Augustus Casear Award | 2026

Mario Tenuta – Financial Advisor

Mario helps individuals, families, and business owners build financial security, plan for the future, and protect what matters most. His work is rooted in twenty years of finance experience, focused on creating clear, customized financial plans that adapt as life changes and goals evolve.

His planning approach is built around five core areas of financial planning: investments, retirement planning, tax strategy, insurance, and estate planning. Rather than relying on a one size fits all model, he believes effective planning starts with understanding each person’s goals, concerns, and values, then designing strategies that align with where clients are today and where they want to go. Before starting Tenuta Financial, he spent more than a decade in corporate finance managing cash flow, budgeting, and forecasting for large, complex operations. His experience includes financial planning for iconic venues such as the United Center, Northwestern University, and Arlington International Racecourse. That background shaped how he thinks about money, emphasizing discipline, attention to detail, and proactive planning, principles he now applies to his clients’ personal and professional financial lives.

Outside of his practice, he enjoys cooking, fitness, and time with family. He is active in the Calabresi in America Organization and the Italian American Executives of Transportation, strengthening relationships within the Italian American community. He and his wife, Lisa, support Immaculate Conception Church, where they volunteer and give back. They are proud parents to their daughter, Arianna, and their son, Nicolas, and lifelong Chicago Blackhawks fans.

What drives him most is helping people gain clarity and confidence around their finances. His mission is to help one hundred families each year make informed decisions, stay disciplined, and feel confident about their financial future. He credits his parents, Louis and Anna Maria, for instilling the values of faith that guide both his life and his work daily.