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WEALTH GUIDE UNLOCKING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
FEATURED ADVISORS Bergen Financial Group Fullerton Financial Planning The Gustafson Group at UBS Lifetyme Financial, LLC
CONTENTS 4 Bergen Financial Group 5 Fullerton Financial Planning 6 The Gustafson Group at UBS 7 Lifetyme Financial, LLC
Arizona Wealth Guide
Bergen Financial Group
Buy & Hold is a Hope & Prayer Strategy Some may call it an Outdated Investment Strategy
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orking with a financial professional has looked just about the same for the last 25 years. Challenging the status quo is not for the faint of heart. But Darcy Bergen, CRFA, managing partner of Bergen Financial Group in Peoria, Arizona, wanted to offer his clients a retirement plan they desired. “Aging traditions and philosophies are strongly entrenched in our industry,” explains Bergen who leads a team of six advisors. “For example, a Buy & Hold strategy in 2000 took 13 years to get back to even. If this repeats itself with the market going down 50%, it will once again take an upswing of 100% just to get back to even. In addition, the Modern Portfolio Theory, which was first introduced in 1952, depends on stocks and bonds moving in concert – when stocks go up, bonds go down and vice versa. I felt it worked quite well for most investors before 2007. Since that time, there’s been little relationship between the movement of stocks and bonds. I feel the modern portfolio theory simply isn’t modern any longer. Yet some still may follow it.” Helping Put Minds at Ease Bergen and his team take a different approach designed to provide guaranteed income for life through fixed annuity options. They have access to a platform of private wealth managers who integrate investments designed to be low risk, low volatility portfolios. Bergen Financial Group offers conservative retirement planning strategies and products that include fixed annuity options that guarantee the safety of the investors’ principal. As independent advisors, they can select products that best fit clients’ goals. “As fiduciaries, we are required to work on our clients’ behalf, not stockholders,” says Bergen who has 25 years of experience in the field, 15 in the Phoenix area. “So, we don’t pay lip service to the discovery process. People typically ask questions about goals, timelines and risk tolerance, then we generate a plan for allocating assets.
1st Row from left – Kathie Hess, Heather Bergen. 2nd Row – Carol Rook, Debra O’Connell. 3rd Row – Anne Leale, Ken Heydon, Bryan Little, Darcy Bergen, Don Dirren, Pat Hoon.
We take clients through a methodical process before recommending a plan that covers their entire financial picture, including tax efficiencies; lifetime income streams through fixed annuity options, risk management through life insurance, estate planning and more. All these aspects must work in harmony.” Bergen advisors advocate for tactical asset management. They also use fixed annuities that offer principal protection. Based on what’s best for the client, our goal is that these strategies will minimize the effect of the Wall Street roller coaster. In simple terms, tactical managers can shift assets out of equities and into other vehicles such as cash whenever a downturn in stocks is anticipated. The real estate limited partnership mortgage crisis in the late 1990s helped shape Bergen’s commitment to his clients. “I saw the importance of brokers with integrity, so I work as a fiduciary as an investment advisor representative with Horter Investment Management,” he says. “I also witnessed the hardship that investors in their 50s and 60s faced after losing their assets so close to retirement. I couldn’t sleep at night if I didn’t feel I did the best I could to help with my clients’ retirement plans. 20542 N. Lake Pleasant Rd. Suite 111 Peoria, AZ 85382 602.652.2665 | 888.858.4353 info@bergenfinancialgroup.com | bergenfinancialgroup.com
Investment advisory services offered through Horter Investment Management, LLC, a SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Horter Investment Management does not provide legal or tax advice. Investment Advisor Representatives of Horter Investment Management may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered or exempt from registration requirements. Insurance and annuity products sold separately through Midland National Life Insurance Company and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Securities transactions for Horter Investment Management clients are placed through Trust Company of America, TD Ameritrade and Jefferson National Life Insurance Company. Insurance and annuity products are not sold through Horter Investment Management, LLC (“Horter”). Horter does not endorse any annuity or insurance products nor does it guarantee their performance. Owners of these products are subject to the terms and conditions of the policies and contracts of the issuing companies. All product guarantees depend on the insurance company’s financial strength and claims-paying ability.
Arizona Wealth Guide
Fullerton Financial Planning Where Your Retirement Dreams Begin
“INTEGRITY IS ABOUT DOING WHAT’S RIGHT, EVEN WHEN NO ONE’S LOOKING.”
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t Fullerton Financial Planning, it’s not just about building wealth—it’s about building relationships. “We’re passionate about doing what’s right because our clients depend upon their investments for retirement,” says company founder Stephanie Fullerton. Indeed, the passion to provide honest, dependable service is the very foundation upon which Stephanie built Fullerton Financial Planning. “When I witnessed my own aunt fall prey to high-pressure sales tactics because she felt intimated by her advisor, that was my ‘a-ha’ moment,” Stephanie says. “We never pressure our clients to make decisions. “We take the time to get to know each individual or family we serve and we provide them with the best possible options to meet their retirement or wealth management goals. “And, above all, we don’t just hope for the best,” Stephanie says. “We plan for everything that life may bring.”
Focused on Family
Stephanie founded Fullerton Financial Planning in 2004 with the help of only one employee: her mom. Together, they provided client service with a family-focused approach. Now, that legacy continues.
“Our business grew very quickly because we genuinely care about our clients,” Stephanie says. “We have over 20 employees now, but we still maintain our ‘mom and pop’ family approach. My husband and I run the company together and my mom still answers the phone!” It’s an approach that works; over the years, Stephanie has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including being named one of the nation’s top five independent financial advisors by Senior Market Advisor magazine in 2011. Stephanie has also been named one of Arizona’s top 100 businesswomen every year since 2007. She recently published a book titled “Living a Happy, Healthy and Inspired Retirement” and she hosts a radio show, “The Fullerton Financial Hour,” Sundays on KTAR from noon to 1 PM and on KFYI from 1 to 2 PM. In January, Stephanie began hosting a half-hour Sunday morning television program on Channel 5 and she frequently appears on Channel 12’s “Arizona Midday” show.
Fullerton Financial is committed to helping you make informed decisions about your financial future. Call 1-800-696-8083 to register for an upcoming informational seminar on wealth management and retirement income strategies or schedule a one-on-one, no-obligation meeting to learn more.
14155 N. 83rd Ave., Suite 144 | Peoria, AZ 85381 | 623.974.0300 | fullertonfp.com | info@fullertonfp.com
Arizona Wealth Guide
The Gustafson Group at UBS Advice. Beyond Investing. “WE TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH THIS PROMISE: TO PROVIDE YOU THE INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE THAT CREATES FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND.”
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fter decades in the financial service industry, there’s one thing that still gets Christine Gustafson excited every morning: the opportunity to help clients and their charitable passions. “The Gustafson Group at UBS does more than just manage money,” Christine says. “We take a holistic approach to wealth management and it all begins with this promise: to provide you with the insight and perspective that creates financial peace of mind.” “Whether it’s to protect your estate for the next generation, or contribute to the philanthropic causes that mean so much, we provide the guidance you need to gain clarity, weigh your next steps and choose a strategy you can depend upon and begin acting upon today.” Taking such a strong, holistic focus that includes charitable giving is something that comes naturally for Christine. She has a long personal legacy of giving back to a number of important charities including the American Heart Association. In 2016, Christine became the chair of the AHA Investment Committee which oversees their $670 million fund. For 11 years, Christine served on the University of Virginia’s $7.5 billion UVIMCO endowment board which is recognized as one of the top performing endowments in the country. “We focus on a smaller client base so we can give each client the level of attention they deserve,” Christine says. “We create relationships; in fact, many of our client relationships have spanned 20 years or more and now span several generations. “Focusing on relationships is important because we want our clients, especially women, to feel comfortable discussing money,” she adds. “Our mission is to create financial peace of mind for our clients and that often ties into the need for educating spouses.
In April, Christine led the Arizona Women’s Symposium to deliver financial education tailored to a female audience. “Many women that we work with have had little education or experience handling these kinds of issues. What mortgage is best for me? Should I purchase or lease my car? Which credit card is best for my spending and traveling needs? Do I need long-term healthcare insurance? How should I plan for divorce or the death of my spouse? “Our team handles every aspect of our client’s financial life, so these are the types of questions we welcome and encourage. We have team members prepared to answer on a personal, clientcentered level.” Indeed, when clients work with Christine and The Gustafson Group, they enjoy a very customized financial planning experience. “We encourage questions and dialogue,” Christine says. “We have a conversation. We talk about real issues without using a lot of technical jargon. We build relationships, create solutions and give advice that goes beyond investing.”
The Gustafson Group 2555 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 600 Phoenix, AZ 85016 | 602.957.5100 financialservicesinc.ubs.com/team/thegustafsongroup As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS offers both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between UBS’s brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your financial advisor or visit ubs.com/workingwithus. UBS Financial Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC.
Arizona Wealth Guide
LifeTyme Financial, LLC
Creative Problem Solving & Independent Thinking Blaze New Financial Paths “WE BELIEVE IN THINKING ‘OUT OF THE BOX’ AND WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO CHALLENGE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN OUR APPROACH TO INVESTING AND PRESERVING WEALTH.”
The advisors of LifeTyme Financial are leaders in their field. Members of the Million Dollar Round Table, they are called on to teach financial planning to CPAs. Angela Ashley is flanked by Mr. Pettit (left) and Mr. DelFranco (right). Both men are proud military veterans.
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ometimes, the truth is hidden in plain sight. Investors with “tunnel vision” miss opportunities to retain hard-earned assets and build wealth. Helping clients take off their blinders is the mission of the LifeTyme Financial team in Phoenix, Arizona. Investment Advisor Representatives Vincent DelFranco, Charles Pettit, ChFC® and Angela Ashley bring fresh perspectives to retirement and tax strategies for individuals, families and small business owners. “We believe in thinking ‘out of the box’ and we are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom in our approach to investing and preserving wealth,” explains co-founder Vincent DelFranco. “As an independent financial firm, we’re not limited in what we can offer and not pressured by sales quotas.”
Lighting the Way for Life’s Financial Milestones
“We work best with those who are going to be fully engaged,” says co-founder Charles Pettit. “Our clients don’t go into autopilot and simply wait for quarterly statements. They are involved early on, taking part in a methodical discovery process with us. They are committed to taking the time necessary…perhaps as much as 16-20 hours … to complete a comprehensive financial needs analysis.” The LifeTyme team takes this process seriously. “It’s more important to get to know the clients’ needs and long-term goals than selling a product. Only then can we help them design a lifelong strategy that encompasses much more than stocks and bonds. Our holistic approach includes often overlooked alternative investments, wealth management, withdrawal tactics, tax minimization, risk management and other factors that must work together cohesively,” adds Angela Ashley, who holds her Life/Health/Disability License, Series 65 and is a licensed Medicare Specialist.
“As the saying goes, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know.’ We shine a light on our clients’ financial picture from every angle,” says Vincent DelFranco. “Then we carefully translate the industry jargon into easily understandable language so investors can make educated decisions moving forward.”
Broaden Your Vision and Your Options
A hallmark of the LifeTyme approach is an emphasis on efficiency without major disruptions to lifestyle. “We constantly educate and encourage investors on a wide range of topics including mortgages, business succession, divorce settlements and much more,” says Charles Pettit. “By following our advice, many of our clients have been able to mitigate unknowing and unnecessary losses, improving their future outlook.” Recently, after a 70-year old business owner passed away, LifeTyme was able to step in to assist his children transfer the business. His existing plan was ineffective. LifeTyme developed a solid solution that allowed the business owner to leave twice as much money to his children and set aside money to pay college tuition for six grandchildren on a tax favorable basis. “Financial planning isn’t just about portfolios. It’s a LifeTyme Financial Strategy built on trust,” says Angela Ashley. “We’re blazing financial paths for wealth that will last a LifeTyme.”
Phoenix, AZ | 602.774.4735
Fee-based financial planning and investment advisory services are offered by LifeTyme Financial Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the State of Arizona, California, Maryland, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Colorado, Virginia & Pennsylvania. Insurance products and services are offered through LifeTyme Financial Group, LLC. LifeTyme Financial Advisors, LLC and LifeTyme Financial Group, LLC are affiliated companies.