I’m Chris Waclawik
Wealth Advisor, AFC®, CFP®
Helping you find clarity in reaching your goals.
Planning with your goals in mind
We work hard to understand who you are and what you want to accomplish, both personally and professionally, so we can best support you and your family in achieving your goals.
We're more than just investments
Together, we’ll implement a customized plan for all areas of your financial life: Investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance, charitable giving, and more.
Finding balance between planning for tomorrow and living fully today.
After college, my wife joined the army and we moved to South Korea. While there, I worked for the army as a financial counselor. I helped everyone from 18-year-old service members getting their first real paychecks, to those approaching retirement. In this role, I saw the stress caused by spending too much money early in life, as well as the stress of sacrificing too much earlier on and missing out on the opportunity to really live fully. I became a financial advisor to help people find clarity in reaching goals and to work with them to find balance between planning for tomorrow and living fully today.
What do you want to do in retirement?
Are you saving enough to meet your goals, or are you saving more than you need to save?
Will a little guidance help you live more fully?
What do you want for your family members?
What about healthcare or Social Security in retirement?
Financial planning
We’ll work together to identify your goals, create a plan to achieve them, and update the plan as life changes occur.
Investment analysis
With the support of our dedicated research department, I’ll continuously evaluate and implement the best tools to meet your needs.
Education
I’ll help you make decisions about pensions, health insurance, or Social Security, and help you make adjustments when things like tax laws change.
Stress reduction
We’ll work together to make emotion-free decisions, avoid pitfalls, and alleviate your worries so you can spend more time on other areas of your life.
About Me
I’m a Certified Financial Planner™, originally from the Kansas City area. I have a bachelor’s degree in education from Missouri State University and was a middle school and high school teacher for several years. I soon found I was even more passionate about learning anything financial and then teaching it to others. I spent several years working in and managing a tax office, as well as doing financial counseling for the Army. While working for the Army, I studied for and received the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) designation. I’ve been a part of the Merriman team since 2014, and I love coming to work every day to help people find financial balance in their lives and the ability to live fully.
I’m proud to live in the Pacific Northwest. I play music with a local wind ensemble, and I’m generally at the gym at the crack of dawn before the sun is even up, when most normal people are sleeping! In my free time, I read constantly, and enjoy hiking, biking, or doing anything else outdoors with my wife, Katrina, and our two daughters.
What is wealth management?
Wealth management is a comprehensive approach to financial planning. It covers all areas of your financial life, making wise use of your assets to help you in achieving your goals and living life to the fullest. Do you want to spend more time doing the things you love and worry less about your finances?
Then wealth management is for you!
Wealth Enhancement - make your assets work for you
- Minimizing taxes – now vs future?
- Managing appropriate cash reserves
- Should you pay off your mortgage early?
- How can you get the most out of Social Security?
- Evaluate your options for college savings
Wealth Preservation - strategies to help reduce risk
- Diversification
- Asset allocation and rebalancing
- Trend following
- Stock option planning
- What to do with concentrated stock positions?
Wealth Protection - proper coverage is key
- Disability or Long-Term-Care insurance planning
- Is umbrella insurance right for you?
- What type of life insurance makes the most sense?
- What level of homeowner’s coverage is appropriate?
- Is your rental property adequately protected?
Wealth Transfer - leaving a lasting legacy for your heirs
- How can you leave the most behind to your heirs without sacrificing too much now?
- Are your assets correctly titled so they’ll pass on in the way you intend?
- Are your healthcare directives and letters of instruction in place?
- Does a trust make sense for you? Which kind?
Charitable Giving - make the most of your contributions
- What charities are important to you?
- How can you make the most of your gifts to charity?
- Is a charitable trust right for you?
Plan with intention,
not by default.
Online Blog Resources
You’ve Decided to Donate – Now What?
There are more than one and a half million nonprofits in the U.S. and ten million worldwide. No wonder the process of deciding where you want to donate can be overwhelming! Whether you are donating for the first time, consolidating donations, or considering making a large gift: Begin by reflecting on your motivation for giving. Continue reading to learn how you can maximize the impact of your donation.
Quarter in Review: Q1 2023 Market Update
Q1 2023 Market Update from Merriman CIO, Kristi de Grys
April is Financial Literacy Month
Since April is Financial Literacy Month, Wealth Advisor Alan Hensley shares some personal and professional stories highlighting how Merriman empowers our clients to live fully by providing peace of mind in their financial lives.
Scott helps our advisory team with the financial planning process by connecting new clients with the Wealth Advisor best equipped to provide advice for their individual situation. He enjoys helping people find solutions to their difficult problems and guiding them on the path toward achieving their goals.
