by joel kranc
a holistic approach
ENSURES CONTENTED CLIENTS
Treece Financial Group’s client relationships go beyond portfolios to encompass other big picture goals
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nder the Trump administration, the first new tax bill in a generation has passed, and the stock market is on a tear. Yet, planning for retirement is never just a market-watching activity. It takes time, effort and there are more issues such as healthcare, estate planning, and caring for loved ones to consider. This is where Treece Financial Group comes in. David Treece, a financial fiduciary and president of the firm, has never worked for a major wirehouse or insurance company. This, he said, is a good thing. “I didn’t have to unlearn things from other people who are basically trained to be sales people,” said Treece, adding that the main philosophy he has employed in the more
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than 12 years since opening his own firm is to be on the side of clients and act as their advocates. The Miami Shores, Florida-based firm specializes in retirement planning, so most of its clients are near or already in retirement. With a focus on retirement security, Treece Financial Group looks at investment strategies holistically and from a perspective of the client’s well-being. This includes educating them to recognize and avoid signs of fraud and ensuring that their legal documents are in order. To understand the goals and tendencies of a new client, the firm’s approach uses a three-step process. “We look at their risk-tolerance, their
timeframe, and their goals, and try to get to know as much about them as possible,” said Treece. On the second appointment, the firm provides feedback on how their risk-versusreturns work out, and how aggressively the client may or may not be investing. The third appointment is where clients are provided with recommendations and given direction on how to move forward. “We have a very non-threatening approach. To educate clients, we go through a whole process. We don’t want them to make fast decisions. We have a squeakyclean regulatory record and I think our slower, more thorough and methodical process helps us make sure we are doing the right thing for the client,” Treece said. “We focus on long term care, because nothing will blow up a retiree’s whole nest egg and cause pain and suffering for a spouse or children like long term care,” Treece said. Some of the services Treece Financial