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The Most Critical Component for Building Wealth

You may be surprised to hear this coming from a financial advisor, but – building wealth isn’t really about money.  

It’s actually about people. In fact, it’s really very personal. The end objective isn’t the money itself, but the ability to achieve the big goals in life that matter to you as a person. In the same way, there’s no such thing as a standard, one-size-fits-all financial plan or strategy (at least, not a good one). The plan and strategy for each person will be as unique as they are. 


Having said all of that, perhaps it won’t be surprising then to learn that the one component to creating and maintaining a successful financial plan that’s more critical by far than any other is – you.  

LET US EXPLAIN.
You probably already understand how a comprehensive financial plan that’s tailored to your unique goals and situation can make all the difference in successfully reaching your future ambitions. But a truly strategic, long-term financial plan that works for you can't be developed without you and your active participation and partnership with an advisor you trust.  

With something so personal, that aspect of trust with your chosen advisor aspect is probably the second most crucial component to lasting and successful plan for building wealth and reaching goals.

Creating a plan for living well in the way you envision for yourself requires sharing some very personal information – financial as well as emotional. And that can understandably be uncomfortable.  

PUTTING THAT DISCOMFORT ASIDE CAN LITERALLY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR FINANCES AND, THEREFORE, YOUR LIFE.  


The process begins when you share your current financial situation alongside your hopes, fears, and dreams for the future in an open discussion with your advisor. This dialogue lays the groundwork that will allow him or her to align your finances of today with what matters most to you now and in the future. Your advisor will also need key financial documents and details on your overall financial picture in order to create an accurate picture of today and pathway toward tomorrow, including:

  • Retirement accounts and pensions  
  • Investment and bank accounts
  • Insurance policies
  • Tax returns 
  • Estate planning documents like wills and trusts
  • Income and expenses
  • Debts and liabilities
  • Real estate and other major assets

While it may feel tedious to gather all of this information, the more complete the picture, the better your advisor can assess your current financial health and build a plan to optimize your money now and in the future. And once you’ve gathered it the first time, your advisor will be there to help you keep everything up to date and on track moving forward.

With your goals and full financial data in hand, your advisor will analyze your situation and create a recommended strategy to help you:

  • Prioritize financial goals based on your values
  • Reduce taxes
  • Manage risk
  • Protect your assets and loved ones 
  • Project your retirement readiness and address any potential gap in what you’re on track to save versus what you need for the lifestyle you want
  • Make and manage investments in order to grow your wealth from where it is today to where it needs to be in order to achieve the goals you have for yourself and your loved ones tomorrow

The result is a strategic roadmap - your financial plan - mapping out recommended steps tailored to your unique objectives and financial strengths and weaknesses. But the process doesn't end there. Your involvement remains key for the plan to stay current and adapt as your life inevitably changes. Regular check-ins will allow your advisor to keep your plan on track toward your evolving goals. That’s why a financial advisor who is a true partner in your financial well-being over the long haul is so important. And that’s why, here at WHZ, we take a long-term, strategic and holistic approach to partnering with each of our clients for their financial success.  

For example, we don’t just focus on short-term wins, long-term planning, or investments – we tackle all three as the symbiotic pieces of financial health and wealth that they are. And most importantly, we then put that machine to work in a way that’s specifically suited to your current situation and your future goals. 

But we can’t do it without you. Again, the path to financial well-being starts with you. Your openness and commitment to the planning process allow your advisor to build a plan as unique as you are. With your partnership, together you can craft an intentional strategy, optimized just for you, to help you Plan Well, Invest Well, and Live Well™. 

Our team at Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors is here to assist you in creating a personalized financial path tailored just for you, using our strategic Plan Well, Invest Well, Live Well™ process.

This award was issued on 11/1/23 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 2/13/23 through 8/31/23. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 3,564 Connecticut-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 313 (9% of candidates) were named 2023 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2022: 2950, 290, 10%, 11/1/22, 2/29/22 - 9/2/22; 2021: 3191, 272, 9%, 11/1/21, 2/15/21 - 9/10/21; 2020: 3048, 285, 9%, 11/2/20, 2/17/20 - 9/18/20; 2019: 3147, 289, 9%, 11/1/19, 2/18/19 - 9/27/19; 2018: 3178, 293, 9%, 11/1/18, 2/15/18 - 9/21/18; 2017: 2218, 283, 13%, 11/1/17, 2/15/17 - 9/11/17; 2016: 1985, 417, 21%, 10/1/16, 3/25/16 - 9/28/16; 2015: 2398, 468, 20%, 11/1/15, 3/16/15 - 9/10/15; 2014: 3926, 515, 13%, 11/1/14, 3/16/13 - 9/10/13; 2013: 2263, 531, 23%, 11/1/13, 3/16/12 - 9/10/12; 2012: 2204, 503, 23%, 11/1/12, 3/16/11 - 9/10/11.
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We offer custom managed investment programs best suited for portfolios over $500,000. Securities and advisory services offered through
Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. | © Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors 2023

*Winners appearing on this page do not pay a fee to be considered or to win the Five Star Award. Professionals with a digital profile have paid a promotional fee.
Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria-required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria-considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance . Wealth Managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.