Your Financial Plan-It

Summary:

Staying up to date on phishing and vishing scams, malware, ransomware, and other computer threats is absolutely necessary to keep your finances and identity safe.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Sarah Khan, a chief information security officer at Hightower Advisor LLC, to discuss cybersecurity. Sarah dives into what cyber security is, the different types of cyber fraud to look out for, and shares some essential tips for keeping yourself safe online.

Sarah discusses:

●    What cyber fraud is, and the different techniques scammers are currently using to compromise security for financial accounts and computer systems

●    Some examples of different fraudulent money movement scenarios

●    12 essential pieces of advice for staying safe online

●    And more

Resources:

●    DashLane.com

●    LastPass.com

Connect with David Vallieres:

●    David Vallieres

●    Synergy Capital Solutions

●    Email at: [email protected]

About Our Guest:

Sarah Khan was born and raised in Chicago and is naturally drawn to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at UIC in electrical engineering and then attended Northwestern University for her Master’s degree in computer sciences. Over the past 20 years, Sarah has been focused on technology and security, specifically in financial services, and is currently the Chief Information Security Officer for Hightower Advisors and the Hightower Trust company.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Summary:

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

●     Click here to read more about portfolio processes and market updates

Connect with David Vallieres:

●     David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email at: [email protected]

Summary:

According to CNBC, a college education is now the second largest expense that an individual is going to make in a lifetime. With college costs increasing, more families know they have to have a plan to pay for college than ever before.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Sarah Zvekan, to explain how parents can begin to plan for the costs of college. She also shares some tips for navigating this expensive event in a cost-efficient manner.

Sarah discusses:

●      The value in allowing your kids to contribute to their college fees

●      Why it’s worth checking if you qualify for financial aid

●      The benefits of gifting stocks to your children for college expenses

●      Reasons why you should try to avoid private loans

●      How to plan for education costs for different age groups

●      And more

Connect with David Vallieres:

●     David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email at: [email protected]

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.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Summary:

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: [email protected]

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.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Summary:

It can help to focus on logic and long term planning since the markets are constantly changing.

In this episode, David Vallieres talks with Eric Nahat, an advisor and director of the investment committee at Synergy Capital Solutions about the second quarter of 2022. They discuss the possible economic indicators and their impacts on the economy, while explaining their market projections in the face of a possible recession in the short term.

Eric discusses:

●      How GDP numbers for the first quarter shocked to the downside

●      Five ways the odds of a recession are rising

●      A recap of what’s been happening with the performance of the markets

●      What's next for equities

●      And more

Connect With David Vallieres:

●     David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email at: [email protected]

Connect With Eric Nahat:

●     LinkedIn: Eric Nahat

About Our Guest:

Eric Nahat 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.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

When it comes to financial planning, insurance is a necessary evil in planning for your future.

In this episode, David Vallieres chats once more with Dr. Jeffrey Allen, CFP®, on insurance and risk management within financial planning while discussing options for long term coverage.

Dr. Jeffrey discusses:

●     How he mitigates risk for his clients

●     The different types of insurance

●     Long term care insurance options

●     And more

Connect with David Vallieres:

●     David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email at: [email protected]

About Our Guest:

Dr. Jeffrey Allen, CFP®, entered the financial service industry 15 years ago following his vast experience in the medical industry. Jeff is our team specialist in working with medical practices, closely held corporations and families to provide wealth management solutions. He focuses on developing a coordinated wealth creation and preservation plan to help with investment planning issues often encountered by medical professionals. As a certified physician, Jeff brings a distinct perspective and experience to these client needs.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Having a solid understanding of Social Security is vital to supporting a successful wealth strategy. It helps to have a clear picture of when to start collecting and how much you will be receiving to maximize your benefits and retirement.

In this episode of Your Financial Plan-It, David Vallieres chats with Dr. Jeffrey Allen, CFP®, to discuss the importance of your Social Security and the benefits to integrating it into your retirement plan.

Dr. Jeffrey discusses:

●     A definition of Social Security

●     The benefits of Social Security

●     What are survivor benefits and how it works

●     And more

Connect With David Vallieres:

●     David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email at: [email protected]

About Our Guest:

Jeff entered the financial service industry 15 years ago following his vast experience in the medical industry. Jeff is our team specialist in working with medical practices, closely held corporations and families to provide wealth management solutions. He focuses on developing a coordinated wealth creation and preservation plan to help with investment planning issues often encountered by medical professionals. As a certified physician, Jeff brings a distinct perspective and experience to these client needs.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

There is always going to be uncertainty in the market with all the moving parts, not only within the economy but equities and fixed income.

In this episode, David Vallieres chats with Eric Nahat, an advisor and director of the investment committee at Synergy Capital Solutions to provide you with a 2022 quarter one market update. They also share what could lie ahead in the market for the next quarter.

Eric discusses:

●    A quick recap of what’s been happening in the market this year

●    What he is seeing ahead for equities and why diversification is important

●    Why fixed income has had a tough start to the year

●    And more

Connect With David Vallieres:

●    David Vallieres

●    Synergy Capital Solutions

●    Email at: [email protected]

Connect With Eric Nahat:

●    LinkedIn: Eric Nahat

About Our Guest:

Eric Nahat holds dual roles working on implementation of client investment portfolios and managing client financialplanning 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.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

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:

●     LinkedIn: David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email: [email protected]

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.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

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:

●     LinkedIn: David Vallieres

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

●     Email: [email protected]

Connect with Eric Nahat 

●     LinkedIn: Eric Nahat

●     Synergy Capital Solutions

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.