He holds a BA from the University of Illinois; a juris doctor from Northern Illinois University; an MBA from Saint Martin's University; a Master of Laws, U.S. Army; a Master of Health Administration from Chapman University; and a Master of Laws, Loyola University Chicago. He has published or co-published many works over the last 10 years including a biography about his late mother - Judy Baar Topinka, a journalist turned elected official who became the first woman elected state treasurer (1995-2007).