The Strategic Financial Alliance
For many advisors, marketing can seem like a daunting task. We all know that marketing is important, but sometimes we don’t know where to start. Below are some tricks to making marketing more palatable for your business and a guide on how to start making some small changes that can have a big impact. Determine…
Creating a New Year’s resolution is something many people do to establish good habits in the new year. Some of us focus on our physical or mental health – such as eating healthier, hitting the gym, or setting time for morning meditation. But what about making New Year’s resolutions for your business? To help make…
The holidays are a stressful time of year for many, with family commitments, work, shopping, and even (small group) entertaining. For financial advisors, December can be all of this and more. Your clients may be reaching out more often in December to make sure their financials are in order for the year ahead, or maybe…
Writing a blog that highlights your specific expertise or niche in the financial industry can help build awareness about your brand among the general public. If you would like to know the benefits of blogging and how it can boost traffic to your website, please visit our SEO blog. Blogs and other digital content can…
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused many professionals across various industries to change the way they do business. These changes go far beyond developing new work-from-home operations or implementing new technology. It has changed the way people communicate with one another, specifically in the financial services industry, how advisors communicate with their clients. It will be…
By Clive Slovin People love making predictions, especially during perceived inflection points. In 2008, General Motors slashed production of trucks and sports utility vehicles, citing high gas prices, which at the time had eclipsed $4 per gallon, a previously unthinkable threshold. It prompted one auto industry analyst to declare: “The trend away from these vehicles…
The pandemic and resulting market volatility and uncertainty have led clients to demand even more from their advisors when it comes to information about their specific investment portfolios and future projections. It is more important than ever to ramp up current and prospective clients’ communications to explain more about what advisors do, how they do…
The Financial Services Institute is recognizing a select group of members, including SFA Partners’ Julie Sullivan and Stephanie Schiele, for their efforts to advance the interests of investors and the independent financial services industry. FSI says it tapped 20 individuals for its newly formed Advocacy Circle of Excellence via “a robust process that examines members’…
Many of us spend much of the day reacting to things that are happening around us, whether it’s market changes, emails and phone calls from clients or potential clients, last-minute meetings, or interruptions from co-workers. While all of these are inevitable parts of running a business, they can lead to feeling of a lack of…
The financial industry has experienced much turmoil as COVID-19 continues to sweep through our nation. From working remotely and managing not only their office, but also hundreds of clients, to keeping an eye on their own personal health, advisors have had to rapidly adapt to a “new normal”. Even as advisors become more comfortable working…
On June 5, the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act was signed into law improving the opportunity for many small businesses to benefit from the forgiveness provisions of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The most notable provision of this new legislation increases the covered period for loan forgiveness from eight weeks to 24 weeks, providing borrowers more…
By Clive Slovin, courtesy of WealthManagement.com The ongoing economic, health and financial market calamity has altered life for nearly every American. We’re in uncharted territory and never have advisors had to contend with a situation quite like this, not even during the financial crisis. At the same time, if anyone can navigate these drastic changes,…
In the Financial Services industry, it has long been thought that client satisfaction should be above everything else. After all, your clients are the reason you are in business. However, sometimes you can focus too much on your clients and not enough time thinking about employees or workplace culture. This tunnel vision can lead to…
On May 13, the SBA issued additional guidance expanding the terms of the safe harbor in advance of the proposed Safe Harbor Deadline of May 14. Having completed the application for a PPP loan, borrowers have already certified that “current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.”…
While guidance and commentary regarding the PPP continue to come from the Small Business Association (SBA) as well as the securities regulators, we wanted to share information on three issues affecting our industry. Good Faith Certification and Safe Harbor The SBA has expanded on the good faith certification language that was part of the PPP…
Financial advice and planning have never been more critical. With the market in a volatile state, it is more important than ever that you maintain a strong relationship with your clients – even through virtual communication. Engaging with clients and potential clients during a crisis involves maneuvering through different virtual and remote tools. In this…
Written by Randy Gold, EVP and CFO of SFA Holdings Note: At the time of this posting, the nearly $350 billion initially allocated to the PPP had been fully allocated to businesses and agreement had just been reached for a second allotment. These are unprecedented times, and like nearly all Americans, many within the SFA…
Thought leadership is achieved when an individual or business is recognized as an authority in a specialized field. As an advisor in the financial industry, it is crucial that you are viewed as an expert in your field. But how do you convey your expertise to potential new clients? Thought leadership marketing is one answer.…
Financial conversations often spark powerful emotions. While a client may come to an advisor for financial advice, many times advisors and clients end up having deep “counseling-like” sessions. In some cases, a financial advisor may be the only person with whom the client talks about his or her finances. Talking about money is often difficult,…
As the number of financial planners continues to grow, it is important to distinguish your practice from among the herd. Financial advisors must establish a niche to truly differentiate themselves and serve clients within those niches. With the market of available clients expanding it is impossible to serve every prospective client well. Establishing a niche…
At the beginning of each fiscal year, many businesses set growth goals, but what happens when there is a large gap between growth goals and the reality of how well the business performed? Many business owners will state the reason for the large gap between the two is simply that “times are changing”. With technology…
Submitted by Lewis Walker, December 16, 2019 This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of financial planning. On a cold Chicago day, December 12, 1969, thirteen men gathered at a hotel near O’Hare airport with “a sense of shared mission: to raise the level of professionalism in retail financial services and to make…
A financial company’s success is measured by many metrics, from profits to being named one of the “Best Places to Work.” As time moves on, the ultimate accomplishment a company can achieve is through its legacy. Has your company helped to make your community a better place? Oftentimes companies focus on maximizing all resources. You…
For many small businesses, marketing and advertising can be challenging. Often times, small business owners may not possess a marketing background or know how to resource the proper tools to communicate their brand’s message to the public. Cost can be a major concern when it comes to marketing and advertising, but luckily there are ways…
Whether an advisor is near retirement or far away from that goal, planning for the future – to help ensure the sustainability of the practice and a smooth transition for clients – is critical at any stage. The reality is that many advisors do not have such a plan or want to put one in…
SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. The term refers to optimizing a company’s web presence to make it easier for individuals to search and find information about the company. This information could be the company’s website or social media channels. When a website is “optimized,” it shows up higher in search results. While the financial…
SFA Partners uses flexibility and intensive due diligence to power its niche in alternatives. A 125-advisor firm that’s partly owned by its representatives is competing — and, in most cases, beating — its much larger rivals in terms of productivity. One factor is its openness to closed-end funds. The 48th-largest firm, SFA Partners generated the…
This year, the stock market has seen large upward and downward shifts. On Monday, August 5, 2019, the stock market reported the worst trading day of the year. This downward shift has some investors worried that another recession could be just around the corner. Other investors see this as a chance to invest in the…
The financial industry is evolving. Over the last several years, more and more advisors are focusing on growing their fee-based business. While overall business mix should continue to shift, continuing to utilize a broker-dealer via a hybrid model could provide more resources to offer sound guidance on all aspects of a client’s financial portfolio, goals,…
We are honored to present an article published in ThinkAdvisor by Jean Merriman. This article comments on her ideas to help ensure your due diligence is up to par. As investors look for more aggressive instruments, advisors need to be confident that they and their clients are protected. Independent financial advisors have warmed up to…
We are honored to present an article published in InvestmentNews by our CEO Clive Slovin. This article comments on the wholesaling model and how to confront certain flaws within it. Over the past 40-plus years, the financial advisor business model has evolved numerous times. To read Clive’s thoughts on the issue click here.
We are honored to present an article written by Real Assets Adviser about Clive Slovin, why he decided to start SFA, and the importance of a strong company culture. At SFA Partners, our value is empowering the independent. When Clive started SFA 16 years ago he noticed that the independent advisor was vastly underserved. While…
SFA Partners is honored to be ranked among the top 10 in two categories of Investment Advisor magazine’s 2019 Broker-Dealer Reference Guide: #6 for Average Annual Gross Production per Advisor, and #8 for Ratio of Advisors to Home Office Staff. We are truly grateful to all of our advisors and home office team members for…
By Clive Slovin In the coming months and years, it’s likely that alternative investments will begin to play a more prominent role in client portfolios. Though interest rates are on the rise, they remain relatively low. So, even as traditional fixed-income vehicles may become a bit more attractive going forward, investors will likely still…
SFA Advsior, Lewis Walker, shared advice on uncovering your strongest skills and using that knowledge to create valuable goals in a Forbes article entitled “What The Big Bang Theory can Teach us about Career Planning”. To read the full article click here.
SFA Advisor, Lewis Walker, authored the cover story for the December, 2018, issue of Journal of Financial Planning entitled “Future Trends: Generational Realities and the Growth of Our Profession.” Click here to read the full article.
By Clive Slovin, President & CEO, SFA Partners In recent years, retail alternative investment products, along with the companies that package them, have come under siege from regulators, investors, the press and even some advisers. None of this is a secret, and, quite frankly, some of the criticism has been well-deserved, as we’ve seen offerings…
In light of the possibility of Tesla going private, SFA Advisor, James Gambaccini, with Acorn Financial Services, discusses the profile of the typical Tesla investor in this CNBC article.
APRIL 19, 2018 • JADAH RILEY Strategic Blueprint LLC, an Atlanta-based registered investment advisor, announced it has joined SFA Partners’ family of financial services companies. SFA Partners is a master brand that encompasses the enterprises that are wholly owned by SFA Holdings, which comprises The Strategic Financial Alliance, an Atlanta-based independent broker-dealer significantly owned by the independent…
— SFA Partners Reflects Firm’s Commitment to Develop Additional Service Platforms that Promote Greater Choice and Independence in Financial Services Industry — ATLANTA, April 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The Strategic Financial Alliance (‘SFA’ or ‘the firm’), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser, today announced the launch of SFA Partners, a new master brand that…
By: Clive Slovin It was another banner year for the equities markets in 2017, with anyone who had broad exposure to stocks likely very happy as we kick off a new year. While it’s always challenging to predict the future, the current landscape suggests that 2018 could once again be very favorable. The story for…
The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA) has created three senior management positions to oversee product strategy, technology and recruiting. “We are delighted to welcome these three talented and respected executives to serve in key operating roles in our expanded senior management team,” said Clive Slovin, president and CEO of SFA. Jean Merriman has joined SFA as…
In the independent broker-dealer and RIA space, the term “alternative investment” means exactly what it implies: It is an alternative to commonly held liquid investments traded on a public exchange. Alternatives can be inappropriate for those who cannot afford to lock up significant capital for a long period of time. Read more…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The headline startled: “Dow plummets…on a wave of panic selling; 22% drop exceeds worst day in 1929.” The date was Tuesday, October 20, 1987, and the front-page above-the-fold story in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune chronicled the carnage on Wall Street on what became known as Black Monday. My…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker Inflation does a number on your wealth. Time was that having $1 million meant you were rich. Lewis Walker, a financial planning and investment strategist at Capital Insight Group in Peachtree Corners, Ga., explains what you can do to combat a wealth shortfall: A report from Boston Consulting Group focused on the growing global wealth gap.…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® A survey from HomeServe USA cited by MarketWatch and New York Post, April 5, 2017, painted a grim financial picture for many Americans. About 19% of those surveyed had zero dollars set aside for emergencies; 31% had less than $500 available to cover unexpected expenses. Debt is one factor.…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® In his 2001 Chairman’s letter during the “tech wreck” market downturn, Warren Buffett observed, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” To extend the swimming analogy, if a business leader or company gets caught in a rip current of change, some will just…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Planning for higher education expenses looms large for those with potentially collegebound children. Ditto for college graduates and adults seeking postgraduate education and skill upgrades. A May 2017 article in Delta Sky magazine, “Higher Education in the Fast Lane,” by Leah Ingram, noted trends offering “a better education more…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The question asked by the client seemed simple enough. “How do you define ‘high net worth,’” he wondered? Net worth may be defined in subjective terms, as may be wealth. The Greek philosopher Epictetus proclaimed, “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” Financial services…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® In Congress, July 4, 1776, “the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America” was published, dissolving the political bands that connected them to England and an oppressive king, stating in succinct language the reasons why. Google the document. Read it. It stirs the patriotic soul! “We hold these…
Which independent broker-dealers pay the most? InvestmentNews Research surveyed IBD firms to find out which had the highest average payout per rep. SFA is ranked number six out of the ten top IBD firms.
ANNUAL EVENT PROVIDED LEARNING, TRAINING AND TEAM-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES TO AFFILIATED ADVISORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PRODUCT SPONSOR PARTNERS ATLANTA, GA – June 1, 2017 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser, today announced the successful conclusion of its annual conference for affiliated advisors,…
In InvestmentAdvisor’s 2017 Broker-Dealer Reference Guide the Strategic Financial Alliance placed fifth among the Top Ten Independent Broker Dealers by Average Annual Gross Production per Advisors. See more…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The future. Your future. Your family’s future. The future for those you love and care about. The future for those who depend on you. A dear friend and fellow financial planner, Richard (Dick) Wagner, JD, CFP, wrote about the future, among other things, in his 2016 book, Financial…
A number of years ago my wife and I considered remodeling our house after living there for two decades. Major changes were needed, but we loved the location and the associated memories. However, after going through a comprehensive design and planning process to see what could be done, it became obvious that any renovations wouldn’t…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® What is “human capital”? You tend to think of your financial capital, your investment portfolio, in terms of financial assets like bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. Human capital sometimes is described as the lifetime money you will earn from work. Dictionary.com defines human capital as “the collective skills,…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Outside of government agency guaranteed savings or insurance company guarantees, market volatility is a fact of life. Take the stock market. Volatility is normal and must be considered in framing your personal Investment Policy. Since we can only theorize the future but not predict the future, expecting and learning…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The stock market is not an escalator. Escalators are predictable, offering a smooth ride with the end point visible at the top. Of course, being mechanical, escalators can break down, malfunction, even cause serious injury. The stock market is not mechanical or precisely predictable, despite a constant quest to…
SFA Advisor, Leslie Beck, with Compass Wealth Management in Wood-Ridge, NJ discusses personal finance as it relates to credit card debt. Read more….
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Money is but one tool in a larger “toolkit” provided by your Creator. When you are relaxed, often out in nature, your mind, a miracle of creation itself, may focus on the complexities of the universe and your place in the scheme of things. Money is part of…
While private equity could become a positive force in the retail alternatives space, not all sponsors are created equal. Read more….
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Every year, the plethora of holiday and Christmas cards remind us of the passage of time. We love the family pictures of young men and women who not that long ago were babies. My daughter reminded me that her “baby boy” will turn 14 in 2017, and already he…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® ‘Tis the season for setting goals. New Year’s resolutions. To-do lists. For some, such urgings, whether from a spouse, parent, boss, or adviser, are a groaner! As a kid, my mom, teachers, and mentors would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a teenager,…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® In the political battles to come, we will hear about poverty versus wealth, who has it, who does not, and “what’s fair?” How should you view wealth per se? Professor Steven Pinker is a psychologist at Harvard. In a short but thought-provoking column in The Wall Street Journal, “The…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® What follows is not original and the author is unknown. Apparently the text was found in the possessions of famed Alabama football coach Paul Bear Bryant after he passed away. It’s a thought-provoking piece entitled “The Magic Bank Account.” Imagine that you won the following prize in a contest:…
— Advisor Assaf Pinchas Elected as Strategic Advisory Council Chair; Brian Bennett Chosen as Vice Chair — ATLANTA, GA – December 22, 2016 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, today announced that Assaf Pinchas of Allegiance Financial Group, LLC, of Vienna, VA, has been elected…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Underpinning most goals, aspirations, and “bucket list” dreams, is the assumption of good health. Of the top eight retirement worries of surveyed workers age 50 or older, three were health related: Declining health that requires long-term care; lack of access to affordable and adequate healthcare; cognitive decline, dementia,…
— Gathering Brings Together Outstanding Advisors to Network and Share Professional Insights at Exotic Leisure Location — ATLANTA, GA – December 15, 2016 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA or “the firm”), an independent, privately owned provider of brokerage and custodial services and solutions to independent financial advisors nationwide, announced today that it successfully…
Three intensive regional sessions to offer information, tools, and strategies while providing forum for questions and sharing best practices ATLANTA, GA – December 15, 2016 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (“SFA”), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), today announced that it has begun to convene three intensive, two-day regional seminars…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Listening to music on internet radio post-Thanksgiving, “Auld Lang Syne” popped up, emphasizing how close the New Year is! At midnight on 12/31 as December fades to January, a year ends, a new year begins. What will you leave behind? What new undertaking will you commence? In business and…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation. “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® What does chaos and tragedy tell us about personal planning? How do we deal with the philosophical questions posed? It’s an age old question: “Why does God permit the righteous to suffer and the wicked to flourish?” In writings dating from 605-597 B.C., the prophet Habakkuk complained, “How long, O…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The annual Mendel Lecture at Atlanta’s Marcus Jewish Community Center took place September 29, 2016. While this writer did not have the pleasure of attending, high points of his presentation were covered in a column entitled “Mendel: Diversify and Defend Yourself,” by Marcia Caller Jaffe, Atlanta Jewish Times, 10/14/16.…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The first Baby Boomers were born in 1946 as post-W.W. II America expanded with manifold opportunities. As the initial wave turned 30 in the 1970s, we saw bursts of entrepreneurialism as businesses were founded. Those born in 1946 turn 70 this year as they contemplate Required Minimum Distributions for…
By Clive Slovin Lately, there’s been increased focus on the rise of offices of supervisory jurisdiction or OSJs – organizations that were originally created to provide independent advisors added scale by helping to manage the growing number of compliance obligations our industry has faced in recent years. Over the years, however, the role of the…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® This column is of interest to anyone on Medicare, about to apply for Medicare as you approach your 65th birthday, or have a loved one on Medicare. Medicare Open Enrollment season is upon us, from October 15 to December 10, 2016. Understanding and action is called for! All persons…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 3rd quarter 2016 at 18,308, the S&P 500 Index at 2,168. Writing in Forbes magazine (10/4/16), investment strategist and columnist William Baldwin offered his forecast for 2036, opining that “stocks will do fairly well.” His targets: Dow at 43,000; S&P 500, 5,000,…
The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA) ranked #8 in the Average Annual Production of Top 20% Registered Representatives according to InvestmentNews’ Broker-dealer Data Center. See our rank here.
Two independent financial advisory firms have joined the broker-dealer and registered investment advisor platform of The Strategic Financial Alliance, a privately owned independent broker-dealer and RIA in Atlanta, SFA announced Thursday. Carnegie Wealth Management of Exton, Pa., and Carlyle Wealth Management of Atlanta bring $350 million in client brokerage and fee-based advisory assets to SFA.…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Some years ago yours truly had the pleasure of speaking to a large audience of Japanese investment executives and financial advisors meeting in Yokohama, Japan. I had to submit the speech ahead of time to allow for simultaneous translation from English to Japanese. A form of “simultaneous translation” happens…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Before Al Gore invented the Internet, data was kept on paper, in notebooks and folders, and in file drawers. Now, increasingly, data is in digital form on a server or in the cloud. Remembering user names, passwords, and PIN numbers are the bane of the digital age. The old…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFR® You have done well through diligence and wise investing. You have achieved your goals for financial independence, or are on target to do so. An inheritance or sale of a business may have added to your net worth, or may do so in the future. Enter Abraham Maslow.…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® A popular investment magazine offered a number of age related planning tips. In general the advice made sense, but some of it was deficient in its simplicities. While not naming the magazine to protect the well-meaning, some thoughts. One point was that peak earnings years occur somewhere around age…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The Republican and Democratic conventions are over. The combatants are confirmed. Get ready for an ugly fall. The campaigns may be interesting, but they won’t be pretty. How do politics impact the stock market? Theories, opinions, and forecasts based on history should be regarded as entertainment, not action…
Contributed by: Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The Wall Street Journal, Obituaries, 7/9/16, profiled Jona Goldrich, 1927-2016. As the paper noted, Mr. Goldrich, a “Holocaust survivor came to the U.S., took a bus to Los Angeles, cleared rubbish from construction sites and then built a real estate empire based largely on low-income housing.” Mr. Goldrich’s journey…
Lewis Walker, partner in Capital Insight Group, shares his insight on a variety of insurance plans including the universal life contract. Read more…
— Event Forms Key Part of SFA’s Year-Round Program Focused on Training and Best Practices for Advisors’ Administrative Professionals — ATLANTA, GA – July 12, 2016 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately-owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser, today announced the commencement of its second annual Administrative Education Conference, happening July…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® As reported in The Wall Street Journal, 7/2/16, on July 1, 2016, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note hit the “lowest level ever” at 1.385%. We underline the word ever to underscore the astounding fact that the yield on 10-year government paper has never been so…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Brexit, the British vote to exit the European Union (EU), rattled global stock markets on Friday, June 24. Volatility is likely to continue. What does that mean to you as an investor? Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, stated, “The (stock) market is not a weighing machine, in…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® There are over 2000 references in the Holy Bible concerning money, possessions, riches, charity, the proper uses of wealth, and the conduct of business. The writers of the Old and New Testaments authored the original financial and life planning guide several thousand years before such concentrations emerged as a…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® We take risks every day, just driving to the store or to work. Risk and reward are part of the reality of life, with the possible exception of those who insist that “everyone gets a trophy.” In investing, you cannot avoid risk. Guaranteed bank deposits carry inflation risk. With inflation…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® If you were born in 1966, you are or will be age 50 this year. The T-shirt proclaimed, “If you haven’t grown up by age 50, you don’t have to.” Well, yes, you do, if you don’t want to be knocking on your kids’ doors begging for support in…
SFA Advisor, Christopher St. John with Carolina Wealth Advisors in Myrtle Beach, SC, shares a few tips on traveling this summer without breaking the bank. See more…
SFA Advisor, Christopher St. John with Carolina Wealth Advisors in Myrtle Beach, SC, discusses saving for retirement. See more…
Contributed by Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Sometimes you read an editorial and ponder, “Yup, that’s how I feel, but she said it better.” That was my reaction to Peggy Noonan’s introspection in the weekend The Wall Street Journal, April 23-24, 2016, ”Declarations: That Moment When 2016 Hits You,” Ms. Noonan touched on the wave of…
The Strategic Financial Alinace (SFA) was listed in ThinkAdvisor’s 2016 Broker-Dealer Reference Guide as number 10 in the “Average Annual Gross Production per Advisor” category. Read more…
– Event in Paradise Valley, Arizona Featured Extensive Thought Leadership and Networking Opportunities to Help Advisors Thrive in Changing Industry Environment — ATLANTA, GA – May 17, 2016 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, announced its annual conference for affiliated financial advisors, held this…
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Docupace Technologies LLC, a premier digital compliance and cyber security company in the financial services industry, completed its planned repurchase of the majority interest in the company previously held by RCS Capital Corporation (NYSE: RCAP). On April 20th, Docupace announced an agreement with RCAP to repurchase their interest with plans to continue the…
James Gambaccini, owner of Acorn Financial Services in Reston, VA., was quoted in a discussion on aspects of the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. Read more….
By Clive Slovin From Investment News: While the Department of Labor’s newly unveiled fiduciary rule has dominated industry headlines in recent months, another fresh regulatory shift also has the potential to cause significant upheaval for countless advisers. Read more…
By Clive Slovin From Investment News: Broker-dealers in the independent space have often been owned by the shareholders of large, publicly traded companies, diversified financial product companies or private equity firms. Each approach has its own strengths, but if the experience of the independent advisors in the field means anything, all of the above ownership models…
Leslie Beck, Owner and Principal of Compass Wealth Management, LLC, in Wood-Ridge, NJ, discusses college as an investment. Read more…
Contributed by: Walker Capital Management Wealth is created by taking risk. That truism cannot be legislated away, although government will try to do just that. Wrapped in a blanket of “consumer protections,“ initiatives backed by the Obama administration will restrict investment options in Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). On the surface, protecting citizens from “risky investments” has…
Leslie Beck, Owner and Principal of Compass Wealth Management, LLC in Wood-Ridge, NJ, notes the challenges of online accounts. Read more…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit an all-time high of 18312.39 on 5/19/15. On Friday, January 15, 2016, the Dow closed at 15988.08, down 12.9% from the high. The broader S&P 500 Index closed at 1880.33, down 11.8% from the all-time peak at 2130.82 on S/21/15. We’ve endured a correction,…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® Ruminating on our country’s state of affairs and the political focus on income inequality, the gentleman said, “I think the American dream is dead.” What, exactly, is the American dream? The term was coined in 1931 by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his book, Epic of America.The American…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® You have accumulated all manner of stuff over the years. If something happened to you tomorrow, would the person stepping in know where everything important is? Most likely, no. The youngest members of The Greatest Generation, born prior to 1946, turn age 71 in 2016. The Baby Boomer Generation that…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® As winter fades to spring, the travel bug bites…the open road calls! Travel dreams are high on most everyone’s wish list, especially when one ponders what money and time are for. As one who developed a sense of wonder and wanderlust at a young age, I offer a few travel…
By Clive Slovin From Investment News: In my travels to various industry gatherings in recent years, I have met with an increasing number of independent financial advisors — even some longtime veterans of the industry — plagued by the same problem. While they’ve built successful businesses and established many lasting relationships, their practices have hit…
Leslie Beck, Owner and Principal of Compass Wealth Management, LLC in Wood-Ridge, NJ, dives into the wisdom her mentor shared with her. Read more…
Leslie Beck, Owner and Principal of Compass Wealth Management, LLC in Wood-Ridge, NJ, noted the importance of recognizing those in the service industry through non-cash gifts. Read more…
— Advisor Cheri Knight Elected as Strategic Advisory Council Chair — ATLANTA, GA – December 14, 2015 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, today announced that three new members have joined its six-person Strategic Advisory Council (SAC), which assists the firm in developing and implementing…
— Gathering at Leading Resort Combines Practice Enhancement, Advisor Networking and Education — ATLANTA, GA – December 9, 2015 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, today announced that it recently held the firm’s first Diamond Trip. The gathering, which ran from October 18 – 20,…
By Lewis .J. Walker, CFP® December is about light. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is observed this year from December 6 to the 14th. The celebration commemorates the victory of the ancient Israelites over the Syrian Greek army and the return of the menorah to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Testimony to God’s grace, one vial of…
By Lewis J. Walker, CFP® In his hit song, “1999,” Prince sang, “Yeah, they say two thousand zero zero, Party over, oops out of time, So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.” As we approached 2000, the last year of the second millennium, do you remember the spreading fear over Y2K? Dr. Ed Yardeni, the highly respected…
By LewisJ. Walker, CFP® In a recent column we cautioned against using the calendar as a predictor of stock market performance. We cited skepticism about market performance in September and October, two months with bad karma based on some notable past setbacks. But this year there was no “September massacre” and the S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 8.3% in October.…
Leslie Beck, Owner and Principal of Compass Wealth Management, LLC in Wood-Ridge, NJ, was quoted in Yahoo Money’s article noting the importance and joy of spending time with family. Read more…
SFA Financial Advisor Leslie Beck, owner and principal financial adviser at Compass Wealth Management in New Jersey, warns against tapping into your 401(K) to fund your child’s college education. Read more…
From investmentnews.com: Finding the right partnership is vital for business development and continuity. Here, SFA President and CEO, Clive Slovin, discusses the five things to consider when partnering with a small broker-dealer. Read more…
One of our very own Financial Advisors, James Gambaccini, the sole owner and managing partner of Acorn Financial Services in Reston, VA, notes the philosophical differences between baby boomers and the prior generation when it comes to mortgage payments and retirement. Read more…
THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ADMINISTRATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM — Ongoing, Year-Round Program Focused on Training and Best Practices for Advisors’ Administrative Professionals Kicks Off with Successful Conference in Atlanta — ATLANTA, GA – July 16, 2015 – The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately-owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser, today announced the…
From wealthmanagement.com: Finding the right fit is vital to not only survival in this industry, but also success. With the majority of independent broker-dealers existing on the smaller end of the spectrum, it is important to consider all aspects of a firm before committing yourself and your clients to any firm. Here, SFA President and…
Investment Advisor magazine has been the voice of the independents for over thirty years. Each year they produce a Broker-Dealer Reference Guide, which divides the top independent broker-dealers across the nation into categories based on annual revenue, number of representatives, and highest average production. The Strategic Financial Alliance is honored to be eleventh among the…
— National Gathering of Advisors, Industry Experts and SFA Leadership Will Convene to Learn, Share Best Practices and Celebrate Eleven Years of Empowering Growth for Independent Advisors — The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA or “the firm”), an independent, privately owned provider of brokerage and custodial services and solutions to independent financial advisors nationwide, announced today…
A year ago, as The Strategic Financial Alliance celebrated its tenth anniversary, the firm was in as strong a position as it had ever been. Since that time, SFA has gone on to greater success and has undertaken several new initiatives. Today, SFA continues to enjoy an outstanding reputation for empowering the independent, doing whatever…
— National Gathering of Advisors, Industry Experts and SFA Leadership Team Celebrates Ten Years of Empowering Growth for Independent Advisors, Share Best Practices — The Strategic Financial Alliance (SFA), a leading, privately-owned independent broker-dealer and custodial services provider, announced today that Bridge 2014: The Journey Continues, its annual national conference featuring financial advisors and industry…
