How to Plan for (and avoid) Financial Surprises
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor Everyone enjoys a good surprise when it’s a gift, not a bill. There’s a reason our bills aren’t wrapped in decorative paper, no one looks forward to opening them. This year has been one of several surprises, many of them not the fun kind. Let’s loo …
Looking Back while Looking Forward as a Financial Advisor
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor At our daily team meeting this morning, we discussed a client that is a close childhood friend of mine. When I visit with her, I can’t help but think that I’m talking to her like when we were teenagers – offering advice, and giving each other a bad …
Designing Your Life (and Your Financial Plan)
By Jackie Heater, Director of Client Relations A few weeks ago, I went with my grandson to his college orientation. During the parent session, they recommended a book that each student and parent or grandparent should read: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life, by Bil …
What Does Full Service Really Mean – Especially With Financial Services?
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor Raise your hand if you remember the 1985 movie, “Back to the Future.” If you don’t remember it, here’s a recap: Michael J. Fox (Marty McFly) and Christopher Lloyd (Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown) lived in a small town in California. They were thrown back i …
How to do Your Estate Plan, Your Way
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor This is going to be an unusual blog about estate planning because instead of discussing the dos and don’ts or going into a lot of legal documents and procedures, I want to discuss estate planning on how I’ve witnessed it with my clients over the la …
Using the Right Tools to Create Your Financial Plan
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor Have you ever attempted an improvement project with the wrong tools or less than optimal equipment? About 15 years ago I decided I was going to play Tim Taylor from Home Improvement – a popular show at the time. The sitcom was based on Tim …
Why Change is Good (even for Businesses)
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor A new grocery store chain comes to town with a new variety of products – bakeries, delis, pharmacies, liquor stores, restaurants – and offers online ordering, pick up services, and home delivery services.
What Does it Mean to Get Five-Star Service From a Financial Planner?
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor You book a vacation and spend money on a hotel. You’re super excited because the photos look nice and you’re taking some time off work. But, when you walk in, you realize it’s dirtier than you expected and the service is less than subpar.
Knowing Your Why in Finances (and the Rest of Life)
By Mike Gertsema, CEO & Wealth Advisor I’ve just finished the book Start with Why by Simon Sinek after it was recommended to me several times by friends and colleagues. It helps you think deeply about why you do the work you do.
