for the Pekin Boys and Girls Club.
Ed has been a Pekin resident since 1957. He and his wife, Kim, have two adult children, Nicklaus and Samantha, and three grandchildren. A competitive golfer, Ed has won the Pekin city title seven times and finished in the top 10 in the Illinois State Amateur four times. In 2014, Ed won the title of Illinois Senior State Amateur.
The CLU® and ChFC® marks are the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to their use, and are used by permission.
Danielle DeLong Associate Investment Adviser Representative
Danielle DeLong is an Investment Adviser Representative and able to offer investment advisory services. In addition, she is a financial professional who can also offer insurance products and services. Danielle joined our team in 2023 with more than 12 years of financial industry experience. She has a passion for navigating clients through life’s obstacles and making sure they are never alone on their journey. Danielle oversees our clients’ transactions, helping ensure the highest quality service is provided every step of the way.
A central Florida native, Danielle moved to Illinois with her husband, Clint, in 2019. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and their combined five boys: Ryley, Ian, Tyler, Ethan, Corbin and their little girl, River. As a family, they are animal lovers, taking in a variety of pets. Danielle also enjoys riding horses when the Illinois weather allows it.
Kim Whitaker Managing Director/Marketing Coordinator
Years of working alongside her husband, Ed, helped Kim Whitaker realize that the couple also makes an outstanding team professionally. They now combine their skills, education and experience — as well as a shared passion to help others make their dream retirement a reality — at the firm they founded, Whitaker Wealth Management Services.
Kim’s duties mainly involve making the day-to-day business decisions, management of the team and processes, and developing the big-picture outlook for Whitaker Wealth. She worked in the same capacity with Ed for several years when the latter served clients through the First National Bank in Tremont. After taking a break in 2018 to address health concerns, Kim returned healthy and full of energy to help her husband establish Whitaker Wealth in 2022.
Kim has an entrepreneurial spirit and has founded several businesses in her working career, which mostly revolved around real estate investing. Kim has also served as a realtor and done contracting work on new home construction. She looks forward to organizing social events in the near future in order to bring together our clients for education, socialization and fun.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
- 309.210.2919
- 220 E. Jackson St., Suite B
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