Political Insights: Carville's Secret to Marriage to Mary Matalin

 The FPA National Conference welcomed key note speakers Mary Matalin and James "the ragin cagin" Carville to share their personal story and political insights.  One a deep rooted Democrat, one a staunch Republican. As you may expect, their personal opinions and political values could not be farther apart.  

Matalin and Carville shared humorous encounters while contributing to the Clinton and Bush presidential campaigns. Individually they addressed our current political landscape and presidential election while lobbying for their respective parties. As their speaking session ended, I felt inspired by the possibility that, regardless of our political affiliation, some day we all may just get a long!

Today they are happily married with two daughters and reside in New Orleans.  I believe the lives of Matalin and Carville provide a strong example that we may prosper together regardless of our political affiliations and beliefs.

Matalin and Carville affirm that both parties - Republicans and Democrats - share an intense desire in serving the needs of the American people. It’s clear the HOW may differ, but at the end of the day, they continue to love, care, and respect each other.A lesson we may all benefit from as the Presidential race continues to intensify!

James "The Ragin' Cajun" Carville is America’s best-known political consultant. His long list of electoral successes includes leading Ehud Barak to victory to become Prime Minister of Israel in 1999 and most notably helping to secure William Jefferson Clinton as President of the United States in 1992.

Mary Matalin is a prominent political figure who has made frequent television and radio appearances and is a New York Times bestselling author. Her political successes include serving under President Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush. She lives in New Orleans with her husband, James Carville, and their two daughters.

5 Years and Running! The Center Remains Fit-Friendly

 The Center has recently been recognized for the 5^th consecutive year by the American Heart Association as a Fit-Friendly Worksite.  The credit for the award and recognition goes to Center team members who routinely make health and wellness a priority in their lives. Kudos and Congrats to all!   

Leading balanced lives is a core value Center team members aspire to and health and wellness is an important aspect of balance in life.  Health & Wellness Committee member and Client Service Manager Jennie Bauder said, “the AHA Platinum Award is displayed in a common area of The Center and it symbolizes our commitment to everyday healthy habits.” Here are some of the healthy habits practiced in our workplace that helped achieve American Heart Association recognition: 

• Physical activity options are available during the workday
• Healthy eating options are provided in the office lunch area
• Intentional focus on wellness as part of our culture

Gerri Harmer, Client Service Assistant, has been a Health & Wellness Committee member since day one.  She added, “ I am energized by the positive impact our program has on my colleagues and look forward to bringing new ideas to the group for 2013.”

The Center's Celebrated for Being "A Cool Place to Work"

 Melissa Joy, CFP® shares her insights about The Center’s approach to creating a culture and workplace environment that is energizing and rewarding for all team members.   Below is an excerpt from the article titled  A Cool Place to Work by Ellen Uzelac.

Creating a Culture

With $685 million in assets under management and 20 firm “members,” as they are called, Center for Financial Planning in Southfield, Mich. considers itself a “one-firm firm” that treats employees like they are employees of a business and not employees of an individual advisor.

There is a flex-time policy, financial support for the pursuit of new credentials and learning opportunities, an incentive compensation formula and structured career paths for all positions.

“We want to service our employees the same way we want to service our clients. After all, they have as much or more contact with clients as we do,” says Melissa Joy, a partner and director of investments for the 27-year-old firm. “I really think if you are going to be a modern firm, it’s critical to put yourselves in the shoes of an employee.”

It’s a culture that is anything but static. This past April, for example, every employee was involved in a half-day retreat involving the firm’s vision for 2020. “What better way to have buy-in than to get it from the get-go?” observes Joy.

Center for Financial Planning also launched an employee satisfaction survey that resulted last year in enhancements to its benefits package. Among them: formalized bereavement time; time off for community involvement; the opportunity to take a sabbatical after seven years of service; and increased time off for life balance concerns and professional growth.

“One of the ways that we like to think about it is we like employees that have intellectual curiosity. We’re in an entrepreneurial business. Intellectual curiosity isn’t something that starts when you are a principal,” Joy says. “We want to encourage and reward innovation. We want to grow our leaders from within.”   Joy is an example of that. She started out as a client service assistant 13 years ago. Today, she’s an owner.

“We have a lot of friends in the business and lot of people talk about their successes as an employer but they’re always bemoaning their high turnover,” she adds. “We don’t experience that and we think there is a reason for it.”

Our culture is driven strongly by our company values.  More than words; they serve as guides in our actions. Everything we do is about our clients and our team with our values leading the way.

We invite you to take a closer look (click here) at our 8 guiding values we believe make The Center a COOL PLACE TO WORK!

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"Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC." Any opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc., and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

Welcome to the Year 2020

 Where will the Center be 8 years from now?   Center team members have spent the past few months creating that view of the future, called the “Center Vision 2020.”

Partner Tim Wyman reflects on his experience:

“For the last 6 months we have been working on The Center’s Vision 2020.  This “all hands on deck” process has allowed all team members to participate in shaping the firm for the next 8 years.  The process has been engaging, exciting, thought provoking, enlightening, challenging and fun (I think that captures it) and will result in enhancing the service that The Center provides.

On a personal level, I am quite proud of the sense of servant leadership and genuine commitment to serving others that our team exudes. Each of us recognizes that our work and lives are enriched by the service we give to clients, each other, our families, business partners, and our communities.”

What does this vision of the year 2020 look like? 

It includes an increased dedication to clients and communities, more technology-enhanced experiences, and greater emphasis on developing the internal talent of Center team members.

Our collective 2020 vision inspires, rallies, and guides our decisions. Day in, day out, The Center lives by Mission, Firm Values and Firm Service Values.  This will not change in 2020!

Announcing 2012’s Summer Intern: Kyle Branda

At the Center, we value developing the next generation of financial service professionals. In fact, in 2007, the Center launched its Summer Internship Program to help those interested in joining the field gain first-hand experience.  Interns work with our investment and financial planning departments to complete performance reporting and research projects.  They also participate in unique education, training, and staff shadowing opportunities.   

Accordingly, we have kicked off our 2012 Summer Internship Program with this year’s intern, Kyle Branda. Kyle is a senior at Michigan State University hailing from Brooklyn, MI.  He is an economics major and a member of the Michigan State Student Economics Association.  His career goals are to obtain a Masters in Finance and to become either a financial advisor or financial analyst.   

When asked about the internship, Kyle says, “This internship will help me reach these goals by giving me the skills necessary to create a good financial plan. It will also give me a better understanding of what goes into making investment decisions.  This internship will help me determine which career path I intend to choose by presenting me with both aspects of what an advisor does and what an analyst does.”

Picture the Center!

 

Summer Internship Opportunity

When:   May -August 2012 (Flexible)

Apply By:  February 28th, 2012

Description:

Intern(s) will work primarily with the Investment and Financial Planning Departments to complete research projects, mutual fund performance reporting, and database updates. Career development opportunities offered through education on basic financial planning concepts, self assessments, and staff shadowing. Looking for current college student(s) or recent graduate(s) seeking summer employment with a strong interest in investment research and financial planning. Applicants must have a strong desire to learn, be able to work independently, manage multiple tasks responsibly, and take initiative.

Part-Time & Paid: Yes  

If interested, please email your resume to:   

Jaclyn Jackson, Summer Internship Program Director 

Jaclyn.Jackson@CenterFinPlan.com

Phone: 248-948-7900 

Zingerman's Shares Leadership Philosophy

What do Zingerman’s and The Center have in common? 

Zingerman’s is, of course, the renowned Ann Arbor company noted for its great food and service.   The Center recently hosted a half-day presentation by Zingerman’s at its annual staff retreat, exploring a philosophy known as “servant leadership.”

Giving great service to staff is one of the important components of Zingerman’s great service to its customers.   At its Dec. 16 retreat The Center team learned about this leadership philosophy, and how it can supplement The Center’s long-standing commitment to client service.

An added bonus were all the tasty Zingerman’s  foods we all shared during breakfast!

Gregg Bloomfield, Matt Chope, Amanda Toia, Troy Wyman, Tim Wyman

Jaclyn Jackson, Melissa Cyrus 

Welcome 2012. Nice to Meet You!

On behalf of our 19 team members, Happy New Year! The headlines thus far in 2012 trumpet the rhetoric of a contentious presidential election, difficult economic issues in Europe and beyond, and a rare Detroit Lions appearance in the playoffs. As advisors, we keep the world’s events in mind, but know that your personal milestones are our first priority.

In order to assist you in accomplishing your life goals and achieving financial confidence, we have been working on a variety of initiatives for you.

• In February we will present 2012 Financial Planning & Investment Opportunities at the Bloomfield Township Library. There will be a day and evening session, in addition, a recording for our clients residing across the nation (a few worldwide too!). We will cover a variety of topics, which include the potential income tax landscape as the Bush tax cuts are set to expire. We will also provide a snapshot of today’s investment landscape and share our view of the future. And as always, review our well-grounded investment principles designed to help you appropriately plan while taking into consideration taxes, inflation, and fees.

• Throughout the year we will offer a variety of educational workshops for you and guests. Topics include Social Security (maximizing benefits for those that have yet to begin receiving benefits), Medicare strategies, Social Media (with an emphasis on safe-guarding your privacy in a wired world), and an Investment Forum. These programs are intended to provide sound advice concerning today’s most relevant financial topics, so please feel free to invite your family and friends to share in these educational opportunities.

• As you may know, we have partnered with The Oakland Press and launched our Money Centered Blog that provides actionable advice surrounding many of today’s financial planning and investment opportunities. Under the leadership of Sandy Adams, CFP®, we have enjoyed the opportunity to communicate with you and our community more frequently. This blog is a great way to share our collective experience, judgment and commitment to your well-being with relevant financial planning and investment topics, and it continues to energize our internal conversations and stretch our leadership in the financial planning community. Look for a new post three times per week! We have also launched Center Connections, a blog that will keep you apprised of news, events, and announcements concerning our clients, our team, and The Center.

Since our firm's founding in 1985 our advice, tactics and strategies have changed, but the core tenets of financial planning have remained the same: helping you with your most important goals. Whether it’s a successful retirement, providing education funding for children and grandchildren, or planning the legacy of your estate, our highest satisfaction is not the dollars and cents of a rewarding investment but your accomplishments which our financial conversations can foster.

We look forward to our work together through 2012 and beyond.