What experience do you have in navigating the complex world of finance and retirement planning?
My mission is to develop individual plans customized to each client’s objectives. This means I have a vast array of knowledge and experience no matter the complexity of each client’s issues. As an Independent Financial Advisory, we can call on any investment we feel is in the client’s best interests, given their unique situation. No two clients are alike, and neither should their investment plans.
What drove you to the financial services business?
I grew up middle class. My father was a police officer who worked hard to provide for my mom and four children. As a grew older, I saw how important financial literacy is to the prosperity of everyday working families. As much as I consider myself an advisor, I always try and educate and empower my clients as well.
What do you enjoy the most about working with retirees & pre-retirees at SHP Financial?
I love hearing clients’ stories about how they worked and saved for many years to put themselves in a position to be able to retire. There is nothing more rewarding than telling a client they can retire and achieve the goals they always dreamt of.
What is currently the main concern you hear of from prospects and clients you meet with?
I often hear clients ask, “Can I retire?” The concept of retirement seemed so far away for so long and now as they get closer to retirement, they don’t know how to create a plan that will give them the consistent, reliable income they were used to when they were working. With people living longer lives; most clients fear running out of money. Our plans make sure we account for longevity while allowing them to enjoy their retirement years.
How does SHP Financial help solve the concern mentioned above, as well as other common types of concerns of those preparing for retirement?
At SHP, we see that it all comes down to effective communication and having a transparent plan that the client can understand. We account for a margin of error that leans on the side of caution so our clients can sleep at night knowing their income is safe.
Out of the SHP Retirement Roadmap Process and any/all services that SHP provides, which one(s) do you like the most? Which one(s) do you have the most experience in?
I believe we differentiate ourselves from the competition with our proactive approach to mitigating taxes. We believe we are in a great, low-tax environment now that will likely not be around for the next 20 years. Because of this, kicking your taxes down the road can be a very costly mistake. Educating clients about how our tax system works and what we can do now to alleviate the burden of taxes is a very impactful service we provide.
What is your best advice for those who will be retiring within the next 10 years?
Start planning now! 10 years can go by very quickly. Sitting down with an advisor now allows you to make impactful moves that can set you up for an even more advantageous retirement, rather than waiting until you are a few years away.
What is your best advice for those who are already retired?
Enjoy it! We spend our lives trading time for money only to come to the realization that we can’t trade money for time. Having a holistic plan that accounts for your unique financial situation, protects against the risks you’re concerned about, and provides stable income and growth will allow you to enjoy the retirement you deserve.
Can you cite an example of a specific, complex problem that you solved and how you solved it?
More recently, I have seen a lot of clients deciding to retire at a younger age. They just went through two and a half years of the pandemic and decided they want a change. There are a lot of considerations one must understand when they decide to retire at a younger age whether it’s fully understanding retirement account distribution rules or the impacts of early retirement on health insurance.
Why is it so important for those in or near retirement to speak to a financial professional?
You only get to retire once. We believe that that calls for getting expert advice so you avoid costly mistakes that may result in having to go back to work or downsizing your lifestyle. We can give you honest, fair advice tailored to your situation so you can live the retirement you’ve been dreaming of.
