Aside from Illinois' bustling Chicago Metropolitan area, there is much to love about the beautiful views of Lake Michigan and state parks that Illinois has to offer. Illinois also represents a huge economic opportunity for the firm to strengthen its foothold within the state. Illinois' economy grew 17.6% in 2021, among the highest growth rates of any states. Economically, Illinois is a giant, with a GDP of $956 billion which puts it 5th by US states (only behind CA, TX, NY, and FL) but also puts it at 17th if it was its own country (just behind Mexico but just ahead of Turkey and the Netherlands). Illinois is also the 5th most populous state with almost 12.8 million people calling it home which is just another reason we believe that having a strong presence in the State of Illinois is essential to Cullen Cioffi's growth and mission to help others.