Why Women Miss Out on Creating Passive Income
‘Millionaire Maker’ Loral Langemeier Says Women Investors Must Be More Aggressive

Loral Langemeier has two words for successful businesswomen looking for financial freedom: Man up! Langemeier, known as the “Millionaire Maker” and founder of the coaching and seminar company Live Out Loud, says even high-achieving women entrepreneurs miss opportunities to create passive income streams for themselves because their investing style is different than that of their male counterparts.

“Women are starting more small businesses than men, but even savvy women who have built successful enterprises tend to reinvest excess cash back into their own business or use it to make purchases for their homes and families,” says Langemeier. “Men, on the other hand, are more likely to be aggressive investors. And right now, in this business cycle, those who take advantage of opportunities stand to make significant gains.”

Unlocking the secrets to making cash and making cash work is second nature to Langemeier. Growing up on a family farm, she started her first business while in high school, despite having no financial skills. But she quickly learned. Retraining herself to believe that “money comes easily and frequently,” she amassed a multimillion-dollar portfolio of properties, businesses, energy investments and notes by the time she was 34.

Ten years ago she founded Live Out Loud so she could share her insights with others and, perhaps more importantly, help them remove the roadblocks they have placed between themselves and financial opportunities. Langemeier and the staff of Live Out Loud have served tens of thousands of individuals worldwide and created thousands of millionaires. Through one-on-one coaching, workshops, courses, and a wide range of books and DVDs, Langemeier’s advice is both intense and practical. She lavishes individuals with a combination of innovative business solutions that spur cash creation and profoundly personal advice that unlocks energy and sparks enthusiasm.

What is Langemeier’s advice for women investors now? “This is the greatest economy we’ve ever had for building wealth. The high rate of business foreclosures, devalued real estate and low interest rates make assets cheap to acquire. If your current business is making money, put the cash to work by buying and flipping distressed properties and companies,” she says. “But this climate won’t last long. Escalating interest rates and inflation are inevitable. If you have liquid assets now, why aren’t you playing?”

Live Out Loud
888.262.2402 | www.liveoutloud.com | info@liveoutloud.com

Delivering More With Less in Federal IT

Even as our elected leaders go through much hand-wringing on how to reduce the federal budget deficit, a handful of small companies such as Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC, an information technology company with offices in Virginia and California, is laser-focused on helping to facilitate this by helping to cut government spending on IT.

“There is potential to wring out significant levels of inefficiency in the delivery of IT services in the federal sector,” says Jai Saboo, COO for Harmonia. “For years, the IT budgets in almost every federal agency have spiraled upwards but today, as technologies have evolved and matured, the ability to do more with less has never been better.”

Harmonia has a simple game plan. It uses grant money from the federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program to seed the development of technology tools and solutions using low-cost, high-tech resources in university towns such as Blacksburg and Charlottesville. These tools in turn help the company deliver IT services to federal agencies faster and more cost-effectively. The company achieves a high “commercialization index,” a peer ranking of its success in translating SBIR funds into additional revenue.

Harmonia works directly with federal agencies and as a trusted subcontractor to large prime contractors. “Large primes work with Harmonia because the company provides differentiated tools and solutions that cut costs on federal contracts. And partnering with primes is a win for Harmonia too. We learn from them, which in turn helps us develop more targeted and innovative tools and solutions,” says Pallabi Saboo, co-founder and CEO of Harmonia, an electrical engineer with an MS in Marketing from Virginia Tech.

Examples of solutions by Harmonia include:

• NextGen Cash, a cost-effective next-generation cashless payment system aboard U.S. Navy ships.
• The LiquidAppsTM toolkit/methodology, which streamlines software development lifecycle aspects, especially across multiple devices such as tablets, smartphones, etc.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning-based aids, to enable faster decision making for military planning and command/control.
• Conforma™, which introduces automation into independent verification and validation.
• RapidStat™ to empower Microsoft Excel users to design advanced and Big Data analytics.

Harmonia was co-founded by Dr. Marc Abrams, the company CTO, whose past experiences include a stint as a Stanford University post-doc. He says, “Harmonia is focused on how emerging and cutting-edge technologies can be used to build tools and solutions to improve IT productivity.” The technology strength of the company was propelled to a debt-free and profitable business model when Ms. Saboo joined in 2005 and took the company through a capital restructuring. The result has been an uninterrupted appearance over the last four years on Inc. magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S.

Today, the company works across a broad base of federal departments and agencies including Defense, Transportation, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Homeland Security. It is widely respected for its responsiveness to clients’ needs and the high quality of its work.

Harmonia Holdings Group, LLC
540.951.5915 | www.harmonia.com

Success in Suits and Soil

What is Combined Effort?
Cher:  Combined Effort is a California-based, self-performing, licensed and bonded, state and federal contractor specializing in heavy civil construction, site restoration and environmental remediation. Every employee is dedicated to performance quality: Our employees in suits have as much know ledge about clients’ needs as those in hard hats. We’re built on true teaming practices, never passing off responsibilities but webbing them together to accomplish more.

Combined Effort
1.800.517.4660 | combined-effort.com/fedready

Individualized Attention, Planning in Four Key Areas Distinguish Financial Planner John McKee

John H. McKee always enjoyed finance; in junior high school, along with the more usual enthusiasm for baseball and football, he began tracking stocks and creating model investment portfolios.

Later, after earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, he earned his CPA license, broadening his understanding of corporate balance sheets and the overall economy. Through his professional experience – operating his company, Personal Portfolios, since 1988 – McKee has guided clients through many markets.
An avid outdoorsman (he recently completed a 25-mile day hike across the Grand Canyon), McKee brings the same enthusiasm and determination to his practice. His goal is to guide clients in making sound decisions in all the financial areas of their lives.

In an initial meeting, he tells clients about himself, letting them get to know him as a person – and as an accomplished advisor. He then learns about their needs and wants, their personalities, their families, and their feelings about risk and investing. “I tailor my services to each person based on their needs and objectives,” McKee says. “You have to know your client before you can make recommendations.”

He leads the conversation through an accounting of the client’s assets, mortgage, savings and investments, and then moves to their goals for retirement, college funding for their kids or grandkids, a new house and any other objectives they have. With a complete picture – and with his certified public accountant background framing his advice – he can suggest appropriate revisions and offer guidance for new directions, creating a well-balanced life plan. This could extend in many directions, including asset allocation changes, alternative investments, college planning and business planning.

McKee focuses on what he identifies as the four key financial facets of a client’s financial makeup: tax, estate, retirement and financial planning. “I look at the whole financial picture,” he says. “I don’t think a client can be advised correctly without addressing all four of these financial aspects. They’re all intertwined.”

McKee’s clients range from economists and professors to CEOs of publicly traded companies.

He formerly worked as a CPA but moved to financial planning to help people make good proactive decisions rather than being limited to investments they already owned. “With our team of professionals, we strive to improve our clients’ quality of life by meeting their needs in wealth preservation and asset protection,” he says. “It’s not all about investment returns – it’s about helping clients achieve control – and some peace of mind.”

McKee was born and raised in the Bay Area and lives in Woodside. He has been married to his wife, Remona, for over 25 years, and they have two children.

303 Twin Dolphin Dr., 6th Floor | Redwood Shores, CA 94065 | 650-632-4295
Toll Free 877-565-2329
Offices also in San Francisco and San Jose
www.PersonalPortfolios.biz

Advisory services offered through Resource Investment Architects, Inc. 
Securities offered through Investment Architects, Inc. 
Member FINRA/SIPC
CA INS LIC#0763786

True Understanding Leads to 
Better Financial Future

Elisabeth Andreason, CFP®, CWS®, 
CAP®, speaks in a soft voice with the clarity of a former English teacher and the precision of a mathematician.

Elisabeth is the principal of The Andreason Group at Morgan Stanley. A Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, Certified Wealth Strategist, Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy, Portfolio Management Director and Wealth Advisor, Elisabeth clarifies complicated issues to help clients make informed decisions in order to reach their goals.

Elisabeth’s excellent support staff handles all administrative functions, freeing her to give clients her undivided attention during their regular two-hour meetings. “I realized my ability rested in focusing on the face-to-face meetings with clients, strategizing, helping solve problems people often didn’t even know existed, and asking the questions they didn’t know they were supposed to be asking.”

Questions about what? Everything! Most clients have some sort of retirement plan. But they may not be maximizing the advantages. Is it best to contribute to a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k)? Are the allocations proper? If not, it could be costing them more than they think. How do they hold title on their assets? That can be more important than what they hold.

“I want to make sure people truly understand what they own before they make any changes,” says Elisabeth. She takes as long as necessary to educate clients about how their products work, what features they offer and the best time to take advantage of them.

Trust reviews are also a key planning area. While they’re often used for control in the event of incapacity, and to avoid estate taxes and probate, Elisabeth also shares trust strategies that incorporate philanthropy, to leave a larger legacy benefiting both the community and the family.

When a spouse passes away and clients invite a new companion into their lives, their trusts often go unchanged, and clients are surprised to learn what the trust instructs. To ensure their trust is appropriate as children age and families change, it is imperative to review and, if necessary, revise trusts.

While Elisabeth is not an attorney, she helps clients understand what a trust can do for them and their heirs. She often accompanies clients to their attorneys’ offices to collaborate in design meetings. She then reviews the drafts with her clients before final signing to be sure they understand and feel comfortable with their new documents.

“I believe I manage their investments well. I believe I am also providing solutions that go well beyond the scope of investment management,” Elisabeth says. This is full-service financial guidance.

1333 North California Boulevard, Suite 133 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 930-3809 | fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/elisabeth.andreason

Elisabeth Andreason is a Wealth Advisor with the Wealth Management division of Morgan Stanley in Walnut Creek, CA. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC. Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor(s) engage Forbes to feature this profile. Elisabeth Andreason may only transact business in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration https://fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/elisabeth.andreason. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Elisabeth Andreason is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors.

Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates, and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice and are not “fiduciaries” (under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise) with respect to the services or activities described herein except as otherwise agreed to in writing by Morgan Stanley. This material was not intended or written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a retirement plan or account and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments made under such plan or account.

Distinguished in the Art of
Financial Planning Herrmann Financial Services Displays Extraordinary Teamwork and Expertise

Ever notice a string of letters after a financial advisor’s name? Ever wonder what they mean? The letters in the CFP® mark are of particular significance, showing their user is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. Advisors with this designation have distinguished themselves by meeting stringent educational, examination, experience and ethics requirements.

In other words, a CFP® professional is no ordinary financial advisor, which makes Herrmann Financial Services (HFS) of Danville no ordinary firm.  All three members of its advisory team, David Herrmann, Jason Cooke and Kerry Davis are CFP® professionals. Besides offering a level of knowledge and understanding few firms can match, HFS serves as a fiduciary in the management of assets, meaning it is required by law to put the interests of its clients ahead of its own.

Putting the client first is at the heart of everything the firm does. “Our business is built on trust and competence,” says David Herrmann. “Entirely fee-based, we are a boutique firm, and we use our size to our advantage. By not having to deal with the bureaucracy and politics of a big corporation, we can get a lot done for our clients. We are able to be more responsive and focused.”

Offering an unprecedented level of service, Herrmann, Cooke and Davis serve all of the firm’s clients together as a team. When needed, the three provide specialized advice in their individual areas of expertise.

“We use a well-defined and disciplined process to help clients determine their needs,” Cooke says. “Then we work together to design customized portfolios. Our experience makes all the difference in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. They know we’ve been there before. We help reduce their worries.”

With 29 years in Danville, HFS has a strong local presence, helping clients with investment management, estate planning, tax planning and risk management. “We also have the resources to serve retirees efficiently and responsively when they move out of town,” says Davis. “After all, we have clients in 180 cities, from San Diego to Seattle to Boston, and often travel to meet with them.”

Herrmann displays tremendous passion about his team and his practice. “This is a great business to be in,” he says. “We have every opportunity to do what’s best for our clients. We get to be a part of their lives and help them realize their dreams.”

370 Diablo Road, Suite 201 | Danville, CA 94526
925-831-0200 | www.herrmannfinancial.com

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® in the U.S.

Financial Security, Generation After Generation

Retirement almost always comes sooner than expected. When planning for the future, it is becoming harder to know which way to turn due to the recession and questions surrounding Social Security, future tax rates and other variables. More than ever, particularly for families and individuals with substantial wealth, it is critical to seek guidance from knowledgeable advisors.

“We view ourselves as financial physicians,” says Michael G. Frazier, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of California-based Bedell Frazier Investment Counselling, LLC (BFIC). “We diagnose the client’s situation and treat it accordingly. We actively manage the portfolio and if there’s a problem, we take action.”

With over $340 million* in managed assets, Bedell Frazier offers the resources and experience of a large firm, but is small enough to give the personal attention its clients deserve. BFIC engineers and actively manages individual stock and bond portfolios. More than an investment firm, BFIC seeks to understand and become involved in all financial aspects of a client’s life—education, real estate, long-term care and more—often in collaboration with the client’s other advisors such as attorneys and CPAs. As an independent company, Bedell Frazier provides objective advice it believes is in the client’s best interest. Many clients are corporate executives and business owners with complex financial issues.

In business for nearly four decades, founding partner Jude Bedell has guided clients through all kinds of market conditions, including the dot.com bubble burst, as well as the 2008 financial crisis. Bedell is recognized as a pioneer, as one of the first women to start a wealth management firm. She wrote the book The ABCs of Bonds, which is available on Amazon.com. Frazier offers weekly commentaries on Bay Area KKDV-FM (92.1). Both partners share their financial insights in their weekly email newsletter, The TGIF Report.

“We’re in a very pivotal time for our country,” Frazier says. “The biggest risk for many Americans is the possibility of outliving their savings. Our job is to make sure our clients’ money is working hard for them.”

Two Walnut Creek Center | 200 Pringle Avenue, Suite 555
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | 925.932.0344 | 800.783.0344
www.bedellinvest.com

Comprehensive Wealth Management With Multigenerational Planning

For us, life planning means more than providing our clients with investment advice. It means helping them maintain the financial independence they have worked their lives to achieve. It means striving to ensure they have the means to pursue what is most important. It means understanding each client’s unique goals, values and circumstances to determine the strategies we will develop on their behalf.

Our consultative process begins with an in-depth discussion of current finances and future objectives. We address issues the client might have overlooked that can have a significant impact on their ability to retire as planned. Finally, we will suggest how to adjust the investment strategy to accommodate changing conditions and meet any unforeseen expenses and income demands that may arise during retirement.

Theo has 30 years of broad-based experience in the investment management and wealth advisory business. She started her career during the 1980s, as a trader of foreign currencies, gold and silver, subsequently acting as the municipal bond coordinator for one of the largest San Francisco offices. In the 1990s, she ran an equity portfolio and coordinated the Branch Investment Consulting Services. Currently, Theo is Senior Vice President of Institutional Sales with The Schwabacher Group, concentrating on investment management consulting services to affluent families. Her comprehensive planning strategies include investment policy formulation, asset allocation, manager search, performance monitoring and due diligence.

Educating women is one of Theo’s core beliefs. “Being self-sufficient when it comes to your finances is the key ingredient to survival in an ever changing global environment,” she says. To support the education of women, she established the Women’s Intelligence Trust (WIT), providing daylong forums for the exchange of ideas. Women in finance, health and technology come together to discuss cutting-edge topics in their respective fields.

Theo’s personal philanthropic commitment includes lending her business and financial expertise to many boards in San Francisco. She is currently a member of the Audit and Finance Committees of the Board of Trustees of the Bay Area Red Cross and holds advisory positions with the Belizean Grove, Forward Funds and the SF/Golden Gate Complex Diversity Council for Morgan Stanley. She also serves as the co-chair for the Northern California chapter of Women Corporate Directors and sits on the Advisory Board for Women Corporate Directors in New York. Past board positions include the San Francisco Cancer Society, San Francisco Mental Health Association, Merola and the San Francisco Opera Board.

In 2007, Theo was named to both the Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors in the United States and the San Francisco Business Times’ Bay Area’s top 25 Women Wealth Advisors. In 2011, the National Association of Professional Women honored Theo as Woman of the Year.

The Schwabacher Group at Morgan Stanley
101 California Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111 | (415) 693-6381 fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/gatesschwabacher

Theo Schwabacher is a Financial Advisor with the Wealth Management division of Morgan Stanley in San Francisco. Although Theo Schwabacher has compensated Forbes to have her profile promoted in its publication, it is not a solicitation nor intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC. This article is directed to residents in the states where Theo Schwabacher is registered. For more information, please view Theo Schwabacher’s individual website.

Expanding Your Investment Horizons
Schroeder Capital Management, LLC, Takes a Global Perspective

There’s a world of great opportunities out there, as long as you know where to look. No one understands this quite like Fred Schroeder, President and Chief Investment Officer of Schroeder Capital Management, LLC. Over more than 30 years in the investment business, Schroeder has traveled and conducted research all over the globe, either in person or through his detailed research, investigating industries and companies for unique investment value. Schroeder Capital has offices in Lafayette, California, and Bend, Oregon.

Schroeder was mentored by the late Sir John Templeton, known as the “Father of International Investing.” Schroeder’s clients benefit from the knowledge and experience he gained while personally managing all of the $2 billion client assets of Templeton Portfolio Advisory.

“Schroeder Capital designs separate account investment strategies tailored to the specific needs and risk tolerance of our clients,” says Schroeder. “Individual portfolios are well-diversified and built brick by brick. We use growth and value-oriented U.S. stocks, foreign ADRs (American Depository Receipts) and income securities in the building process. We also create a unique personalized separate account, called a Balanced Global, combining all of these elements into one portfolio.”

As an independently-owned, fee-based investment advisor, Schroeder Capital draws from a broad range of investment resources and a comprehensive global information platform channeled into investment strategy, portfolio construction and account management. Schroeder builds long-term relationships with his clients, ranging in age from their 20s to their 80s, through ongoing communication, trust and good rapport.

Independently Verified Investment Performance
Since its inception 10 years ago, Schroeder Capital has engaged an independent performance measurement specialist to verify its clients’ investment returns. Over this period, composite portfolio performance has achieved superior results compared with appropriate market benchmarks.

“The hallmark of Schroeder Capital has always been to seek capital preservation and growth in the customization of our client portfolios. Over the long term, broad-based, global diversification is the key to risk avoidance and has been a winning strategy,” says Schroeder. “Every day presents unique challenges, unexpected developments in the global marketplace or specific client needs. I truly enjoy working with my clients and the excitement and satisfaction of growing assets for them.”

3620 Happy Valley Road, Suite 203 | Lafayette, CA 94549
925-283-7913 | 800-930-7913 | fredschroeder@schroeder-capital.com
www.schroeder-capital.com

Schroeder Capital Management, LLC, is a member of FINRA

The Headlands Group Helps Investors Embrace and Benefit From Market Uncertainty

As an investor, you will take risk. You can go conservative and take  
 the chance that inflation will outrun your gains. Or you can be bold and position yourself for potentially higher rewards.

As Terry O’Neill and Kal Salama of The Headlands Group explain, embracing risk may be your best bet. The firm, which serves high-net-worth clients, has an uncommon but effective approach to building wealth: Use and manage risk.

Recent equity market turmoil has prompted people to seek safe investments. But O’Neill and Salama say investors need risk in their portfolios. The advisors talk candidly with clients about how the disappearance of pensions is forcing people to invest for their own retirements, and how longer lifespans and rising health care costs are sapping accounts. “Many investors don’t realize the cost of trying to play it safe,” says O’Neill. “They lose potential portfolio performance over time and face the greater danger of a wealth shortfall.”

O’Neill, president, and Salama, chief investment officer, both have extensive investment experience. They share a belief that the greatest threat to an investment portfolio’s success is human nature – the impulse to react rashly to downturns.

A Global Approach
Market turbulence often derails investors. So O’Neill and Salama educate clients, taking emotion out of the equation, clearing the way for discipline, rational thought and potentially higher returns. Some of those returns, in both equities and bonds, are in the U.S., and some are international. “We went global in 1988 because it was natural; it made sense that not all investment opportunities were in the U.S.,” says O’Neill.

The Headlands Group uses techniques designed to provide the highest probability of long-term success. O’Neill and Salama ask clients to come along for the ride – a sometimes bumpy one. “We’re in the business of getting clients comfortable with near-term uncertainty on the way to growing their wealth. Over time, long-term returns come from compensation for near-term uncertainty,” Salama says. “The two go hand in hand.”

This calls for building portfolios that perform at a sophisticated level. “Without the client as a partner allowing us to do the work on their behalf, it’s not going to happen,” says O’Neill.

Opportunity in Market Turbulence
The firm invests at the country level rather than the company level. To manage risk and potentially benefit from turbulent markets, The Headlands Group actively employs valuation and rebalancing tools.

The team tilts the portfolio toward countries/regions priced below their true values and away from those priced above theirs. The portfolio earns additional returns when prices move to values.  Recent pessimism in Europe, for example, has made the region a good source of attractive values.

Built-in triggers alert the team when to rebalance profits out of holdings that have risen – before the market takes them back down – and reposition them into those more likely to rise. Spain, a bargain when Salama added to it in June, has since bounced back handsomely. “We capture incremental gains and keep them for clients,” O’Neill says.

“We want the portfolio – not the client – to respond to the markets. Our goal for clients is to have them live their lives, confident their portfolio is on a successful investment path.”

100 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 202 | Larkspur, CA 94939
415-464-9144 | www.headlandsgroup.com

Financial Security, Generation After Generation

Retirement almost always comes sooner than expected. When planning for the future, it is becoming harder to know which way to turn due to the recession and questions surrounding Social Security, future tax rates and other variables. More than ever, particularly for families and individuals with substantial wealth, it is critical to seek guidance from knowledgeable advisors.

“We view ourselves as financial physicians,” says Michael G. Frazier, Vice President and Portfolio Manager of California-based Bedell Frazier Investment Counselling, LLC (BFIC). “We diagnose the client’s situation and treat it accordingly. We actively manage the portfolio and if there’s a problem, we take action.”

With over $340 million* in managed assets, Bedell Frazier offers the resources and experience of a large firm, but is small enough to give the personal attention its clients deserve. BFIC engineers and actively manages individual stock and bond portfolios. More than an investment firm, BFIC seeks to understand and become involved in all financial aspects of a client’s life—education, real estate, long-term care and more—often in collaboration with the client’s other advisors such as attorneys and CPAs. As an independent company, Bedell Frazier provides objective advice it believes is in the client’s best interest. Many clients are corporate executives and business owners with complex financial issues.

In business for nearly four decades, founding partner Jude Bedell has guided clients through all kinds of market conditions, including the dot.com bubble burst, as well as the 2008 financial crisis. Bedell is recognized as a pioneer, as one of the first women to start a wealth management firm. She wrote the book The ABCs of Bonds, which is available on Amazon.com. Frazier offers weekly commentaries on Bay Area KKDV-FM (92.1). Both partners share their financial insights in their weekly email newsletter, The TGIF Report.

“We’re in a very pivotal time for our country,” Frazier says. “The biggest risk for many Americans is the possibility of outliving their savings. Our job is to make sure our clients’ money is working hard for them.”

Two Walnut Creek Center | 200 Pringle Avenue, Suite 555
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | 925.932.0344 | 800.783.0344
www.bedellinvest.com

True Understanding Leads to 
Better Financial Future

Elisabeth Andreason, CFP®, CWS®, 
CAP®, speaks in a soft voice with the clarity of a former English teacher and the precision of a mathematician.

Elisabeth is the principal of The Andreason Group at Morgan Stanley. A Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, Certified Wealth Strategist, Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy, Portfolio Management Director and Wealth Advisor, Elisabeth clarifies complicated issues to help clients make informed decisions in order to reach their goals.

Elisabeth’s excellent support staff handles all administrative functions, freeing her to give clients her undivided attention during their regular two-hour meetings. “I realized my ability rested in focusing on the face-to-face meetings with clients, strategizing, helping solve problems people often didn’t even know existed, and asking the questions they didn’t know they were supposed to be asking.”

Questions about what? Everything! Most clients have some sort of retirement plan. But they may not be maximizing the advantages. Is it best to contribute to a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k)? Are the allocations proper? If not, it could be costing them more than they think. How do they hold title on their assets? That can be more important than what they hold.

“I want to make sure people truly understand what they own before they make any changes,” says Elisabeth. She takes as long as necessary to educate clients about how their products work, what features they offer and the best time to take advantage of them.

Trust reviews are also a key planning area. While they’re often used for control in the event of incapacity, and to avoid estate taxes and probate, Elisabeth also shares trust strategies that incorporate philanthropy, to leave a larger legacy benefiting both the community and the family.

When a spouse passes away and clients invite a new companion into their lives, their trusts often go unchanged, and clients are surprised to learn what the trust instructs. To ensure their trust is appropriate as children age and families change, it is imperative to review and, if necessary, revise trusts.

While Elisabeth is not an attorney, she helps clients understand what a trust can do for them and their heirs. She often accompanies clients to their attorneys’ offices to collaborate in design meetings. She then reviews the drafts with her clients before final signing to be sure they understand and feel comfortable with their new documents.

“I believe I manage their investments well. I believe I am also providing solutions that go well beyond the scope of investment management,” Elisabeth says. This is full-service financial guidance.

1333 North California Boulevard, Suite 133 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 930-3809 | fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/elisabeth.andreason

Elisabeth Andreason is a Wealth Advisor with the Wealth Management division of Morgan Stanley in Walnut Creek, CA. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC. Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor(s) engage Forbes to feature this profile. Elisabeth Andreason may only transact business in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration https://fa.morganstanleyindividual.com/elisabeth.andreason. Transacting business, follow-up and individualized responses involving either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made to persons in states where Elisabeth Andreason is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors.

Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates, and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice and are not “fiduciaries” (under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise) with respect to the services or activities described herein except as otherwise agreed to in writing by Morgan Stanley. This material was not intended or written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a retirement plan or account and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments made under such plan or account.

Distinguished in the Art of
Financial Planning Herrmann Financial Services Displays Extraordinary Teamwork and Expertise

Ever notice a string of letters after a financial advisor’s name? Ever wonder what they mean? The letters in the CFP® mark are of particular significance, showing their user is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant. Advisors with this designation have distinguished themselves by meeting stringent educational, examination, experience and ethics requirements.

In other words, a CFP® professional is no ordinary financial advisor, which makes Herrmann Financial Services (HFS) of Danville no ordinary firm.  All three members of its advisory team, David Herrmann, Jason Cooke and Kerry Davis are CFP® professionals. Besides offering a level of knowledge and understanding few firms can match, HFS serves as a fiduciary in the management of assets, meaning it is required by law to put the interests of its clients ahead of its own.

Putting the client first is at the heart of everything the firm does. “Our business is built on trust and competence,” says David Herrmann. “Entirely fee-based, we are a boutique firm, and we use our size to our advantage. By not having to deal with the bureaucracy and politics of a big corporation, we can get a lot done for our clients. We are able to be more responsive and focused.”

Offering an unprecedented level of service, Herrmann, Cooke and Davis serve all of the firm’s clients together as a team. When needed, the three provide specialized advice in their individual areas of expertise.

“We use a well-defined and disciplined process to help clients determine their needs,” Cooke says. “Then we work together to design customized portfolios. Our experience makes all the difference in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. They know we’ve been there before. We help reduce their worries.”

With 29 years in Danville, HFS has a strong local presence, helping clients with investment management, estate planning, tax planning and risk management. “We also have the resources to serve retirees efficiently and responsively when they move out of town,” says Davis. “After all, we have clients in 180 cities, from San Diego to Seattle to Boston, and often travel to meet with them.”

Herrmann displays tremendous passion about his team and his practice. “This is a great business to be in,” he says. “We have every opportunity to do what’s best for our clients. We get to be a part of their lives and help them realize their dreams.”

370 Diablo Road, Suite 201 | Danville, CA 94526
925-831-0200 | www.herrmannfinancial.com

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® in the U.S.

Individualized Attention, Planning in Four Key Areas Distinguish Financial Planner John McKee

John H. McKee always enjoyed finance; in junior high school, along with the more usual enthusiasm for baseball and football, he began tracking stocks and creating model investment portfolios.

Later, after earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, he earned his CPA license, broadening his understanding of corporate balance sheets and the overall economy. Through his professional experience – operating his company, Personal Portfolios, since 1988 – McKee has guided clients through many markets.
An avid outdoorsman (he recently completed a 25-mile day hike across the Grand Canyon), McKee brings the same enthusiasm and determination to his practice. His goal is to guide clients in making sound decisions in all the financial areas of their lives.

In an initial meeting, he tells clients about himself, letting them get to know him as a person – and as an accomplished advisor. He then learns about their needs and wants, their personalities, their families, and their feelings about risk and investing. “I tailor my services to each person based on their needs and objectives,” McKee says. “You have to know your client before you can make recommendations.”

He leads the conversation through an accounting of the client’s assets, mortgage, savings and investments, and then moves to their goals for retirement, college funding for their kids or grandkids, a new house and any other objectives they have. With a complete picture – and with his certified public accountant background framing his advice – he can suggest appropriate revisions and offer guidance for new directions, creating a well-balanced life plan. This could extend in many directions, including asset allocation changes, alternative investments, college planning and business planning.

McKee focuses on what he identifies as the four key financial facets of a client’s financial makeup: tax, estate, retirement and financial planning. “I look at the whole financial picture,” he says. “I don’t think a client can be advised correctly without addressing all four of these financial aspects. They’re all intertwined.”

McKee’s clients range from economists and professors to CEOs of publicly traded companies.

He formerly worked as a CPA but moved to financial planning to help people make good proactive decisions rather than being limited to investments they already owned. “With our team of professionals, we strive to improve our clients’ quality of life by meeting their needs in wealth preservation and asset protection,” he says. “It’s not all about investment returns – it’s about helping clients achieve control – and some peace of mind.”

McKee was born and raised in the Bay Area and lives in Woodside. He has been married to his wife, Remona, for over 25 years, and they have two children.

303 Twin Dolphin Dr., 6th Floor | Redwood Shores, CA 94065 | 650-632-4295
Toll Free 877-565-2329
Offices also in San Francisco and San Jose
www.PersonalPortfolios.biz

Advisory services offered through Resource Investment Architects, Inc. 
Securities offered through Investment Architects, Inc. 
Member FINRA/SIPC
CA INS LIC#0763786

Tides Helping People Invest in the World They Want to See

A filmmaker needs financial support to produce a movie about the plight of Palestinian immigrants. The result: the critically acclaimed Amreeka, which screened at major film festivals and on network television.

An anti-domestic violence program needs money. Activists mobilize a campaign to persuade Congress to reauthorize funding. Today, Stop Family Violence continues its important work of public education and advocacy about a growing epidemic.

An organization seeks to improve nutrition and physical fitness among at-risk youth. The California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program works with policymakers to address concerns at the local level.

These three projects are vastly different, with one thing in common—each received help from Tides, the San Francisco-based organization that brings together socially conscious philanthropists and corporations with nonprofit groups and entrepreneurs.

“We are one of the few foundations that support both nonprofit as well as for-profit social enterprises,” says CEO Melissa Bradley. “Many issues are complex. Tides provides an easy way for individuals and institutions to support issues that are important to them, through grants, mission investments and equity investments.”

A nonpartisan organization, Tides facilitates funding for a wide range of programs addressing interests as diverse as the environment, Native American rights, LBGT equality, art, science education and much more. Tides was among the first organizations to support HIV education. Unlike many U.S.-based charities, 40 percent of programs funded through Tides are international in scope.

Since 1976, Tides has worked with more than 15,000 individuals and organizations, vetting applicants to assure funds are used responsibly. Tides works in collaboration with such respected partners as Apollo Alliance, Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, The California Endowment, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and many more. One global Internet services company partners with Tides to do targeted international and domestic grantmaking for some of the company’s different philanthropic portfolios—human rights, community and technology, among the most salient ones.
“There is tremendous need for social change throughout the world,” Bradley says. “I enjoy helping people think creatively to solve social problems and have a real impact.”

P.O. Box 29198 | San Francisco, CA 94129 415.561.6400 | www.tides.org

Woman-owned CH Reynolds Nears 30th Anniversary With Second Generation of Family Leadership

Women owning construction companies was a rarity in 1996 when Shelly Paiva got her first job at CH Reynolds. They were more likely found answering phones and working in the front office. That’s just where Paiva began, but she had her sights on management and ownership. It was, after all, in her DNA. Her father, Charles H. Reynolds, had founded the Silicon Valley-based electrical construction company in 1983.

Rolling up her sleeves, Paiva immersed herself in
every aspect of the business for the next 16 years, gaining real-world experience in almost every department, from delivering materials to job sites and handling HR and purchasing duties, to serving as CFO. “I couldn’t have had a better teacher. My dad not only taught me the technical aspects, but also modeled what it took to earn the respect of clients, vendors and employees,” she says.

Paiva eventually assumed the day-to-day management role of CH Reynolds and became its majority shareholder by 2012. More importantly, she crafted her own reputation as an experienced professional and carefully safeguarded the long-term relationships her father built.

CH Reynolds’ growth closely mirrors that of Paiva’s. Founded primarily as an electrical contracting business, the company expanded competencies to become a premier provider of design, integration, and implementation of electrical construction services as well as networking and telecommunication services and customized maintenance service solutions. A certified green business, CH Reynolds also provides “Power Management Solutions” for building infrastructure, and data centers.

Recently the company added managed services options. “We have become a single resource for clients, from design/build of an IT center, to installation, to running the center with our own certified engineers,” says Paiva. “For example, we installed LVC infrastructure for Cisco Systems’ new Development Data Center. Then our Managed Services Division contracted with Cisco to provide all Layer1 support, which included installation of Network gear.”

Despite the economic crisis that began in 2008, CH Reynolds more than tripled its sales revenue over the last 10 years, opened operations in Texas and North Carolina, and broke its historic sales record in 2011. It has been named one of the Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in Silicon Valley for three consecutive years.

“Our phenomenal team has become the go-to group for data centers, corporate campuses, biotech facilities, institutions and retail sites with large-scale projects that must be completed rapidly and flawlessly,” says Paiva. “Whether clients are in the pre-construction stages of a major new project that might take years to complete, or in the middle of an emergency in which every hour of downtime can lead to millions of dollars of loss, we consistently deliver the best solutions and greatest cost efficiencies.”

CH Reynolds Electric, Inc.
1281 Wayne Ave. • San Jose, CA 95131 408-436-9280 • 800-979-0394
www.chreynolds.com

Excellence in Workspace Design Positively
Affects Lives Says SideMark’s Sandi Jacobs

Sandi Jacobs joined furniture dealer SideMark in 1989, the same year the Dilbert comic strip debuted. Dilbert graphically depicted the bleak, cubicle-defined work spaces of modern offices typical of the time. With a vision of “truly cohesive design,” SideMark founder and CEO Randy Horton recruited the talented Jacobs to establish a new business model for the corporate furniture company that would integrate excellent design with outstanding dealer services.

“We’ve redefined the industry since the ‘80s when decision-making was based primarily on the tastes and budget of management,” explains Jacobs. “Today’s savvy employers understand the need for spaces that engage people in the workplace. Well thought-out designs encourage movement throughout the day, stimulate the senses, facilitate collaborative efforts and create environments for individual work efforts. The result is increased productivity, higher retention rates, and a mentally and physically healthier workforce.”

Jacobs, who became SideMark president in 2007, helped steer the company’s growth from five employees in one location to more than 100 employees in five prosperous metropolitan areas. Succeeding in a fiercely competitive marketplace, SideMark has a marquee list of clients, from international companies headquartered in California, like Flextronics and VMware, to startups like Citadel Environmental and Zynga.

Jacobs credits the company’s growth on its reputation for providing leadership around decision making, design teams and processes. “That’s an important distinction because we’re driven to provide unique tailored projects,” she says. “As a partner, we proactively tackle whatever problems our clients face. For example, it’s not unusual for us to re-use serviceable pieces, set up solutions for inventory management or offer advice on how to accommodate the work styles globally.”

At the heart of every SideMark experience is the company’s unique mix of right-brained artisans and left-brained project managers who work seamlessly together to produce the alchemy that defines today’s workplaces.

“It was like SideMark could read our minds,” says Jason Velo of the University of the Pacific. “They were able to meet our needs even when we were unable to articulate what we wanted.” “Our clients do business with SideMark’s people,” explains Jacobs. “They build long-lasting bonds with a team of knowledgeable professionals they trust.”

Santa Clara, 408-490-3300 | San Francisco, 415-283-1400 Sacramento, 916-930-0365 | Los Angeles, 310-566-6382 San Diego, 858-951-3100 | sidemark.com

Golden Gate University is where tomorrow’s brightest tax and accounting professionals go to learn from those at the peak of their field today.

This nonprofit institution is professionally based, says Mary Canning, dean of the Braden School of Taxation and the School of Accounting. She oversees graduate curricula in these disciplines, and she has built them into highly respected, real-world programs with a total of about 2,300 students.

The schools of taxation and accounting offer four strong graduate degrees: a master of science in taxation; a master of accountancy; a master of accountancy with a concentration in taxation and a master of accountancy with a concentration in forensics – essentially, investigative accounting. “Forensic accounting is just a fascinating business,” Canning says. “And the Department of Labor has said it’s one of the growth industries over the next five years.”

The international tax certificate is another highlight. Seven international tax courses are offered – the most extensive class listing of any such program in the world. Students must take five of the seven to complete the certificate.

This all fits well with Golden Gate’s mission to ready people to launch or advance prestigious careers. Evening programs are available for those who work, and the university offers a one-year full-time daytime curriculum that even includes lunchtime seminars with visiting professionals. The programs are also offered online, so they fill the need of people across the nation who may not have such quality programs readily available to them.
“We prepare students to lead and serve by providing high-quality, practice-based educational programs,” Canning says. “Our programs are particularly innovative, relevant and current.”

That’s because her instructors are professionals who not only know the material, they live it in their working lives. Many have been involved in investigating and/or testifying on the accounting issues in large and noteworthy cases – such as Enron, WorldCom, HealthSouth and many of the banking scandals that arose from the near collapse of the banking system in 2008. “Many of our instructors are full-time professors who have had a long-term career in the profession, they’re published, and they consult, so they stay current,” says Canning. “And the others are adjunct professors who are at high levels in their profession, so they’re bringing the most current application of skills and knowledge. And I think that’s where the magic happens in our classrooms.”

The schools of taxation and accounting actually discourage people from overloading their coursework – better to take fewer classes and excel. Students must maintain a “B” average. “We make them job-ready,” Canning says. “It’s known to be a really tough and rigorous program, and I’m proud of that.”

Golden Gate University Schools of Taxation and Accounting 536 Mission Street, Room 5314
San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 442-7885 | www.ggu.edu