Providing perspective from experts is a monthly feature on our Blog. We work with professionals across industries from accounting to taxes, from legal to medical, from financial to insurance. These professionals provide we “laypeople” with the tools and resources to make informed decisions about what is needed for us, today and into the future.
It is a pleasure this month to feature a woman who is known for her prowess on the volleyball court along with her skills in the financial arena. She has an MBA in marketing and has a passion for helping people make and save money.
Today, meet Hawley Woods Gray, Regional Vice President with Appreciation Financial. Appreciation Financial focuses on helping public employees, specifically educators understand their pension and their income gap. This summer, I participated in a retreat for the Appreciation Financial women in Sacramento which began with a service project to a local school. The depth of community involvement and service by this firm was uplifting and inspiring for all. Welcome Hawley!
Question 1. What do you enjoy about working with your clients? I enjoy learning about their lives, their dreams, goals, what they have experienced, what they love about what they do, etc. I love building relationships with them.
Question 2. How would you suggest a potential new client prepare for a 1st meeting? The best way to prepare for a meeting is to know how much you make, what your goals are for retirement and how you currently spend your money. Usually we are meeting with Teachers or school district staff so we ask them for a paycheck stub. That is helpful for non teachers as well.
Question 3. When someone agrees to become a client, what can they expect immediately? Over time? My clients can expect to be in a great product with a great company. We like to meet annually to review, however because of the nature of our products we don’t have to worry about the financial uncertainty, however my clients do want to increase their savings each year to have the most effective plan.
Question 4. What is your service philosophy? My philosophy on service is to give as much as I can (information, education) for the person I am working with to understand their options and choose for themselves what the best solution is for them. I am a resource for the people I work with, how can I serve you is my questions to them?
Question 5. What resources do you provide to assist “laypeople” with understanding what is being discussed? The first step in understanding what people need is to find out where they are now, their Point “A”. Once we research where they are now in terms of their financial household, then we can start planning on how they can get to where they want to go in terms of retirement. The first step is completely understanding their GAP. What guaranteed income streams do they have in place for retirement. This would be their pension plans, social security, rental income, other types of business that pay residuals, etc. Once we have a comprehended idea of where they are, we can educate the client on what their options are and let them choose what products or services they might need to achieve their goals.
Bonus Question! If you were to relay one piece of advice to anyone reading this, what would it be?
Have a goal, get the support you need to create a plan around that goal and then implement the plan. Sacrifices are necessary for anything worth working towards. Don’t compare where you are today with anyone in your life. Set the goal and then strive for it. Surround yourself with people that will support you in achieving your goals. Be educated and work with someone who wants you to understand the benefits of each financial product you own.
For anyone seeking protective strategies for your business or family, contact us. We proactively help you assess your situation and explore ways for you to protect what is important to you by asking questions. What is your risk? Your plan? Are you ready to be ready? Proactive preparation is our forte.
Contact us to learn more about how we work with individuals, business owners and employees via Email or online @ The Living Planner #LifePlanningSimplified #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness