Antonio Alva

Currently based in Chicago’s Back of The Yards neighborhood, Antonio Alva is a leader, Certified Public Accountant, and trusted financial advisor. While growing up in Pilsen, there was a time where Antonio did not imagine himself ever being in college. Surpassing his previous expectations, he became a first generation college graduate, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 2018 and 2019, respectively. While simultaneously furthering his own education, he also joined Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. where he gained invaluable experience serving as his chapter’s
treasurer, then later on as the regional financial officer.

Antonio’s purpose is to help educate others on the different possibilities for building financial security for themselves while still also living within their means. He learned from his father the importance of being able to provide for oneself. He understood that managing finances was essential for affording a better life as well as being able to handle life’s emergencies, thus influencing his decision to pursue accounting. As individuals, it’s impossible to exactly know what we don’t know, so Antonio views himself as a voice for the community by ensuring that
information is made accessible to everyone he serves.

His biggest goal is to someday have his own agency in order to ensure that others will be there to pick up where he left off, saying “If I die tomorrow, I want to make sure there are still people here continuing my legacy. I want my ceiling to be the floor for the next generation.”