EXHIBIT 23.2



                               EDELMAN & CO., LTD.

         We hereby consent to the use of our opinion to the Board of Directors
of Town Bankshares, Ltd. included as an appendix to Amendment No. 1 to the Form
S-4 Registration Statement relating to the proposed acquisition of Town
Bankshares, Ltd. by Wintrust Financial Corporation, and to the references to our
firm and such opinion in such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we
do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we
thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Registration
Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.



                                                       /s/ Edelman & Co., Ltd.


September 10, 2004