Tag Archives: Financial Literacy

Secure Act 2.0, How Does It Work? With Dr. Jeff Allen, CFP®

January 20, 2023Financial PlanningCareer, Charitable Contributions, Children, Contributions, David Vallieres, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Life Planning, Portfolio Management, Retirement, RMD, Secure Act 2.0, Spouses, Student Loans, Synergy Capital Solutions, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

The Secure Act 2.0 is a 1.7 trillion dollar package, some of the features of the plan are very confusing, complex and broad, which is why it is recommended you talk with your advisor.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Dr. Jeff Allen, CFP®, to dissect the features of the Secure Act 2.0 on a high level and how it can benefit you.

Dr. Jeff Allen discusses:

Potentially significant changes with charitable distributions
The larger catch up for retirement contributions
Student loan payment matches beginning in 2024
And more

Connect With David Vallieres:

David Vallieres
Synergy Capital Solutions
Email at: hello@synergycapitalsolutions.com

Connect With Dr. Jeff Allen:

LinkedIn: Jeff Allen

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jeff Allen is a retired physician working as a financial advisor for Physicians, Dentists and other successful professionals with an understanding of their unique objectives. He focuses on helping my clients create financial freedom by creating a spending and investment plan to reach retirement goals. Additionally, he helps clients with college planning, investment management, insurance needs analysis and retirement planning.

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Looking Forward into 2023 with Eric Nahat

December 30, 2022Coronavirus, COVID-19, Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments, UncategorizedAmanda Dorio, Career, Children, David Vallieres, Denise Gergley, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Hannah Haley, Jordann Andrusiak, Life Planning, Synergy Capital Solutions, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

2022 threw just about every financial disruption it could at us. At this point, nothing should surprise us.

In this episode, David talks to Eric Nahat, Advisor & Director of the Investment Committee at Synergy Capital Solutions. Together they go over the events of the past year and look forward to 2023. They discuss the state of the markets along with what they think the markets will hold in the new year.

David and Eric discuss:

How 2022’s markets differ from the financial crisis of 2008
Strategies for making smart financial decisions going into 2023
The importance of not letting your emotions cloud your judgment
And more!

Connect with David Vallieres:

David Vallieres
Synergy Capital Solutions
Email at: hello@synergycapitalsolutions.com

Connect with Eric Nahat:

LinkedIn: Eric Nahat

About our guest:

Eric holds dual roles working on implementation of client investment portfolios and managing client financial planning and asset-management relationships. As Director of the Synergy Investment Committee, Eric consults on the Synergy Strategy Portfolios with a focus on economic analysis and security selection.

Previously, Eric worked for J.P. Morgan Private Bank where he assisted with high-net-worth families and institutions to monitor investment portfolios, model wealth projections, and provide investment solutions for their clients. He holds the Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses as well as Life, Health and Variable Annuities Insurance licenses. He has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Eric lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He enjoys being involved in the community and spends his free time traveling the world, tasting the newest local cuisine and playing various sports, most notably hockey and golf.

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2022 Q4 Market Update With Mark Burns and Eric Nahat

October 7, 2022Financial PlanningAmanda Dorio, Career, Children, David Vallieres, Denise Gergley, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Hannah Haley, Jordann Andrusiak, Life Planning, Synergy Capital Solutions, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

Are we currently in a recession or are we headed towards a recession? Because of the economic cycles and changes, there are always times where the market goes through good and bad periods, that’s one of the reasons why you need to be a long term investor.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Mark Burns and Eric Nahat from Synergy Capital Solutions to discuss the fourth quarter market update and what trends they have noticed over the past couple of months.

Mark and Eric discuss:

Why your economic outlook should match your portfolio planning
Why long term investing is so effective
The Monte Carlo simulations and how you can use it to make predictions
And more

Connect with David Vallieres:

David Vallieres
Synergy Capital Solutions
Email at: hello@synergycapitalsolutions.com

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Controlling Your Budget and Spending With Alex Burns, CFP®

August 19, 2022Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments, UncategorizedAlex Burns, Budgeting, David Vallieres, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Life Planning, Spending, Synergy Capital Solutions, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

It is vital to control your finances with all the uncertainty in the markets.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Alex Burns, an advisor at Synergy Capital Solutions. Alex explains the importance of controlling your spending and details how your savings should be organized for the short, medium, and long term.

Alex discusses:

What can be truly controlled by investors
The three-step process of saving
Why time in the market is better than timing the market
And more

Connect With Alex Burns:

LinkedIn: Alex Burns

Connect With David Vallieres:

David Vallieres
Synergy Capital Solutions
Email at: hello@synergycapitalsolutions.com

About Our Guest:

Alex Burns, CFP®, began his business career as a sales account manager for Symantec Corporation and its subsidiary Veritas. He brings deep database knowledge to Synergy Capital Solutions and enjoys working alongside his father, mother and sister. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Michigan State University.

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Honoring Women in Finance for International Women’s Month With Sarah Zvekan

March 25, 2022Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, InvestmentsCareer, Children, David Vallieres, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Life Planning, Synergy Capital Solutions, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

Women now control about a third of the world’s wealth and over half of the wealth in the United States. A lot has changed over the years and we want to take the time to recognize the work from generations of women.

In this episode, David Vallieres chats with Sarah Zvekan financial advisor at Synergy Capital Solutions about the importance of women in the financial industry, and the impacts that they have had. Sarah also talks about planning your taxes for charitable giving.

David and Sarah discuss:

Her observations as a woman in finance
Women in philanthropy
Tax planning for philanthropic and charitable giving
And more

Connect with David Vallieres:

David Vallieres
Synergy Capital Solutions
Email at: hello@synergycapitalsolutions.com

Connect With Sarah Zvekan:

LinkedIn: Sarah Zvekan

About Our Guest:

Sarah Zvekan delights in working hand in hand with clients in developing their goals that drive their long-term financial plan. Sarah enjoys helping clients organize their financial life to lessen their burden and stress. She has a high level of proficiency in the financial planning platforms that are used to serve clients and is consistently willing to leverage specialized tools to empower clients to accomplish their goals.

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Financial Concerns Changing with Age With Norton Stern

February 11, 2022Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, InvestmentsBusiness, Clients, David Vallieres, Financial Advisors, Financial Freedom, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Life Planning, Market changes, Norton Stern, Podcast, Synergy Capital Solutions, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

Part of the role of a good financial advisor is to be able to change with your clients and meet their needs to relieve their concerns.

Your market advisor should be able to identify those concerns and create a plan of action based on that information.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks to Norton Stern, advisor at Synergy Capital Solutions to discuss the financial setbacks he’s seen within his career and how he was able to manage them. Plus, how his financial outlook has changed as he aged.

David and Norton discuss:

How he is adapting to financial concerns to prepare his clients for potential issues
Modern technology and its potential misuses in the future
The different mindsets of clients based on their age
And more!

Connect with David Vallieres:

Connect with Norton Stern:

Synergy Capital Solutions

About Our guest:

Norton Stern assists Synergy Capital Solutions as a specialist in institutions and charitable foundations. He began his financial services career in 1969 creating a diverse and multi-layered scope of experience. He also works with individuals and families to continually monitor and provide individualized plans. Prior to joining Synergy’s predecessor firm, he was the registered principal and president of Franklin Financial Investments, LLC. Norton holds the Series 1, 24, 63, 65 licenses along with Life, Health and Accident, and Variable Annuities Insurance licenses.

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A Look Back on 2021 and Forward to 2022 with Eric Nahat

December 31, 2021Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments2021 wrap up, 2022 predictions, David Vallieres, Eric Nahat, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Investment Decisions, Life Planning, Synergy Capital Solutions, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

2021 was a year with a lot of ups and downs. COVID-19 affected day-to-day life and many financial decisions.

But, even though 2021 was unpredictable, 2022 is right around the corner with new economic predictions and opportunities.

In this episode, David Vallieres is joined by Eric Nahat, director of the investment committee at Synergy Capital Solutions, to discuss a market wrap-up of 2021, and what to expect in 2022.

David and Eric discuss:

What’s next for the economy
Stocks and equities in 2021 and what to expect in 2022
2021’s fixed income and bonds, and what’s around the corner in the new year
And more!

Connect with David Vallieres:

Connect with Eric Nahat

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Are ESGs the New Way to Make Investment Decisions? with Jeff Allen and Eric Nahat

November 26, 2021Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments, UncategorizedDavid Vallieres, Eric Nahat, ESG, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Investment Decisions, Jeff Allen, Life Planning, Synergy Capital Solutions, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

More and more investors are making decisions based on non-financial factors. These factors may have an even larger impact on your investments than the finances.

In this episode, David Vallieres is joined by Jeff Allen, director of planning solutions, and Eric Nahat, advisor and director of the investment committee at Synergy Capital Solutions. David, Jeff and Eric discuss why ESGs are becoming so popular, take a look into the history of ESGs, and discuss where they think they may be going in the future. They also share why you may want to consider a company’s ESG files before investing.

David, Jeff, and Eric discuss:

The different aspects of ESG investing
Why investors are looking into company’s ESGs before deciding to invest
The history behind ESGs and where they may go in the future
And more!

Connect with David Vallieres:

Connect with Jeff Allen

Connect with Eric Nahat

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Women and Wealth: Planning for Retirement — Part Two With Margie, Pat, and Marla

July 23, 2021Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments, UncategorizedDavid Vallieres, Estate Planning, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Jordan Andrusiak, Retirement, Synergy Capital Solutions, Wealth Transfer, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

While preparing for retirement, it’s important to involve your heirs in the financial planning process.

In part four of the Women and Wealth series, David Vallieres and Jordann Andrusiak once again speak with Margie, Pat, and Marla, who share the steps they are taking to prepare their next generations for a healthy financial future. They also candidly discuss their biggest financial wins and how they achieved them.

The guests discuss:

Financial planning tips they wish they had known earlier in life
The financial freedom and peace of mind that you achieve after working with an advisor
Biggest financial pitfalls of their lives and how they overcame them
The importance of having a secure document locator while planning your estate
And more!

Connect With David Vallieres:

Connect With Jordann Andrusiak:

LinkedIn: Jordann Andrusiak

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Women and Wealth: Planning for Retirement With Margie, Pat, and Marla

June 25, 2021Financial, Financial Planning, Investing, Investments, UncategorizedDavid Vallieres, Financial Advisors, Financial Literacy, Financial Planning, Jordan Andrusiak, Retirement, Synergy Capital Solutions, Women, Your Financial Plan-Ityourfinancialplanit

A lot of women often rely heavily on their spouse to take care of the finances.

Remember, doing so can significantly affect you at a later stage in your life.

In part three of the Women and Wealth series, David Vallieres and Jordann Andrusiak are joined by Margie, Pat, and Marla, all of whom are in the retirement phase of their lives. They discuss the importance of taking hold of your finances and developing financial literacy early on in life.

The guests discuss:

How they navigated their financial complexities during the death of their spouse
How an advisor can ease your financial burden during unforeseen life circumstances
Why you need to discuss your finances with your children
Financial decisions that might keep you up at night if you have not planned for them
And more!

Connect With David Vallieres:

Connect With Jordann Andrusiak:

LinkedIn: Jordann Andrusiak

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