FINANCIAL PROFILES - JUNE 2023

2023 Financial PROFILES

special feature pRESENTED BY

Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick

2023 Financial PROFILES

special feature pRESENTED BY

Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick

ARVEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Planning for your retirement income can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel unsure about your knowledge of investments. There are a few things to consider that will help you be better prepared for financial security after retirement. Inflation affects everyday items. At a 3% annual inflation rate, something that costs $100 today would cost $181 in 20 years. That means you may need a bigger retirement nest egg than you anticipated. Consider increasing your 401(k) contribution each year by at least enough to overcome the effects of inflation, until you hit your plan’s contribution limits.

Second, you may consider investing a portion of your retirement plan in investments that can help keep inflation from silently eating away at your savings’ purchasing power. Even if you consider yourself a conservative investor, remember that stocks have historically provided higher long-term total returns than cash alternatives or bonds, even though they also involve greater risk of volatility and potential loss.

Consider establishing an emergency fund to help you avoid needing to tap your retirement savings before you had planned to. Generally, if you withdraw money from a traditional retirement plan before you turn 59 ½, you’ll owe federal and state income tax on that money and likely a 10% federal penalty (and possibly a state penalty). Having a separate emergency fund can help you avoid an early distribution and allow your retirement money to stay invested.

If you have outstanding debt, you’ll need to weigh the benefits of saving for retirement versus paying off that debt as soon as possible. If you choose to focus on paying off debt by reducing your contribution amount to a workplace savings account, take into consideration if your employer matches your contributions. If you fall below the company match, you’ll be giving up what is essentially free money if you don’t at least contribute enough to get the employer match.

Arvest Wealth Management Client Advisors can review your unique goals and objectives and establish a plan that best fits your retirement income needs. Call (888) 916-2121 or visit online at arvest.com/retirement today.

NORTHERN STAR FINANCIAL GROUP

When it comes to financial matters, it’s good to have a trusted adviser, but it’s great to have a winning team in your corner. That’s exactly what Northern Star Financial Group clients discover in the dynamic duo of Crystal Bercher and Carol Ransom, CRPC ® . “The combined expertise that Crystal and I bring to the table is something our clients really appreciate,” Carol says. “We each have a unique perspective and skill sets, and we communicate very well in helping our customers reach their financial goals.”

Carol boasts nearly twenty years in the retirement and financial services space, providing clients with financial strategies for retirement, estate planning, and asset management. She holds her Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor certification and other security licenses.

A relatively new face in the financial planning marketplace, Crystal is a rising superstar helping people plan for the future and provide for their families. In the last ten years, she’s already developed a solid clientele addressing retirement, life insurance, health insurance, Medicare insurance, and estate planning, to name a few. “I studied financial planning at Northeastern State University, one of the few colleges in the country that offers a specialized degree in financial services,” Crystal says. “I truly loved my studies, and my professors were all exceptional in their field. I feel blessed to have been educated in this way, as it prepared me to serve each client to the utmost.”

The two professionals hold one important thing in common: an unwavering commitment to customer service, a business principle that underlines every client encounter and transaction. “One thing this business has taught me is people can go a lot of places for financial planning, so you have to stand out on service,” Carol says. “Being available when it suits the client, answering questions, and being ready to help are all essential to our success, and it’s something we never take for granted. When clients do business with us, they can rest assured we’ll be there when they need us.”

The duo’s servant approach helps them reach clients where they are in life, from estate planning to young families just starting out. “Young parents have so much that they’re juggling today that financial planning and insurance can sometimes feel like something they can address later, after the kids grow up or after they’re earning more,” Crystal says. “In fact, one of the most important, loving things parents can do is provide for their children’s future in the event they’re not around.

“We take the time to explain to all clients the importance of not putting off something as important as their family’s future. And then we work hard to match our quality financial products with their needs at a price they can afford.”

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FORT SMITH

During her thirty-one-year career at First National Bank of Fort Smith, Jeannie Wakefield, Vice President CTFA, has helped many families, but in particular the families she has bonded with during her twenty-five years as a Trust Officer.

Jeannie’s diligence is legendary, and she prides herself on implementing the best plan for each family, especially in situations where a loved one is nearing end of life or has recently passed.

It is difficult to have conversations about death, but it can be more difficult to deal with the aftermath of the death when discussions have not occurred. Jeannie’s planning helps families navigate this universal moment. Her kind nature helps her bond with clients and create an individualized plan for them.

It’s not just the families Jeannie serves that sing her praises, but her coworkers do as well. Brian Schneider says, “I have been blessed to know Jeannie for thirty-one years. We have worked as colleagues for twenty-five of those in the Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma regions. Her role as a Trusts and Estates Advisor is a perfect fit. We have a saying in First National Bank Wealth Management, ‘Most often clients want to know how much you care and not as much about what you know.’ Jeannie’s 'families' and all her colleagues get the best of both through her thoughtful counsel.”

Jeannie feels blessed by her work at First National Bank and the opportunity she has been given. Her passion is to serve the customers and give back to our community.

Jeannie explains, “My trust career has allowed me to serve others in a capacity when no one else could speak for them. While I value all my customers, my passion has always been for seniors. The relationships I have formed over the past thirty years are irreplaceable.”

Jeannie Wakefield, Vice President, CTFA, Trust Services Manager, can be reached at 479.788.4353, or via email at jeanniewakefield@fnbfs.com.

UNITED FINANCIAL ADVISORS

While some segments of our world have grown more and more transactional, United Financial Advisors owner Brad Lewis has forged a nineteen-year reputation for expertise and a long list of satisfied clients doing things the personalized way.

“We’ve always understood that we are in the relationship business,” Brad says. “There’s nothing more personal to people than planning for their financial future, be it funding their retirement, preparing for the unexpected, or leaving a legacy to their family after they’re gone.

“I’ve always operated by the principles that while technology is great and can save people a lot of time, at the heart of what we do lies a commitment to knowing the client personally and working hard to meet their needs.”

Brad learned the value of customer service and hard work at the elbow of his father, Jim Lewis, who owned Lewis' Cafeteria in Fort Smith for twenty years. He refined his desire to serve others by enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War and demonstrated his leadership and commitment to a job well done by earning the Navy Achievement Medal.

Initially following in his father’s footsteps into the restaurant business, Brad also learned the ins and outs faced by all small businesses and works closely with small business owners today. He brought that firsthand knowledge with him into financial services, where he holds General Securities Representative (Series 7), Investment Advisor Representative (Series 66), Municipal Securities Principal (Series 53) and General Securities Principal (Series 24) licenses in Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Brad earned his WMCP, Wealth Management Certified Professional, designation in 2022. He also earned his CRPC, Chartered Retirement Planning Course, in 2013 and has an ASPA Certificate for the Tax Exempt & Government Plan Admin Course. In addition, he has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations and financial institutions and is well-versed in Arkansas Teacher Retirement Systems.

All of this adds up to a well-rounded, community-minded professional who is an expert at serving clients’ needs in financial planning, wealth management, estate planning, insurance, and qualified plans. Brad has also been named Best of the River Valley Wealth Management for two years in a row.

“Our motto is ‘Providing Financial Confidence and Dignity Through Every Stage of Life,’” says Brad. “That doesn’t always happen between nine and five. It takes commitment on the part of a financial professional to be truly available to clients, something we take great pride in through our firm. We exist to help clients feel confident in a strategy that will allow them to achieve their goals and live the life they’ve always dreamed of. It’s a real blessing to do that every day.”

M c MILLAN FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

Striving to provide clients with quality, customized solutions to meet their financial planning needs, McMillan Financial Services provides a team approach of expertise and customer service that’s been the hallmark of the firm for four decades. And while much has changed in that time, the company’s commitment to its clients is as genuine and deeply rooted today as when the doors first opened in 1983. “We are a family business that strives to understand our clients' unique circumstances,” says Brett McMillan, vice president. “No two situations are alike, and every situation deserves care and understanding. We want to do what is right for our clients.

“We believe that an ongoing relationship and excellent service are key to the client’s success and ours. Communication and trust are important to us. We are confident that we can provide a valuable service to help clients work towards meeting their financial goals.” Brett says one of the key differences between McMillan Financial

Services and other companies is holistic financial planning, which can encompass investments, life insurance planning, estate planning, retirement planning and longevity planning.

“Over the years, we have found that a team approach can be an effective method to help clients who have a wide variety of needs. I am happy to collaborate with attorneys and CPAs to make sure we are all on the same page to best take care of our clients,” he says. “We take a proactive approach to helping develop a strategy to address clients’ financial goals and objectives. Our affiliation with Securities America, Inc. and Advisor Group provides us a vast network of professionals, tools, and resources to serve our clients’ financial needs. We are blessed to help individuals, families, business owners and professionals here in the River Valley and abroad. We are thankful to our loyal clients who refer the people they love so we can help them as well.”

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. McMillan Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with Securities America.