Dan's Work at the Institute for Sustainable Social Change

 Many clients inquire about my work in Prescott with the Institute, which is affiliated with--but is separate from--Prescott College.  I spend perhaps 10-12 hours per week on projects there when I'm in town.

The Institute seeks to sponsor programs that are in line with the mission of the college--but which don't have a natural "home" in the academic side of the house.  I am a Fellow of the Institute and have been designated its "Coordinator" of activities, which means that I handle much of the behind-the-scenes "back-office" work which exists in any thriving organization. 

I'll touch on just two of the Institute's programs to give a flavor of our activities: our longest-running program is acting as the administrative arm of the VISTA program for northern Arizona.  VISTA is the branch of the federal Americorps program (akin to a domestic Peace Corps) which seeks to build capacity in those non-profit organizations dedicated to alleviating the conditions of poverty in the US.   A tall task to be sure; but our program has been a leader in creating innovative structures and generating effective leadership tools that may be adopted by other VISTA programs throughout the country.

The second program is one that I'm spearheading in cooperation with the Office of Student Life at the Prescott College.  It is oriented toward facilitating volunteerism and civic engagement as an everyday part of the student experience at the college.  As many of you know, Prescott College is first and foremost all about experiential education--and as such, students (and faculty) are often engaged in real-world activities and challenges outside the walls of academia.  However, these activities are not always easy to connect to, nor are they tracked in any organized way.  We hope to put the pieces in place to facilitate connections and enhance the effectiveness of these efforts. 

Other programs and sponsorships take place under the aegis of the Institute.  Feel free to ask if you're interested in more detail!

Sandy Adams Attends Inaugural Alzheimer's Conference

 Sandy Adams, CFP® represented the Center as a sponsor of the first annual Alzheimer’s conference on November 1, 2012.  The conference, a collaborative conference put on by the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Michigan Chapter and the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology, was put on for an audience of health care professionals and caregivers. 

This year’s conference, entitled “A Meaningful Life with Alzheimer’s Disease” brought highly recognized speakers to discuss issues such as person centered care, financial capacity and vulnerability and pain management. Well over 200 participants attended the first annual conference.  Sandy has been invited to be a part of the planning committee for the 2013 conference.

Political Insights: Carville's Secret to Marriage to Mary Matalin

 The FPA National Conference welcomed key note speakers Mary Matalin and James "the ragin cagin" Carville to share their personal story and political insights.  One a deep rooted Democrat, one a staunch Republican. As you may expect, their personal opinions and political values could not be farther apart.  

Matalin and Carville shared humorous encounters while contributing to the Clinton and Bush presidential campaigns. Individually they addressed our current political landscape and presidential election while lobbying for their respective parties. As their speaking session ended, I felt inspired by the possibility that, regardless of our political affiliation, some day we all may just get a long!

Today they are happily married with two daughters and reside in New Orleans.  I believe the lives of Matalin and Carville provide a strong example that we may prosper together regardless of our political affiliations and beliefs.

Matalin and Carville affirm that both parties - Republicans and Democrats - share an intense desire in serving the needs of the American people. It’s clear the HOW may differ, but at the end of the day, they continue to love, care, and respect each other.A lesson we may all benefit from as the Presidential race continues to intensify!

James "The Ragin' Cajun" Carville is America’s best-known political consultant. His long list of electoral successes includes leading Ehud Barak to victory to become Prime Minister of Israel in 1999 and most notably helping to secure William Jefferson Clinton as President of the United States in 1992.

Mary Matalin is a prominent political figure who has made frequent television and radio appearances and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her political successes include serving under President Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush. She lives in New Orleans with her husband, James Carville, and their two daughters.

We're Sorry, This Page is No Longer Available

Checkout our current blog posts HERE. See you there!

Angela Palacios & Melissa Joy attend Morningstar Investment Conference

 

Our Investment Department capped off a busy investment research spring by attending the Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago this June. The annual conference features portfolio managers, thought leaders in the investment profession, and academics on timely topics.

“This is always a highlight of the year for the investment department. We see more portfolio managers and friends in our business than at any other time,” said Melissa Joy. “I especially enjoy the conference because it is exclusively focused on investing so you have three days to think deeply about the investment landscape today.”

Highlights this year included a variety of opinions on the EuroZone, discussions on the impacts of trading costs to portfolios, and one-on-one discussions with portfolio managers. The Center has been at the conference for each of the last 10 years.

Angela Palacios attended a pre-conference training on our new investment research software, Morningstar Direct. This upgrades our investment research capabilities going from a database of only the US public investment universe to an institutional investment platform that offers global investment research with rigorous analytics. 

Angela said “It was a great opportunity to attend a training and user conference for our new software.  I’m confident the software will streamline our research process and give us more accurate and in-depth knowledge to make investment decisions.” She was able to hear from Senior Research Analysts and Economists with Morningstar and also speak with other firms with a dedication to investment research.

---

The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. Any opinions are those of Melissa Joy and Angela Palacios and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

Center's Laurie Renchik, CFP® Graduates Leadership Oakland Program

 From the opening 3-day retreat to the graduation ceremony 9 months later, Laurie Renchik's leadership skills were put to the test.  The Leadership Oakland organization is all about growing local leaders and the 49 members selected to join the 2011-2012 Cornerstone program brought a spectrum of corporate, civic and non-profit experience to the group.  "When we started the program last fall, we embarked on a somewhat unknown journey," Renchik explained.  "Many of us had been told about Leadership Oakland and encouraged to apply, while others had heard about it and were simply curious."

They join more than 800 local leaders who have graduated Leadership Oakland since its foundation in 1990.  This year's class delved into important issues facing the region, from the educational system to the justice system and began to envision solutions through in-depth, monthly day-long sessions.  According to Leadership Oakland:

When you take leaders and provide them with a rich network of colleagues, a deep understanding of the regions challenges and the opportunity to achieve value for their own organizations . . . . . you create new levels of leadership. Through Leadership Oakland, today's leaders will shape tomorrow's community.

At the graduation ceremony at the Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills, the 2011-2012 class was recognized for their new understanding of local issues.  Laurie remarked, "The program was inspiring and humbling at the same time.  I have lived and worked in Oakland County for many years and learned new information at every session."  Renchik said the conclusion was bittersweet.  "As the academic year came to a close, I had a keen sense from the experience what leadership truly stands for, that it comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and that innovation and vision can be found in one's backyard."

The graduates' participation links them to one of the most powerful business networks in Michigan. For more information about Leadership Oakland please visit www.leadershipoakland.com

Nine Represent Center at Raymond James Conference

The Center proudly led two separate Top Advisor Sessions at the recent Raymond James National Conference.  Matt Chope and Tim Wyman (pictured left) led a discussion about growing your business.  Dan Boyce and Melissa Joy presented "Finding, Developing, & Implementing Junior Partners."  Over 100 peers attended each session.  

With the destination of Orlando, Florida, nine team members flew south to attend the National Conference May 21st through the 25th.  The four-day event welcomed over 3,400 participants from across the nation.  The conference fosters both professional and personal development through a variety of learning sessions which are presented by both peer advisors and specialized industry experts.  

A powerful benefit of attending conferences like this is the opportunity to hear ideas from others.  Center team members get to know people over the years and learn what new ideas and innovations are working for peers.

One area of growth highlighted at this year’s national conference was technology. Raymond James and the Center for Financial Planning are making major investments in cutting edge technology that will work to the advantage of both the advising teams and Center clients.

Members of our Center team in attendance included:  Sandy Adams, Dan Boyce, Matt Chope, Marilyn Gunther, Jen Hackmann, Melissa Joy, Laurie Renchik, Tim Wyman and Troy Wyman.

3 Center Planners Recognized by Hour Detroit Magazine

Center team members Sandra Adams CFP®, Matthew Chope CFP® and Timothy Wyman CFP®, JD received recognition by Five Star Professional in the June 2012 issue of Hour Detroit magazine.  They were named to the 2012 Five Star Wealth Managers list, a select group of wealth managers in the Detroit area.  Congratulations – Sandy, Matt, and Tim.

Jaclyn Jackson Attends Investment Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida

Jaclyn Jackson was among 37 Raymond James’ financial advisors who attended a three-day program at the Raymond James’ corporate offices in St. Petersburg, FL. These advisors are members of the Institute of Investment Management Consulting’s Portfolio Management Group.  Membership into the group is based on their commitment to successfully managing client portfolios.

The Institute of Investment Management Consulting (IIMC) was developed as a forum for financial advisors committed to providing investment consulting and advice to clients. The Portfolio Management Group is a further specialization offered to these select advisors who have demonstrated success in developing and delivering investment portfolios to meet client needs. This forum provides educational programs tailored to their businesses, ongoing collaborative opportunities through a members-only website, and networking with financial advisors who have similar business models as well Raymond James specialists that support their practices.

Live From Orlando: Top Advisors Tell All on Junior Partners

Registered Rep: by Diana Britton on May 22nd, 2012

Advisor panel speaks about adding junior partners at conference.The worst thing you can do when bringing on a junior partner is to immediately anoint them as heir apparent, said Daniel Boyce, FA and founding partner of the Center for Financial Planning in Southfield, Mich. “That is backwards in my estimation,” Boyce told attendees of Raymond James Financial Services’ National Conference for Professional Development in Orlando, Fla.

Any potential partner needs to earn their right to sit at the table with the partners, Boyce said. Give them the opportunity, but wait for them to step into that opportunity before you give them that reward.

Boyce, head of a $700 million AUM firm, joined other top advisors on a panel session discussing the dos and don’ts of recruiting junior partners. Boyce just brought on a new partner recently, Melissa Joy, who joined the panel to share her insights.

Boyce’s motivation in bringing on Joy was not to transfer clients over to her, as his firm already had an ensemble practice in place for that. The age differential was the motivator; he wants successors of different generations. Joy is in her 30s, he said.

Todd Sanford, branch manager of Sanford Financial Services in Portage, Mich., said his return on investment in bringing Scott Williams into his practice was so high that it would probably rival buying Apple a decade ago.

For Sanford, bringing on a younger partner was a tool for expanding the firm’s generation reach, as Williams could work with people with similar life experiences and serve younger people referred to the firm.

But you can’t just hire a junior partner the moment you need them, Sanford said. You’ve got to hire that person years before you need them.

Boyce said his role at the firm has changed over the years, to become a mentor for planners and staff. He says that role is probably the most satisfying for him, and it’s also the most important. Boyce says you can’t view your staff as an expense, but an investment.

“It’s the human capital that is your biggest asset and resource.”

Do you agree?