Our Zhang Financial Team

Traverse City Office

236 1/2 E. Front Street, #26 Traverse City, MI 49684 231-943-6988

Main Office 5931 Oakland Drive

Portage, MI 49024 269-385-5888 or 888-777-0216 www.zhangfinancial.com

Fee-Only Unbiased Investment Advice

• We uphold a Fiduciary Standard and work with clients on a fee-only basis.

• We do not receive commissions, kick-backs, or soft dollars from product sales, eliminating inherent conflicts of interest.

Credibility & Professionalism

• Our team of professionals holds designations and degrees such as CFP®, CFA, CPA, MBA, and PhD.

• Charles received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University, his MA in Economics from WMU, and Executive Education from Harvard Business School and Columbia University.

Charles Zhang, CFP®, MBA, MSFS, ChFC

• Ranked #1 on Barron’s list of America’s TOP Independent Advisors and is the highest ranked NAPFA-Registered Fee-Only Advisor on the list.*

• Ranked #4 in the nation on Forbes’ list of TOP Wealth Advisors and is the ONLY Independent Advisor in the top 10.**

Minimum investment: $1,000,000 in Michigan/$2,000,000 outside of Michigan. Assets under custody of LPL Financial, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab.

Founder and President

*As reported in Barron’s March 11, 2023 and September 17, 2021. Based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practices, and other factors. For fee-only status see NAPFA.org.

**As reported in Forbes April 4, 2023. The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. See zhangfinancial.com/disclosure for full ranking criteria.

TEAM ELMER’S NOW EMPLOYEE-OWNED

Team Elmer’s in Traverse City is a 100% employee-owned company, after being acquired on June 1. “After careful consideration, our family decided to make a transition for the future,” said President Troy Broad. “A transition that would convey our commitment to our employees and ensure the continuation of the same high level of services to our valued customers.”

Team Elmer’s continues operating under the same leadership in conjunction with the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) employees – from office staff to field crew. Team Elmer’s is also now an independent sister company to Rieth-Riley Construction Co., Inc. Since 1956, Team Elmer’s has been a family-owned business providing asphalt, excavation, concrete, and crane and rigging services in northern Michigan.

Former Motel Property Redeveloped

Mitten Property Management in Traverse City recently celebrated the grand opening of its Peninsula One short-term rental property. Located at 121 Munson Avenue - the former home of Shadowland Motel - the property offers 24 units, with seven set aside for workforce housing. Information about the units is available at mittenpropertymanagement.com.

BORIDE CELEBRATES

NO ‘LOST TIME’

Seven Hills Opens On Omp

Old Mission Distilling, Mission Proper (cafe and mercantile) and Kindred Mission Beauty Salon are among the new businesses at the revamped Seven Hills center on Old Mission Peninsula. The center, which opened in early June, is located on Seven Hills Road just north of Devil’s Dive Road. Plans have been underway since 2020 to redevelop the complex, which was formerly used for manufacturing, industrial, and commercial/office. Long-time tenant Tinker Studio also remains on-site. The redevelopment project is led by Jay Milliken, Troy Daily, and Jordan Valdmanis, all with long-time ties to the Old Mission Peninsula.

BORIDE Engineered Abrasives in Traverse City recently celebrated five years without a lost time accident (preventing an employee from being able to work). Safety Manager Mark Klug said the local manufacturer has “worked hard over its existence as a local manufacturer to provide a safe working environment for all employees.”

NEW: AI TOOL FOR REAL ESTATE

Real Tour Vision (RTV, Inc), a Traverse City software and international photography service, has launched “DeScribe AI” - a generative AI tool designed to instantly create unique and captivating real estate property descriptions. “When we began exploring generative AI earlier this year, it became evident that our industry was the perfect fit for this technological advancement,” said Jason LaVanture, who founded RTV in 1999. “We discovered that most real estate professionals struggle to generate unique and captivating property descriptions in a timely fashion.”

New Wellness Practice Opens

Authentic Health has opened at 415 East Front St. in Traverse City. The clinic, led by Dr. Jill Balla, D.C., promotes healing through functional nutrition via personalized plans, chiropractic care for all ages, and cold laser therapy for pain management, tissue repair and more. Info at authentichealthllc.com.

HOUSING FOR THE NORTH

Housing North in Traverse City has been named by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to lead the

Regional Housing Partnership (RHP) for Region D (Northwest Michigan). Housing North, selected by peers within the region, will partner with local governments, developers, nonprofits, businesses, local health departments, grassroots organizations, philanthropic organizations, and other partners to address specific housing needs and implement strategies from the Statewide Housing Plan. MSHDA will send $175,000 in grant funding to Housing North to coordinate a regional action plan, identify its goals and name its objectives. The regional action plan will be shared with MSHDA this fall.

BATA ANNOUNCES NEW TECH, SERVICES

The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) recently announced new and expanded services, including real-time bus tracking, a new City Loop route (making connections between Meijer on U-31 to Garfield Avenue), expanded on-demand rides, a new smartphone app and increased hours and frequency on existing routes. Via batabustracker.com, riders can track all fixed-route buses by route or by arrival time at stops. The Transit app and Google Maps will also be updated with real-time tracking information. The BATA Link app allows riders to schedule on-demand rides and see alternate options for quicker or cheaper rides, and pay using the app. Link service is also being expanded.

Uwnwmi Merger Announced

United Way of Northwest Michigan in Traverse City recently announced a merger with United Way of Wexford-Missaukee Counties. The merger recognizes the potential for increased efficiency, effectiveness and impact in serving the communities of northwest Michigan. Funds raised in Wexford and Missaukee counties will continue to stay within those communities and a local office with local leadership will be maintained in the region.

Tclp Earns Safety Excellence

Traverse City Light & Power has earned the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2022. The utility earned the first place award in the category for utilities with 60,000 to 109,999 worker hours of annual worker exposure.

Econ Club To Host Carhartt President

The Economic Club of Traverse City will host Carhartt, Inc. President and COO Linda Hubbard at its monthly lunch meeting on Fri., July 21, at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club Hubbard is the first non-family member to head up the manufacturer of premium workwear, outdoor apparel and footwear founded in Detroit in 1889. She joined the company in 2002 and has served as CFO and COO and also serves on the board of directors. Under Hubbard’s leadership, Carhartt launched a women’s apparel line, and expanded into direct-to-consumer channels. Last December, Carhartt announced it would invest $4.65 million to expand its headquarters in Dearborn and create 125 new jobs. Economic Club programs are open to members and guests. Guests can register in advance for the 11:30 a.m. luncheon at tceconclub.com.

Hba Announces Parade Of Homes Winners

The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area recently announced its 2023 Parade of Homes winners. New builders Royal Stag Construction and Waldecker Homes received plaques for Best Exterior and Best Kitchen while veteran builder Scott Norris Construction cleaned up all other categories including the coveted Judges’ Choice. The Parade of Homes featured six local homes and one virtual home located in Gaylord. Categories included Judges’ Choice, Best Exterior, Best Interior, Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, and Craftmanship.

Nmc Outstanding Alumni Named

Northwestern Michigan College recently announced the 2023 recipients of the college’s Outstanding Alumni award: Jerry Dobek (Mathematics & General Arts & Sciences 1998, faculty/staff 1989-present) and Tiffany Smith McQueer (General Studies 2012, Practical Nursing 2013). Dobek has played a key role in the operations of NMC’s Rogers Observatory and his teaching at NMC extends into numerous school-based, community and national programs. He has also written more than 50 dark sky ordinances for Michigan cities, is a founding member of the International Dark Sky Association and regularly consults on exterior lighting projects. McQueer and her husband Jason McQueer have owned J&S Hamburg South in Traverse City since 2014. With the onset of COVID-19, Tiffany saw a need to support families beyond the pick-up meals provided to students through schools during the week. That effort has since turned into Project Feed the Kids - a nonprofit organization with three locations providing food – as well as drives for holiday gifts, winter wear and back-to-school support.

COMMENTARY BY CHRIS MACINNES