Talking Technology in Texas at the Raymond James Conference

 With the destination of Grapevine, Texas, eleven team members flew south to attend the Raymond James National Conference April 22-25.  The four-day event welcomed over 3,000 participants from across the nation, fostering both professional and personal development through a variety of learning sessions presented by both peer advisors and specialized industry experts. 

The Center proudly led a conference Top Advisor Session. These sessions are well attended by peers looking to share their experiences and ideas for success.  Tim Wyman, CFP®, JD and Melissa Joy, CFP® led a discussion about investing in your staff to build a great business.   Melissa Joy also presented with a panel of financial advisors during a pre-conference Investment Management module.  The topic was "The Great Rotation" from bonds into stocks.

In addition to attending Top Advisor Sessions, Center team members sat in on multiple sessions covering advanced investment strategies, retirement planning, practice management and marketing.  These educational sessions provided the opportunity to earn continuing education credits and also sparked new ideas to best serve our clients.   

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

Melissa Joy comments, "The National Conference offers the opportunity to share ideas and learn from our peers that just can't be replicated across the miles.  There's alot of idea-sharing, hard work, and just as much socializing and fun.  What's not to love?"

Members of our Center team in attendance included:  Sandy Adams CFP®, Dan Boyce CFP®, Matt Chope CFP®, Melissa Cyrus, Client Service Associate, Marilyn Gunther CFP®, Julie Hall, Melissa Joy CFP®, Angela Palacios CFP®, Laurie Renchik CFP®, and Tim Wyman CFP®, JD. 

Happy Centerversary

 While the Center celebrates 28 years serving our clients, our newest Client Service Associate, Melissa Cyrus, is also celebrating a milestone … her first “Centerversary” with us. 

We are proud to take a moment and recognize Melissa. It was a year ago May 14^th that she added her enthusiasm to our team.  Melissa said the momentous occasion sort of snuck up on her, telling us, “It’s been a year already?  Hard to believe … it went by so fast!  I feel very fortunate to be working at such a wonderful place surrounded by such awesome people.  It sure makes the time fly.” 

Guess Melissa just proved the old adage Time flies when you’re having fun. And all that wisdom from someone who has only been around for a year. Just wait to see what she has to say on her 10^th Centerversary!

Matt Chope Attends Due Diligence Meeting

 Matt Chope, CFP® recently traveled to California to attend due diligence meetings at PIMCO. This was an opportunity for Matt to attend informational sessions where members of the PIMCO management team and mutual fund managers led discussions and investment forums.  He was impressed with the organization and their global perspective.

The most interesting views Matt gleaned from the meetings were commentary about the healing housing market as well as a presentation focused on the strides America is making toward energy independence in the near future.

Meetings like this help Center team members keep a pulse on the managers and corporate cultures of the companies we use to build client investment portfolios.

The Changing Tax Landscape

 Many of us hone in on financial planning from a wealth-building perspective, considering things like asset allocation and comfort with risk.  But there is also another key component to financial planning: the tax perspective.  Our own Julie Hall, CFP® recently attended the American Institute of CPAs financial planning conference in Las Vegas where taxes were top of mind.  Session topics included Advanced Tax and Estate Financial Planning Strategies for the mass affluent and high net worth.

Julie found the conference very timely.  "Due to the recent presidential election, successful fiscal cliff negotiations and The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, everyone needs to be planning for the fluctuating tax landscape."  She said the sessions helped her to understand the impact of these tax changes and how the changes will affect the Center's clients and came back from Las Vegas ready to share her newly-acquired knowledge, proving that what happens in Vegas doesn't always have to stay in Vegas.

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Any opinions are those of Julie E. Hall, CFP, MS-Finance and not necessarily those of RJFS of Raymond James.  You should discuss any tax matters with the appropriate professional.

High Tech with a Human Touch

 Technology seems to change at the speed of light but it always plays an important role in helping us provide world-class service to clients. The Center has a long history of being early adopters of technology. We’ve been using a client relationship management system since 1997; back when very few financial planning firms were doing it.  Done right, technology can increase the value that we provide to our clients. Done not so right, technology can be expensive and frustrating. 

In order to keep abreast of the latest innovations and best practices in our profession, Tim Wyman, CFP® recently attended the Financial Planning Association’s annual practice management event, Business Solutions, which took place just outside Chicago. For 2.5 days Tim was immersed in practice management and technology demonstrations, all focused on how to increase the level of service to clients.

Our Vision 2020, the Center’s roadmap for the future, guides us to successfully use technology wherever we can to enhance the client experience and our team member experience. We also are keenly aware that our investment in technology enhances, but does not replace, the need for the human touch. Instead, we think new tools create more space and time to discuss and plan for what’s most important in our clients’ lives.

Matt Chope, CFP® Attends Raymond James Conference

 It is no surprise that health care costs are growing, but some people fail to consider the rising cost when planning for retirement. That was a key take-away for Matt Chope, CFP® who recently attended the Raymond James winter symposium at the Raymond James home office in St. Petersburg, Florida.  This invitation-only event brought some of the leaders in the industry up-to-date on new tax laws, Medicare and Social Security planning, investment markets and the global economy. Matt said he was exposed to new ideas and came away from the trip with a reminder for his clients to adequately budget today for the health care costs of tomorrow.

Jennie Bauder Attends Branch Professionals Opportunities Conference

 When Jennie Bauder got the invitation, it was an "opportunity" she couldn't pass up.  Jennie is one of our Client Service Managers and was among 100 select Raymond James professionals who received an invitation to participate in the Opportunities Conference.  The two-day program, held in St. Petersburg, Florida, focused on daily operations for client service professionals and recent technology enhancements.

The Opportunities Conference gave Jennie a broader perspective on Raymond James.  "This was my first visit to the Raymond James Headquarters in St. Petersburg.  It was a great experience and wonderful to meet so many of the faces at Raymond James."

Conference organizers did due diligence while planning the conference.  Conference leaders gathered information from all attendees in advance to design the conference so participants had a change to align with other professionals who shared key interests.  "We shared numerous best practices within our group, and also tackled some common challenges," Jennie explained.  And after two full days packed with new information, Jennie was happy to come back and share what's up and coming with her peers in Southfield, Michigan.

Center Sponsors Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Government Forecast Breakfast

 Senator Debbie Stabenow provided the keynote address at the Chamber’s Annual Forecast Breakfast held at The Community House on February 11^th.   She discussed the current political climate in Washington and its impact on the nation’s and Michigan’s economy.  Center team members in attendance included: Sandy Adams CFP®, Tim Wyman CFP®, and Troy Wyman CFP®.

“Our strength comes from making things and growing things,” Stabenow said to the crowded ballroom at The Community House.

For a more detailed account of topics covered by Senator Stabenow, please reference the article, Debbie Stabenow Talks Innovation, Bipartisan Collaboration in Birmingham (http://birmingham.patch.com/articles/debbie-stabenow-talks-michigan-innovation-bipartisan-collaboration-in-birmingham

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Links are being provided for informational purposes only.  Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor an of the listed websites or their respective sponsors.  Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.  The opinions and services of Debbie Stabenow are independent of Raymond James.

Center Supports the IOG’s Programs to Engage and Educate Seniors

 The Center is proud of our partnership with the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology (IOG).  The IOG is committed to engaging and educating seniors in our communities. One of their premier events is the Art of Aging Successfully Annual Senior Conference, which brings hundreds of seniors together to experience well-respected keynote speakers and break-out workshops promoting creative expression, social connection and information on ways to positively embrace all facets of aging.  In addition, time is provided to take a stroll through the Gallery Walk, which is a display of art created by local area seniors.  Sandy Adams has attended this event for the last three years and says, “Art of Aging is a wonderful event.  The energy and creativity of those that attend is inspiring.” This year’s conference will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at the Greater Grace Conference Center in Detroit and is sure to be another sell-out event.  Sandy sits on the Board of Visitor’s for the Institute of Gerontology and will be representing the Center at the Art of Aging event.  To view the conference schedule or to register, go to http://www.iog.wayne.edu/seniors/art-of-aging.php.

Sandy Adams Appointed to PFES Board

 Carrying on a proud Center legacy, Sandy Adams was recently appointed to the Board of Personal Financial Education Services, an Ann Arbor based non-profit organization with a mission of promoting personal financial education in Michigan and beyond and to empower youth and adults to build more stable financial futures through financial education.  The organization was founded in 2006 and continues to focus on developing a variety of programs, tools and resources to serve educators and individuals in their personal financial education pursuits.

Sandy fills a seat on the PFES Board left by Center partner, Marilyn Gunther, one of the original board members of the organization.  Center for Financial Planning, Inc. continues to support the financial planning community with the goal of personal financial education for clients, families, and the community at large.