Augustus Casear Award | 2026

Mario Tenuta

Financial Advisor

I help individuals, families, and businesses build financial security, achieve long-term success, and protect what matters most. My focus is on the five pillars of financial planning: Investments, Retirement, Taxes, Insurance, and Wills & Trusts. I design customized plans tailored to each situation.

Before joining Northwestern Mutual, I spent 17 years as a financial controller for Levy, managing cash flow, budgeting, and forecasting for venues like the United Center, Arlington International Racecourse and Wriggly Field. That experience laid the foundation for financial strategies that give clients control over their future. By focusing on the little things, I help people stay on track toward their goals despite the complications life can throws at you.

On my free time, I partner with unions to educate members on retirement and wealth preservation. I’m active in the Calabresi in America Organization and the Italian American Executives of Transportation, strengthening connections in the Italian American community. My amazing wife Lisa and I support Immaculate Conception Church, where we volunteer and give back. We have a daughter, Arianna, who attends school there, and a son, Nicolas. We are avid Chicago Blackhawks fans.

What drives me is making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Whether helping a family save for education or a business owner protect their company, my goal is to provide clarity and confidence. One of the biggest challenges in financial planning is getting people to start early. Albert Einstein once said, “compounding interest is the eighth wonder of the world.”

For me success isn’t about titles or numbers. To me, it’s about helping people. My mission is to help 100 families each year navigate their finances with confidence.

I’d like to thank my parents, Louis and Anna Tenuta, for instilling hard work, integrity, and faith into my life. They are my heroes.