1. Why Am I leaving?
After an exhaustive due diligence process it became clear to me that the way to becoming an even better financial partner for my clients is by starting my own independent advisory practice. My goal was to find the best place for my clients, my practice and myself and bring the highest level of care to my clients, many of whom I’ve come to know and respect over the years.

2. What’s changing?
Along with my phone number and email address a lot is changing actually…but don’t worry it’s all for the better. Higher standards, a simplified process, a broader spectrum of investment choices and the level of time and attention you deserve from your relationship with your wealth planning partner.

3. What’s staying the same?
My commitment - to my clients and my community. I believe my professional legacy will be reflected in the outcomes of the decisions I make for my clients and my impact in my community. My decision to start Fortress Wealth Solutions was made with those core values in mind.

4. Why Fortress Wealth Solutions?
Fortress (Wealth Solutions) represents a position of strength and is a symbol of victory, perseverance and generational permanence. I started Fortress Wealth Solutions so that I could be an even better advisor to my clients and more effectively shepherd my clients towards establishing a secure legacy that will span multiple generations.

5. What is Vanderbilt Financial Group?
Over the last several months I’ve been working incredibly hard to analyze and understand the very best practices, products and technology available to me as a financial planner. It’s critical to me, and to your success, that I am prepared and positioned to offer you the best solutions now, in the next 10 years, and in the decades to come. I’ve searched through many different businesses to find the best home for us, and I found one that has all the requirements that I wanted.

Vanderbilt Financial Group is based in lovely Woodbury, New York. Despite being around for half a century, it remains a small business with around 35 employees. Since it is a small, boutique advisory firm, it does have a different feel which I find very refreshing. Vanderbilt provides independent advisors with the platform to bring their vision to life. With Vanderbilt we have state of the industry technology, access to an expanded array of investment choices and award-winning investment management tools. Another one of the awards Vanderbilt seems to consistently win is the “Best Places to Work” award. They’ve won it consecutively for the past 4 years. I love that Vanderbilt is a firm with a purpose and a passion for making an impact in the lives of individuals and communities. I’m very proud to join the Vanderbilt family and grateful for the platform I have to serve my clients and my community. I encourage you to check them out at VanderbiltFG.com

6. What is your role as a financial partner in your client’s lives?
In my view there’s more to financial planning than just dollar signs, spreadsheets and financial reports. My role is to distill all that down into simple, practical steps that we can take to improve the general quality of my client’s lives. I fully understand that the assets my clients trust me with represent all those long hours and sleepless nights, the self-discipline and the sacrifices. It also represents their vision for their family’s future, their passions, hopes and dreams. My role is to contribute as best I can to my client’s overall well-being, health and happiness.

7. Are you really setting a limit on the number of families you’ll take on as clients?
Yes. My vision for Fortress Wealth Solutions is to work only with a select and tightly controlled number of families. I’ll transition up to thirty existing families at first, then starting next year I’ll add up to four families per year for the next five years for a maximum of 50 families. I was responsible for advising over five hundred families at my previous firm, which became a bit overwhelming as I took on more and more clients over the years. I prefer quality over quantity so the idea of being able to curate my book of business really appeals to me. I’m excited to bring a whole new level of availability, attention and thoughtful analysis to my favorite clients.

8. What’s the process of moving?
How we move from your previous firm to Fortress Wealth Solutions is, not surprisingly, paperwork. All the paperwork can be done electronically through DocuSign. And as always if you’re not comfortable with DocuSign we can do the paperwork in person. If you don’t want to travel, I can come to you (since I am no longer managing 500+ relationships I can readily dedicate time to travel to you…yes, even for those of you who live outside of Ohio!). The only person you will interact with is me and I will oversee this and all other ongoing processes from start to finish, the truly holistic advisory relationship you’ve always wanted.

9. What if some of my assets are “restricted” or “stuck” at TIAA?
For my former TIAA clients your managed accounts and brokerage accounts are readily transferable and have no restrictions. but as we all know, there are some investments that are not as quickly moved, but there’s good news…I can support you on those assets via TIAA’s independent advisor channel, a platform TIAA makes available to independent advisors who work with clients who still have some assets at TIAA so that those clients can receive holistic planning and ongoing support that includes oversight of those TIAA assets as well.

10. Do you offer all the same products and services?
Yes. In addition to my cornerstone of Fiduciary-level discretionary asset management, a full suite of structured products and alternative investment classes are just a couple of the additional product types you’ll have access to with Fortress Wealth Solutions. In addition to that you’ll have access to an award-winning research and trading platform and the latest wealth management technology that enables both you and I to interact with your portfolio in deeper and more insightful ways.

11. Will it cost me to switch?
Any account closure fees associated with switching will be covered by my firm. Proper due diligence will be completed to ensure avoidance of any potentially adverse tax or legal outcomes.

12. What do you do when you’re not doing financial wizardry stuff?
I have three young-adult kids who are starting to venture down their own paths in life so keeping up with them is always a priority along with my 4-year-old yellow lab, Gonzo (named after my favorite author, Hunter S. Thompson). My favorite pastimes are playing ice hockey and playing guitar. Although I’m still going strong my ice hockey days are numbered, but I’ll be sitting on my back porch strumming my guitar until I can’t sit up straight anymore! Just within the last couple of years I’ve discovered I’m pretty good at gardening too, who knew?