Our team of dedicated professionals shares the common goal of providing you with the knowledge, sound judgment, and personalized service you need to confidently pursue your financial goals.
We look forward to helping you define your financial vision—and making it a reality.
President, Financial Advisor
John Wood leads a busy life as the president of and a financial advisor for Strategic Planning Group. He works with individual and business owners to create financial plans, oversees critical aspects of the firm, and leads high level firm initiatives in the financial, business, and estate planning areas.
Part of John’s experience and wisdom come from his nearly 30 years in the industry, having witnessed firsthand the economic boom of the ‘90s as well as the recent times of uncertainty and return to prosperity. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in finance from Ball State University, John continued to educate himself and now is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Life Underwriter®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. These designations help him provide exemplary insurance and investment management services. John also holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 66, and 99 licenses.
John is a member of the national and local chapters of the Financial Planning Association® to stay abreast of current financial industry news. He is also an active member of the Ball State University Alumni Association. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hiking, and boating. John is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis and currently lives there with his wife and family.
Financial Advisor
In his personal life, Chris McCauley treats his friends, loved ones, and anyone he meets with courtesy, care, and genuine enthusiasm. When working with clients, he couples these traits with the knowledge and experience gained from over 14 years as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. His goal is to make your life better through investing and financial education. Chris is an independent, fee-only advisor. He is a fiduciary acting in his clients' best interests when he manages their assets.
As a CFP® professional, Chris excels at both comprehensive planning services and individual investment management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and a Master of Accountancy from DePaul University. Chris then acquired the coveted Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation and started his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Before working for his clients, Chris worked at PepsiCo and AT&T in financial roles. He also served as an adjunct professor with the College for Financial Planning.
A continuous learner, Chris keeps up on industry news and the latest events through his membership in the Financial Planning Association®, where he previously served on the board. Chris formerly served as Treasurer of the Legacy House, a counseling center for victims of violence, and as Chair of the St. Louis de Montfort Church Finance Council. When relaxing, he can be found homebrewing, downhill skiing, or spending time with his wife, Clarice, and two teenage daughters Kieran and Katherine. Both daughters attend Cathedral High School – Kieran is a senior and Katherine is a freshman. Kieran recently received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.
Operations Manager
Julie Ogle is the Operations Manager for Strategic Planning Group, Inc. and has been working in the financial securities industry since 1981. She began her career with John Wood in 1988. Julie is responsible for the interaction and coordination with Commonwealth Financial Network, a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC., as well as various investment companies and clearing firms utilized by John and Strategic Planning Group, Inc. With her administrative expertise in the business, Julie is instrumental in assisting clients with account set up, access, reporting, and all administrative aspects of the branch.
Director of Taxation Services
Kerry Zerla works alongside Chris McCauley for Strategic Planning Group. Her primary role is to provide support for Chris with his client’s needs. Kerry graduated from the University of Illinois with both a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and a Masters in Accountancy with a Specialization in Taxation degree. She passed the Certified Public of Accountant exam, CPA, and began her career in public accounting. She has worked in national, regional, and local accounting firms. She is a member of the Indiana CPA Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Kerry has experience with individual taxation, small business, estates and trusts. Kerry resides in Fishers, Indiana with her family.