Fall and football

by | Nov 19, 2013 | Why Merriman

Fall’s arrival is always a sweet end to a perfect summer of sun and warmth – it wakes us up with a blast of cool weather as the leaves change color and fall around us. Most importantly, it brings us football season.

You may now begin your fantasy football addiction, adorn your college or NFL jersey, tailgate, or just notice football games taking over every TV in your life. Football is embedded in our culture. We root for a team to overcome individual idiosyncrasies and be the best and greatest.

Vince Lombardi likes to remind us “Football is like life.” If football is like life, what does your Life Team look like? Is your defense ready to go? Who would be your quarterback? What receivers would make your touchdowns? And what offense is preventing life events from taking you by surprise?

In the game of life, every family needs a good proactive defense behind them:

  • Your goals in life represent the ball – being carried through life against your ever-changing environment and market.
  • An advisor is the quarterback – implementing strategies for success as the on-the-field leader.
  • The research team is the center – the first line of defense to support the advisor in a volatile market, ensuring investment assets are diversified and invested to obtain the best return for the acceptable risk.
  • The technology team and client services are the guards and tackles – creating openings for efficient account activity, evaluating security of trading systems and your data, and blocking negative third-party experiences.
  • The advisor’s professional network represents the receivers – experienced in positioning you for success by looking for opportunities to protect you from potential blocks.

You also need an excellent offense: a proper asset allocation, efficient tax planning, detailed insurance planning and maximized wealth preservation and wealth transfer.

In the team approach, each player comes together to share information and ideas, review strategies for reaching your goals on a holistic level, and ensure an adequate offense to counter life’s hiccups.

Otherwise, the success of one player, you, running the ball all the way to the goal line alone is small. Individuals can at times think too much about changing their strategies, and sometimes don’t take appropriate or timely action when obstacles present themselves. They are not able to move freely through life and enjoy the present.

Consider your current Life Team and what changes you would make.

Over the past 30 years, Merriman Wealth Management evolved into a Life Team to help accomplish your personal and financial goals. We believe by aligning our clients, internal employees and external professionals toward the client’s goals and values, we can make a significant impact in covering the field to implement long-term strategies for success and helping you get what you want in life. Whether you’re ready to take the step to be part of a team, or you’re still thinking about making changes to your life strategies, we will be here when you need us.

And the envelope please……

by | Jun 12, 2012 | Life at Merriman

One of life’s happiest moments for any financial advisor who seeks the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation is the day a letter arrives in your mailbox, congratulating you on passing the very challenging ten-hour comprehensive CFP® exam.

After using all your free time for one to several years to study for this difficult exam, it’s a huge relief to know you’ve accomplished what you set out to do. Soon, you’ll be able to use and display the CFP® credential proudly and forever.

This week, two of our financial advisors at Merriman, Mark Metcalf and Eric Jonson, received their “pass or fail” letters from the CFP® Board of Standards. Opening the envelopes to discover they had passed the exam was a very proud moment for the two of them, their families and for our entire company.

As the good news spread around the office, there were a whole lot of high fives, hugs, laughter, slaps on the back, sighs of relief and very big smiles. When I learned the news, I threw in my own loud “WOO HOO!!”

An advisory firm is only as good as its people. That’s why we are very proud that all ten of our advisors have successfully gone through the very challenging process of acquiring this credential. Throughout our advisory offices, you will see our CFP® diplomas displayed proudly.

Why do we care about this designation and why should you care? Click here to for more information about the CFP® designation.

Not only has the sun been shining all this week in Seattle, it came out just in time to shine a spotlight on two of our talented advisors! Congratulations, Mark and Eric, on a job well done!

The benefits of a review meeting with your advisor

by | Mar 15, 2011 | Why Merriman

Working at Merriman has many great benefits because of the importance this company places on taking care of its employees creating a truly unique work environment. But one benefit that is often forgotten about is the fact that we also get to take advantage of our own services. It is so awesome to work at an office so rich with knowledge. I love sitting down with my own advisor, Phuc Dang, to go over my savings and expenses. Having a third party review my financial situation is extremely helpful – Phuc always finds a little something I missed, and can point out ways to use or save my money more wisely. (more…)

What financial questions can Merriman help with?

by | Nov 30, 2010 | Why Merriman

The other day a friend asked me a good question. If she became a Merriman client, what exactly would we advise her about?

Like many people, she is very smart and has a successful career. But also like many people, she’s not sure she has made the best decisions about her money.

“First and foremost,” I told her “we will manage your money to make sure it’s doing the best job possible of helping you achieve what you want in life. So one thing we’ll talk about is how your investments are doing.” (more…)