This issue exposes how quiet board waivers and underfunded reserves put Illinois condo owners at financial risk—leading to assessment shocks, declining property values, and hidden liabilities that could linger for decades. Drawing on real case studies like the John Hancock Center’s ballooning $85 million shortfall, it explains the legal requirements boards and auditors must follow, why owner approval and bold-print disclosure matter, and how misleading reserve studies can trigger crisis. Learn what transparency demands, how auditors and boards face personal liability for concealment, and why responsible reserve planning is essential to protect today's and tomorrow’s owners from the painful consequences of postponing the inevitable.