Providing Peace Of Mind

Monica J Gurgiolo

Monica J. Gurgiolo

  • Equity Member
  • Estate Planning Co-Chair
  • Estate + Trust Administration Co-Chair

Biography

Monica Gurgiolo is an accomplished attorney and CPA with 30 years of estate planning, trusts and taxation experience. Her background and knowledge of tax and planning techniques, along with her desire to provide peace of mind for her clients, allow her to provide quality, personalized service to her clients.  Monica manages the Estate Planning and Estate and Trust Administration practice groups at Kelleher + Holland, LLC, and is also involved in the firm’s ongoing efforts to create and offer innovative estate, tax and asset protection planning strategies and documents to clients.  She also enjoys teaching and mentoring her teammates, other professionals and students.

Monica began her career as a CPA at a suburban public accounting firm, preparing financial statements and tax returns for individuals, businesses and estates. Prior to joining Kelleher + Holland, LLC, she managed her own law practice for many years and then practiced at other law firms, focusing on estate and tax planning, business creation and succession planning, and probate and trust administration.

Monica is a member and very involved in several professional and estate planning organizations, including WealthCounsel, for which she serves on the Illinois Forum Documents Committee responsible for drafting language used in the Illinois WealthDocx drafting system, and the Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council, where she is a past President and continues to serve on the Board of Directors.  She is the incoming Chair of the Planned Gifts Committee for the Northwest Community Hospital Foundation in Arlington Heights and is one of the original members of EPIC Women (Estate Planners of Illinois Connecting Women).

Video Highlights

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • J.D. (High Honors) | 1996
    • Founder and President of Student Chapter of Justinian Society of Lawyers
  • Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois
    • B.S.B.A. (Honors) | 1990
    • Major: Accountancy
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Professional Associations

  • Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council | Member
    • Board of Directors | 2015 – Present
    • Co-President | 2020 – 2021
    • Co-Vice President | 2018 – 2020
  • WealthCounsel | Member
    • Illinois Forum Documents Committee | 2019 – Current
  • American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants | Member
  • DuPage County Estate Planning Council | Member
  • Lake County Estate Planning Council | Member
  • Illinois State Bar Association | Member
  • EPIC Women (Estate Planners of Illinois Connecting Women) | Member
  • Justinian Society of Lawyers | Member
  • Northwest Suburban Bar Association – Estate Planning and Probate Committee Chair | 2015 – 2019
  • Illinois CPA Society-O’Hare Chapter | Member, 1991-1994

Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant | 1990

Awards

  • Illinois Super Lawyers Honoree | 2024-2025
  • Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce – Outstanding Women Leaders | 2022

Practice Areas

  • Estate Planning
  • Estate + Trust Administration

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Webinars + Podcasts

Speaking Engagements

  • “Ballots and Beneficiaries: Navigating Estate Planning in an Election Year” Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council Meeting | 2024

Blogs + Published Works

Pro Bono Activities

  • Northwest Community Hospital Foundation, Planned Gifts Committee | Member and 2025 Chair