Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
JUNE 2023
www.financialarch.com
888-466-5453
How Sherry Is Streamlining Our Daily Operations MEET OUR PROCESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR!
Hello everyone! It’s Sherry Hanford, and you may remember me from one of Financial Architect’s previous newsletters. In the past, I’ve written to introduce myself, how I found FAI and began working with them, and the importance of listening as we connect with clients. Today, I’m here to share some exciting news I’m ecstatic about — I have a new role! In the middle of May, I officially became FAI’s Process Development Coordinator. But to understand how this role came to be, I need to explain the internal improvements the company has been through. When I first started working at FAI six years ago, I provided direct support to our advisors as they helped meet their clients’ needs and goals. I also managed and processed new security accounts, ensured new accounts were opened, and made sure all the paperwork was correct. But as you all know, over the past year, our team came together to focus on our transition to an RIA firm and ensure everything was streamlined and organized.
“When you work with these processes daily, it can be easy to have tunnel vision. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone who has a bird’s-eye view on the matter to help implement a procedure that will be beneficial to all. This is where I come in. ”
issues or go through a process based on their own insight and skill, if you need to collaborate with someone or understand how a method works, you will get various answers depending on who you talk to. This can become very overwhelming and cause communication problems. How are we supposed to properly handle obstacles or understand our daily operations if we all have a different approach? When you work with these processes daily, it can be easy to have tunnel vision. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone who has a bird’s-eye view on the matter to help implement a procedure that will be beneficial to all. This is where I come in. I will collaborate with our owners, executives, advisors, and other team members to develop a standardized operating procedure for everyone to use. Additionally, if processes need updating, I must update our documents and ensure everyone understands the changes and knows where to go if they need to locate these procedures. Although I’ve only been in this new role for a month or so, I’ve been loving it so far! In my old position, I hardly collaborated with others on our team. But now, I get to work with them daily as we make our everyday operations seamless. I look forward to what my new position has in store and how I can use this new role to enhance not only the experience our team members have, but also yours.
During this transition, FAI’s owners and executive team noticed that with these changes, the firm needed to have our processes outlined so everyone on our team could be on the same page about how things should be
handled. We needed someone to document the standards within our day-to-day operations and procedures. So, my original role started to change, and I became the Process Development Coordinator, who outlines all our processes for our entire team to use. Having documents that explain how to execute specific processes or what to do when you run into roadblocks is very important — it allows everything to be streamlined! Although our team members can handle
Here’s to new beginnings and better things to come!
–Sherry Hanford
1
888-466-5453
Summer is one of the best times of the year to travel. Kids are out of school and want to do something fun every weekend, which can be difficult to accommodate if you’ve already exhausted your local options. If you’re looking to travel, you can visit a beach, take in the sights and sounds of an amusement park, or spend some time with animals while visiting a zoo. Nearly every state in our country has a handful of zoos or aquariums, but some stand above the rest. CHECK OUT SOME OF AMERICA’S BEST ZOOS Monkey Around This Summer
For over 38 years, the center of everything we do at Financial Architects has been our clients. As we continue to expand our marketing and messaging, we promise that you will continue to be our utmost priority. For the last three years, we have incorporated a podcast series featuring three shows, each with a different theme. “Inside Financial Architects” focuses on money decisions and highlights both FAI clients and members of our team. “Living the LifeMethod” shines the spotlight on people, life experiences, and life events. In addition, our “Succession Success” podcast is Q5 Experience-centric, focusing on business exit planning and business owners looking to build enterprise value in their business. Matt Dery, our own Director of Marketing and Business Development, who has over 25 years of broadcasting experience, serves as the podcast host. But we are adding something new to our podcast episodes. We’ve been listening to your feedback, and we think you’ll love what we have in store for you moving forward! New to our podcast setup in 2023 is to create video shows on YouTube. When podcasts first started, it was an audio-only medium that became a good substitute for terrestrial radio and even satellite radio. Now, everyone wants to not just hear great content but also see it. Our first video show features Nashville recording artist Teddy Robb on our “Living the LifeMethod” podcast. Teddy is an up-and-coming country singer whose route to stardom actually started here in the Midwest. He decided to quit his college football career and aspirations in Akron and head south to chase a different dream. It is a remarkable INSIDE FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS
Here are three of the best zoos you can visit in the U.S.
OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO AND AQUARIUM The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, is consistently ranked as one of the top five zoos in the world. It prides itself on hosting rare, endangered animals you can’t see elsewhere. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and one of the major highlights is the Desert Dome, an 84,000-square-foot indoor desert that maintains an authentic desert ecosystem. This is a must-visit for any animal lover in your family.
THE BRONX ZOO You don’t usually think about seeing exotic animals when you visit New York City, but the Bronx Zoo is one of the best places to view animals in America. Opened in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is responsible for many of the advancements relating to animal captivity. This was one of the first zoos to ditch cages for natural environments and create an animal hospital. With over 6,000 species, there’s an animal for everyone at the Bronx Zoo.
story, and Teddy plans to be here in Michigan in August to perform (stay tuned for more information about that). You can watch that interview with Matt and Teddy at YouTube. com/watch?v=xFReY0D8fWE&t=308s , and all of our podcasts can be found on our Insights page at FinancialArch.com. We’re so excited to provide you with more engaging and information-rich content in the future!
THE LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS While the San Diego Zoo is often boasted as California’s largest and best zoo, another zoo is worth checking out. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens outside Palm Springs has entertained visitors for decades. There are events at this zoo every day, one of the most popular being the keeper connections and animal encounters, where you get up close and personal with the animals while learning more about their habitats and lifestyles.
The information contained in this newsletter is derived from sources believed to be accurate. You should discuss any legal, tax, or financial matters with the appropriate professional. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Investment Advisory Services offered through FAI Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor.
www.financialarch.com 2
Chat With a Client Sharon Emery and John Schneider
Take a Break
Solution on Page 4
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH FAI? We met our advisor, Mike Kucera, through his wife, Lynda. While a student at Michigan State University, Lynda provided child care for our four children, including our daughter with special needs, and was simply the best. When we met Mike, we knew her partner in life would be a great caretaker for our financial assets.
Homemade Dole Whip Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
The summer heat is on! And what better way to cool off after a long day in the sun than a refreshing bowl of Dole whip? This frozen treat has everything you need in a summer dessert: the tangy sweetness of pineapple and the creamy taste of vanilla ice cream.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESSES AND THE PASSION YOU HAVE BEHIND THEM? We met while we were both studying journalism at Wayne State University. John worked at the Lansing State Journal for 35 years, spent 24 years as a daily columnist, and has written the book “Waiting for Home: The Richard Prangley Story.” Sharon was an editor at what is now MLive and retired as vice president of the PR firm Truscott Rossman. Her memoir, “It’s Hard Being You,” was named a 2023 Michigan Notable Book, and she is currently making book appearances. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SUMMER? We are looking forward to seeing our son’s band, Lord Huron, at the 10,000-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado this summer, and the new movie he scored, “The Starling Girl,” at the theater. Best of all, we will get to see all of our far-flung children and grandchildren in Michigan. We’re very grateful for it all.
INGREDIENTS
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 2 cups frozen pineapple
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• Pinch of sea salt
DIRECTIONS
1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed.
2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes.
3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
This is a testimonial by an existing client of FAI Advisors. No compensation was provided for this testimonial. This client’s experience is not necessarily representative of all clients’ experiences.
3 888-466-5453
39395 W. 12 Mile Road Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48331
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
888-466-5453 www.financialarch.com
Inside This Issue 1 | Sherry Hanford Has a New Role at FAI!
2 | Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
2 | We’re Adding Something New to Our Podcasts!
3 | Chat With a Client: Sharon Emery and John Schneider
3 | Homemade Dole Whip
4 | A Furry Hero in Mexico
How the World Fell for Frida Rescue Dog’s Legacy Lives On
Dressed in protective goggles, blue booties, and a matching vest, this incredible rescue dog became a symbol of hope in Mexico. Frida, a cheerful yellow Labrador retriever, was a devoted member of the Mexican Navy known for her search and rescue skills. Trained to find people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, Frida always worked hard to save lives. Frida became a national hero when a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake took more than 300 lives and injured many more. While sifting through dangerous debris and aftershocks, Frida saved 12 people after finding them alive while uncovering more than 40 bodies during her lifesaving career. While the nation was devastated by the disaster, this smiley rescue pup brought worldwide attention to the tragedy. Frida’s dedication (and impeccable style) quickly made her an internet celebrity, and soon, murals of the lifesaving canine graced the walls of Mexico City. Even Captain America, aka Chris Evans, gave Frida a shoutout on Twitter, adding, “What did we do to deserve dogs?”
Ecuador before retiring from her position in 2019 at 10 years old to live the rest of her days in comfort and love. Sadly, the Mexican Navy announced Frida’s
passing in November 2022 due to old age. She was 13 years old.
In her honor, a magnificent bronze statue of Frida, clad in goggles and boots, stands in
front of the Mexican Navy office in Mexico City. On the day of her death, the Mexican Navy changed their Twitter banner to an illustration of Frida and spread the hashtag
“#HastaSiempreFrida.” Frida will always be remembered for her lifesaving work and the hope she embodied for the entire world.
The hero dog then traveled the world, helping countries suffering from the aftermath of disastrous earthquakes. Frida saved lives in Haiti and
www.financialarch.com 4
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator