2021 was the hangover from the year that we still can’t believe actually happened. Life started to feel more normal (whatever that means anymore!) but we still wonder if this is the new normal that we should accept as reality.
Each year your team at Balanced Financial Concepts continues to evolve, striving to be better than we’ve ever been at moving our clients toward the lives they’ve envisioned.
A very warm welcome to new clients this year and a personal thank you to those who introduced us to new relationships. We can’t thank you enough for thinking highly enough of us to introduce us to people who you think highly of.
Market Update
In 2021, the financial markets were relatively quiet, though the world was more polarized than ever between COVID-19 vaccines, supply chain shortages, increased violence, and the political climate. At the same time, we saw more shopping, more dining out, more travel and…more sports! For 2022, we hope for more clarity in the direction of the world and hope we can continue to move forward with compassion.
Texting!
New in our technology toolbox is texting! To start texting with us, you will need to "opt-in" after receiving an initial text from our office. We will use texting mostly to confirm meetings and for quick exchanges. We will continue to send our e-newsletter and other important updates through email and social media. If you would like to text with us, please save Balanced Financial Concepts (440-349-5110) as a contact in your phone, then text us or call us, and we will send you a consent text to get started. As with voicemail and email, trade instructions cannot be accepted via text.
AdviceWorks and Roadmap
AdviceWorks is your central access point for your finances, including account statements and other correspondence, e-delivery preferences, and seeing all your accounts (including outside accounts) in one easy-to-access place. With e-signature now available for many forms, we will be using AdviceWorks whenever possible and limit mailing sensitive information except where necessary.
“Am I doing ok?”
“Should we be doing anything differently?”
AdviceWorks now brings you the full capability of our firm and our Roadmap planning tool within AdviceWorks can give you a defined path forward.
You can learn about AdviceWorks at www.adviceworks.net. We’re happy to give you a demo during your next review or send you an invitation so that you can explore on your own.
Office Updates
2021 was another big year for the BFC Family!
Carrie and Dan celebrated baby Charlotte coming into the world on November 19th. We couldn’t be more excited for the newest addition to the BFC family. Carrie will be on maternity leave and unavailable for the remainder of this year as well as for the first part of 2022, but the rest of your BFC team are ready to serve you. Join us in wishing them during these first few exciting months!
Kym and David - finally empty nesters - found their forever home in the Northeast Ohio snow belt, earning her the undisputed title of “lives farthest from the office”.
Fanitta stays busy as mom-of-the-year for Mckenzey, who between volleyball and, well, being 14, keeps Fanitta on her toes!
Gautam and Rhonda welcomed Daphne into the world in March and now they have a crawling, babbling 9-month old. Monroe is a loving big brother and already looking forward to turning 5. (Not until next September, little buddy!)
Mara Scherer has joined the team as our Office Coordinator/Receptionist and we are T-H-R-I-L-L-E-D. She will be another friendly voice when you call the office and the friendly face you’ll see when you come in. She will be in the office daily for scheduling and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
Virtual Webinars and Learning Opportunities
The addition of Mara to the team will enable Kym to move into the role she was destined to be: Client Experience. She will be responsible for event planning (Yes, we’ll be back to in-person events for 2022!), branding and marketing, compliance, and an elevated role in client service.
We will continue to offer a variety of learning opportunities and educational programs, so look for invitations in your email as well as on our website under “Events.” If you haven’t done so already, find Balanced Financial Concepts on social media for regular updates. (Links to our social media pages are easy to access at the top of our home page.)
Annual Reviews and In-Person Meetings
Thank you for your patience and cooperation over the past 18 months as we favored virtual meetings to keep everyone safe. Having offered virtual meetings for the past 3 years, the transition to Zoom was seamless. In-person meetings in the office are welcome, but you will continue to have virtual and phone option for your convenience (or for last-minute weather or scheduling changes).
Holiday Office Hours
Our office will be closed on the following days in observance of the year-end holidays:
Christmas – Friday, December 24th and Monday, December 27th
New Year’s – Friday, December 31st and Monday, January 3rd
During these days, we will be checking voicemail and email regularly. If you need to come into the office or meet with Gautam (particularly our out-of-town clients), please contact us immediately for scheduling.
We, at Balanced Financial Concepts, know that you have a choice in who you work with. THANK YOU unconditionally for your business, your friendship, and your ongoing trust for the past 30+ years.
From our families to yours, WE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2022 and we are thankful to be a part of it.