BDW, Inc. (formerly Madison Family Advisors, Inc.) was founded in 2011 after advising families for 24 years with major Wall Street firms. Our mission was simple - to act as a fiduciary in the best interest of our clients and help them meet their financial and investment goals.
John J. Betterman
President and Co-Founder
John J. Betterman is the President and Co-Founder of Betterman Digital Wealth, Inc. With 32 years experience, John has become skilled at understanding investors’ needs and wants while matching those with the appropriate portfolio and investment strategy. His practice focuses on advising investors across different asset classes, with a primary focus on deep value investing (except for our very aggressive individual stock strategy). In 2006, Mr. Betterman became a Registered Investment Advisor Representative after 12 years at Merrill Lynch where he managed approximately $500mm. He previously spent 8 years with Smith Barney. He is a graduate of the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management (’93) and the University of Illinois (’84).
Joe Petry
Chief Operations Officer
Joe Petry is Chief Operating Officer at Betterman Digital Wealth. His expertise is working with clients who are at or near retirement--designing tailored strategies that reflect each client's unique circumstances.
Over three decades, Joe has worked in financial markets and educated others on how they work. He has built a process that emphasizes intellectual rigor, detailed customization, and dedicated service. He works closely with individuals and families, helping them untangle the complexities and capitalize on their wealth opportunities.
Joe began his career in 1991 after completing a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois. He went on to work as an Economist at Citibank and Credit Suisse First Boston and taught economics and finance at NYU Stern School, IUPUI, and the University of Illinois. Throughout his career, Joe has thought carefully and deeply about wealth management and the evidence-based practices that differentiate the very best advisory services. Joe earned his Master's in Personal Financial Planning from the College of Financial Planning and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® credential. Joe is a fiduciary for his clients, meaning that all decisions are made with their best interests at heart.
Beyond wealth management, Joe has been active in the community. He served on the Illinois Association of Park Districts Board of Directors, Champaign Park District Commissioner, East Central Illinois Foundation, and Prairie Rivers Board of Trustees. He has received awards for his volunteerism and leadership and believes in the power of random acts of kindness as one way to better the world around us.
Joe enjoys spending time with his wife, Ann, family (including dogs Finn and Emy), and friends. He loves being out in nature, hiking, and camping and is a voracious reader. He also loves playing basketball with his buddies.