Winter in Minnesota has a way of slowing life down. After the rush of the holidays, the quieter months invite us to breathe, reset, and refocus on what matters most. For blended families, this stretch of the year can bring unique emotional and financial dynamics—different schedules, traditions, and expectations—but it can also offer meaningful opportunities for connection.
Shorter days and limited sunlight may still affect energy and mood, and a wintery mix of higher utility bills, travel, holiday shopping, and entertaining can stretch a family’s budget. But these challenges don’t have to define the season.
At Endurance Financial Group, we believe winter can be more than something you simply “get through.” With a few intentional habits—emotionally, financially, and relationally—you can help your family feel grounded, supported, and united all the way to spring.
Start with Shared Intentions
When it comes to winter wellness, clarity starts with conversation. Instead of jumping into plans or routines on autopilot, take time to talk as a couple and as a family about what matters to you right now. Is it creating space for rest? Rebuilding energy? Supporting each other through a long stretch of indoors? Identifying shared intentions helps you design a season that feels supportive rather than draining.
For blended families, this step is especially meaningful. Each household may bring different expectations, rhythms, and spending habits to the table. Including everyone—stepchildren, teens, and even extended family when possible—in conversations about priorities, winter budgets, and weekly routines can create a greater sense of unity and mutual respect. The goal isn’t for everything to go perfectly; it’s about fostering connection and shared purpose.
Whenever possible, coordinate across households to keep things predictable and manageable. This helps reduce misunderstandings and creates a steadier emotional pace for kids and adults alike.
Once your family’s values are clear, turn them into a practical plan.
Set financial goals that reflect what’s most important, not what social media or culture says you “should” do. Many families start the year hoping to rein in spending or regain clarity after a more expensive December. A clear, agreed-upon budget grounds financial choices in intention, not reaction. Using shared tools or budgeting apps helps keep everyone aligned and eases the mental load.
Some families find that focusing on small, meaningful experiences, like a weekly indoor game night, Sunday soup dinners, or cozy movie marathons, adds more joy than trying to fill every weekend. Simple shared experiences like these are what bring warmth and connection during the coldest stretch of the year.
Support Emotional Wellness Across the Family
Shorter days, colder weather, and limited sunlight can take an emotional toll, especially when cabin fever sets in. For blended families juggling the priorities and responsibilities of multiple households, predictability and open communication can bring a sense of calm and togetherness.
Kids thrive when schedules are steady and transitions are smooth. Try keeping morning and evening routines consistent across households, and check in regularly to reduce surprises or misunderstandings. This is a great time to revisit what’s working and gently adjust what’s not.
It’s also important to acknowledge the impact of winter on mood. Reduced sunlight can lower serotonin levels and contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with symptoms ranging from fatigue to irritability. Encourage outdoor time whenever possible—yes, even when it’s cold—and consider tools like light therapy boxes or vitamin D supplements as needed.
Simple daily practices can also support emotional balance. Try a family gratitude ritual, such as sharing one highlight from the day at dinner. Or create space for low-pressure connection through joint hobbies, winter walks, or casual check-ins.
Most of all, give yourself and your family permission to slow down. Winter isn’t about maximizing output. It’s about pacing yourselves with empathy and intention.
Reflect and Reset for the Year Ahead
As the new year unfolds, take time to reflect on what your family has navigated together—and where you want to go from here.
Blended families often manage more moving parts, and that deserves recognition. Celebrate your shared wins, talk openly about what’s felt stressful, and use those insights to shape the months ahead. These conversations build trust and lay the groundwork for stronger family systems.
Financially, this is an ideal moment to reset. Review your household spending with curiosity, not criticism. What supported your well-being? What might you adjust this year? Reconnect with your long-term goals—saving for college, planning a future trip, or building more financial flexibility—and consider meeting with a financial advisor to create a plan that reflects your evolving priorities.
Winter doesn’t have to feel heavy. With clarity, connection, and a few intentional shifts, it can become a season of quiet strength, deeper relationships, and renewed purpose.
If you’ve tried sticking to a budget, over and over again, but mostly failed, then maybe traditional budgeting techniques just aren’t for you.
You don’t have to use your grandmother’s budgeting options, carefully assigning money to each spending category each month, then rigidly sticking to it. Delve into these alternatives to see if any of them might work for you.
Behavior Based Finances
The trouble with budgets is they’re all about controlling (and often restricting) your spending, not about how you’re actually supposed to do that. Mostly it’s assumed you’ll rely on sheer willpower, which is kind of exhausting.
But it’s possible to come at things from the opposite direction, and reduce spending by changing behaviors rather than using willpower. Many people find that changing behavior and habits works better than obsessively trying to control spending.
By changing what you do you can change (and restrict) how much you spend. This can look different for different people. But it could include:
Delving into cheaper (or free) hobbies and activities
Listing 50 free things to do around you and crossing one off each weekend
Organizing fun, social, clothing swap events instead of shopping
Planning most of your friend dates around walking in nature, perhaps with a home brewed coffee
Volunteering as a social activity
Having a weekly or monthly library day if you’re a bit of a book addict
Joining local ‘no buy’ groups or community sharing schemes
Trying out creative hobbies (from jewelry making to wood working) that leave you with a product to give as gifts when birthdays crop up
Automating saving, investing and bill paying at the beginning of each pay cycle so you don’t have to think about it
Which of these work for you and which don’t will depend on personal preferences, and what works for you may not be on the list. Take half an hour to sit down and brainstorm what would.
Cash Stuffing
I’ve written about the art of cash stuffing before. It’s a budgeting technique much loved by Gen Z that has become a bit of a trend on TikTok and other social platforms.
It basically involves using real cash for discretionary purchases whenever possible, and literally stuffing it into different envelopes (or other physical containers) marked with the category that the cash is to be spent on, such as food, gas, or entertainment.
You don’t even have to use cash to follow the cash stuffing philosophy. Many people split their money into digital pots using banking apps, often calling it the ‘bucket method’ where there’s a certain amount of funds in each ‘bucket’ that can only be spent on what it’s allocated for.
The digital method works well for some, but using cash seems to bring a little more awareness and a certain amount of gamification into the process, and our brains just love that. Cash stuffing is similar to traditional budgeting but with a twist. And that twist seems to actually make budgeting more fun for some people.
Paycheck Budgeting
An issue many have with traditional budgeting is that it’s just so inflexible, assuming you’ll spend the same amount on the same category indefinitely, and that your income will never vary. And life’s just not like that. Many find it’s easier to adopt a continuous budgeting program that means you budget each paycheck as it comes in.
This simply means that you’ll be engaging with your budgeting process each month or each pay cycle, looking at exactly what you want to achieve in that time period and what it will cost, and planning your life around what you have to spend right now.
This can be particularly useful for those working on commissions or tips, freelancers and small business owners, those with a varying work schedule, or anyone whose income fluctuates for any reason.
If that’s you, you’ve probably had a few ‘ramen months’ when the money just isn’t there. But paycheck budgeting can actually include paying into a ‘lean month’ fund (separate from your general emergency fund or any other savings you have). A fund that’s there for the sole purpose of seeing you through the months where income drops more than you expected it to. Then you can dip into it without guilt when your paycheck takes a hit due to circumstances beyond your control.
Paycheck budgeting may seem like more work — because it is — but for some it just works better. It helps you keep on top of your money situation, especially if it varies, and some people report that it actually motivates them to keep increasing their income opportunities as it keeps them engaged with and aware of their financial reality on a more regular schedule.
Budgeting helps us stay on top of our finances, but it can look a little different for everyone, depending on what suits your current lifestyle and goals. It’s okay to try a little experimenting until you find exactly what works for you.
About the Author
Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine.
Learn More About Karen
Financial services firms have become increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals with data breaches, ransomware, and other cyber-enabled fraud costing the industry billions of dollars. Protecting your firm and client data is not just an IT problem but also a business continuity, regulatory, and reputational risk. A full awareness of the nature and extent of cybersecurity threats and the need to execute a proactive, firm-wide strategy is essential in defending against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
Through these webinars, Ultimus brought together a panel of cybersecurity experts: Shawn Waldman, CEO of Secure Cyber; Ron Sharon, Chief Information Security Officer, PTMA Financial Solutions; and Melvin Van Cleave, SVP of Technology at Ultimus Fund Solutions. The sessions were packed with practical advice for investment professionals and back-office staff that requires simple, repeatable practices in everyday routines and the concept of “cyber hygiene”. This article will recap the essential insights and actionable steps you can take to strengthen your cybersecurity defenses.
The Business Case for Strong Cyber Hygiene
The numbers speak for themselves as to why developing a firm-wide cyber defense strategy and practicing cyber hygiene should be given the highest strategic importance for every firm. Facts referenced from Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (Verizon 2025 DBIR) and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) :
Cybercrime costs exceeded $16 billion globally in 2024. (IC3)
$13.7 billion in losses were reported from cyber-enabled fraud in 2024. (IC3)
Third-party breaches have doubled between 2024 and 2025. (IC3)
Ransomware involved in 44% of data breaches. (Verizon 2025 DBIR)
Average breach cost in the US: $10.2 million. (IBM CDBR 2025)
As panelists pointed out, the current average breach cost in the US is $10.2 million. This figure does not even account for the damage to a firm’s reputation, continuity, or the regulatory headaches that follow. This all makes proactive investment in cyber controls far less expensive than remediation.
Sean Waldman, CEO of Secure Cyber, put it plainly: the biggest business case for strong cyber hygiene is “to stay off the radar and avoid looking bad to clients. In an industry built on trust, a security incident can be an existential threat.”
How Cyber Threats Are Evolving
Attackers have evolved to use advanced methods such as SIM swapping to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) delivered via SMS. Authenticator apps are recommended over SMS for MFA. The rise of AI-driven threats (e.g., deepfakes, voice mimicking) also complicates detection and increases the need for user training.
Breaches increasingly occur through compromised third-party vendors. Attackers may manipulate invoices or communications to redirect payments or gain access to sensitive data. These supply chain and third-party risks have been rising to the point that regulatory bodies, like the SEC, are increasingly focusing on third-party risk management.
An important point made was that cyber attackers target organizations of all sizes, including firms with as few as two employees. Smaller firms are often more vulnerable due to limited resources and less robust defenses. Smaller financial firms assume a false confidence that they are too small for any attacker to care about them, assuming cyber criminals are only targeting larger, high-revenue firms.
Human Error: Strengthening the Weakest Link
According to the Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, a staggering 68% of breaches involve a human element. This means that a simple mistake, like clicking a bad link, can have devastating consequences. Social engineering remains the most prevalent threat, including phishing emails and fraudulent requests that trick employees into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information. This makes security a firm-wide shared responsibility.
Recommendations Offered:
Layered Security Approach – Move beyond basic firewalls; implement multi-layered defenses including endpoint detection and response (EDR), email filtering, and continuous monitoring. Regularly update and patch all systems, including firewalls, servers, and IoT devices.
User Training and Awareness – Invest in ongoing user training to recognize phishing, social engineering, and emerging threats like deepfakes. Promote a culture of zero trust: always verify, never assume, especially for unsolicited communications.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Use authenticator apps rather than SMS for MFA to mitigate SIM swapping risks. Enforce MFA across all accounts, both business and personal. This creates a critical layer of security by requiring a second verification step for all internet accounts.
Password Management – Adopt password managers instead of browser-based ones to create and store strong, unique passwords and prevent reuse and weak passwords. Recommended solutions include Keeper, 1Password, and Roboform.
Third-Party and Vendor Due Diligence – Conduct thorough vetting and ongoing monitoring of third-party vendors. Use tools like Security Scorecard to assess external-facing assets.
Incident Reporting and Compliance – Stay informed about regulatory requirements (e.g., SEC, CISA laws) and ensure mandatory incident reporting where applicable.
Secure Communication and Data Sharing – Use encrypted email gateways and secure portals (e.g., Sharefile) for transmitting sensitive information.
Personal Cyber Hygiene – Encourage employees to apply cyber hygiene practices at home, as remote work blurs the line between personal and business risk.
Master Your Inbox with the “Hover Test” – Before clicking links, hover over them to check the destination URL. If suspicious, do not click.
Endpoint Protection for Remote Work – Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions and encrypt devices, especially for remote employees.
Stay Ahead with Threat Intelligence – Utilize free resources like the Known Exploited Vulnerability (KEV) Catalog (maintained by the federal government for tracking critical vulnerabilities), Security Scorecard, and reputable news sources (KrebsOnSecurity.com, or BleepingComputer.com) to stay informed about evolving threats.
Bottomline Cybersecurity Priorities
Both webinars emphasized that cybersecurity is not just a technical issue, but a business necessity. The most effective defense strategy combines technology, training, and vigilance across both organizational and personal domains. The cyber threat landscape is evolving rapidly, and organizations must adapt by fostering a culture of security, exercising daily cyber hygiene, investing in layered defenses, and staying informed about the latest risks and solutions. Building a secure digital environment is an ongoing journey.
Bill Hortz is an independent business consultant and Founder/Dean of the Institute for Innovation Development- a financial services business innovation platform and network. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including expertise in sales/marketing/branding of asset management firms, as well as, creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms, including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman and Templeton Funds Distributors. His wide ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation and strategic account management as the nexus of business skills needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.
It’s not unusual to hear people of working age complaining that they’ll never be able to retire. But for most of us, retirement is an option. However it’s also a reversible option. And it’s surprising how many people do reverse it, whether through choice or necessity.
Every retirement looks different and every return to work is a little different too, but there are some underlying reasons why many retirees are back in work not long after leaving it.
The Deceptive Attraction of FIRE
The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement has been popular for many years now. It generally involves working hard, living frugally and saving and investing aggressively to build a nest egg at a very early age, often before hitting your 40th birthday.
FIRE is embodied in the type of motivational quotes that you’ll find all over the internet, along the lines of:
Do what 90% of people won’t do for ten years so you can do what 90% of people can’t for the rest of your life.
But many commentators are starting to point out that there’s a big gap between what the FIRE movement promises its disciples and the cold hard realities of very early retirement.
Writer and researcher Alex Carter tracked 380 early retirees and found that over 80% of them returned to some kind of work within four years, often having ‘failed’ at FIRE, because frankly in the 2020s, the numbers no longer stack up. There are a few reasons for this.
The cost of living is soaring, and many FIRE plans didn’t allow for inflation at this level.
Aggressive investing strategies can be risky, and continuing this path in retirement (a time when those of traditional retirement age sensibly switch to more conservative investment strategies) doesn’t always pay off.
Retiring at a very early age means you still have the expenses of a young, fit, adventurous person — you’re generally not going to be enjoying your low-cost hobbies and playing with your grandchildren.
Traditional retirement plans — like the 4% rule — just don’t work for retirements that might last several decades, so FIRE plans can be full of miscalculations.
Many of the FIRE enthusiasts of the last few years hit their retirement goals, retired, and now have no choice financially but to go back to work.
The Social Pitfalls of Retirement
Another reason that many retirees (of any age) end up back in paid work is the realisation that retirement, in the words of one retiree I spoke to recently, “just ain’t all that”.
If you’re tired of hard work it’s easy to assume that endless leisure is the answer, but endless leisure is not really what humans are designed for.
Most human beings need several things to feel truly fulfilled: a sense of purpose, the satisfaction of making a contribution to the world, a feeling that someone values what they’re doing, daily social interactions, and a challenge of some kind (mental, physical, creative, intellectual, or emotional).
All these things have, for many retirees, been closely linked with their working lives. And removing them is often not the Nirvana they imagined. They can be regained without paid work, of course. Perhaps through volunteering, family or community involvement, or creative hobbies.
But many find that some form of paid work — perhaps part-time, flexible, seasonal, and/or more enjoyable than what they did for their long-term career — makes them happier than traditional retirement, while also providing valuable extra income long into those later years when your financial pot is often shrinking.
The Pull of a Fresh Start
Linked to the point above, retirement can be a revelation for some. As one retiree once told me: “Turns out I didn’t hate work, I just hated my job.”
Retirement can last an awfully long time these days, with many of us living into our 80s, 90s or even 100s. It’s gone from being a few years at the end of life to a genuine “third act” where we have the possibility to reinvent ourselves, try something new, and find a job we actually like.
We’re generally freed from two things in retirement. The first is societal judgement. We can do something that’s not a profession, but a fun job. That’s because our identity is now “retired teacher” for example, so if we want to work part-time in a hardware store, a farm shop, or a garden center, why not? This is just something we do to keep busy. It’s not our whole personality anymore.
The second type of freedom is financial. Retirees may be feeling the cost of living squeeze, but they also invariably have a pension of some kind, or at least regular social security payments coming in.
While there’s no doubt that financial pressure is often a factor in the decision to return to work, the money is usually supplementing retirement income — however modest that might be — so there’s an opportunity to work a job you enjoy for less money.
Many retirees are becoming writers, artists, jewelry makers or potters. They’re taking a creative hobby or passion and turning it into a fresh start and, potentially, a successful business, or at least an extra income stream. It is perhaps a little sad they didn’t get to do this earlier, but maybe — with our longer lifespans and increased healthspans — that’s exactly what we should be using our third act for.
About the Author
Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine.
Learn More About Karen
Find financial advisors in Santa Fe, New Mexico ready to help with your financial planning needs so you can enjoy life more with less money stress.
Whether you have lived in Santa Fe for years or recently moved to town, you may need help finding the right financial advisor in the community best suited for your individual needs.
It’s important to first consider your own financial planning priorities before choosing an advisor. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started along with financial advisors in Santa Fe featured on Wealthtender you may want to add to your shortlist.
Featured Santa Fe Financial Advisors
As you prepare to interview financial advisors in Santa Fe who may be right for you, get to know local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Santa Fe
Check back soon! When local advisors in Santa Fe join Wealthtender, we’ll feature them here.
📍 Additional Advisors Who Serve Clients in Santa Fe
In addition to the advisors featured above, these advisors can also meet with you in person in Santa Fe.
The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Santa Fe
Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.
As a resident living in Santa Fe, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.
Do you work for one of the largest employers in Santa Fe? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.
When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.
Quick Tips For Hiring an Santa Fe Financial Advisor
Before hiring a financial advisor in Santa Fe, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.
1. Decide Which Services You Need
Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.
Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:
Budgeting and money management
Debt management
Insurance planning
Retirement planning
Other investment planning
Inheritance planning
Estate planning
Tax planning
As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.
Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.
2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences
Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.
If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.
3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors
Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:
What services do you provide?
What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
What is your investment strategy?
How do you measure investment performance?
How do we communicate about my plan?
Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.
4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials
Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.
As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.
For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources
How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?
You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.
But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.
Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?
You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.
Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?
After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings.
Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.
I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?
Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian
Find financial advisors in Joplin, Missouri ready to help with your financial planning needs so you can enjoy life more with less money stress.
Whether you have lived in Joplin for years or recently moved to town, you may need help finding the right financial advisor in the community best suited for your individual needs.
It’s important to first consider your own financial planning priorities before choosing an advisor. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started along with financial advisors in Joplin featured on Wealthtender you may want to add to your shortlist.
Featured Joplin Financial Advisors
As you prepare to interview financial advisors in Joplin who may be right for you, get to know local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Joplin
Double-click (or pinch the map on mobile devices) to zoom in and expand the details for financial advisors whose primary office location is in Joplin.
The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Joplin
Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.
As a resident living in Joplin, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.
Do you work for one of the largest employers in Joplin? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.
When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.
Quick Tips For Hiring an Joplin Financial Advisor
Before hiring a financial advisor in Joplin, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.
1. Decide Which Services You Need
Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.
Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:
Budgeting and money management
Debt management
Insurance planning
Retirement planning
Other investment planning
Inheritance planning
Estate planning
Tax planning
As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.
Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.
2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences
Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.
If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.
3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors
Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:
What services do you provide?
What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
What is your investment strategy?
How do you measure investment performance?
How do we communicate about my plan?
Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.
4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials
Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.
As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.
For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources
How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?
You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.
But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.
Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?
You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.
Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?
After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings.
Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.
I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?
Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian
Find financial advisors in Springfield, Missouri ready to help with your financial planning needs so you can enjoy life more with less money stress.
Whether you have lived in Springfield for years or recently moved to town, you may need help finding the right financial advisor in the community best suited for your individual needs.
It’s important to first consider your own financial planning priorities before choosing an advisor. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started along with financial advisors in Springfield featured on Wealthtender you may want to add to your shortlist.
Featured Springfield Financial Advisors
As you prepare to interview financial advisors in Springfield who may be right for you, get to know local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Springfield
Double-click (or pinch the map on mobile devices) to zoom in and expand the details for financial advisors whose primary office location is in Springfield.
The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Springfield
Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.
As a resident living in Springfield, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.
Do you work for one of the largest employers in Springfield? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.
When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.
Quick Tips For Hiring an Springfield Financial Advisor
Before hiring a financial advisor in Springfield, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.
1. Decide Which Services You Need
Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.
Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:
Budgeting and money management
Debt management
Insurance planning
Retirement planning
Other investment planning
Inheritance planning
Estate planning
Tax planning
As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.
Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.
2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences
Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.
If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.
3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors
Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:
What services do you provide?
What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
What is your investment strategy?
How do you measure investment performance?
How do we communicate about my plan?
Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.
4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials
Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.
You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.
As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.
For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.
Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources
How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?
You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.
But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.
Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?
You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.
Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?
After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings.
Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.
I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?
Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.
Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian
Matt Novello, Managing Director of FLX Media | Image Credit: Institute for Innovation Development
[According to a 2025 Wyzowl survey of a large cross-section of marketing professionals, video as a marketing tool is used by 89% of businesses and is considered integral to the marketing strategy of 95% of those marketers – an all-time high. Data reinforces that explainer videos comfortably top the charts as the most popular video type created, and that consumers are more receptive to video marketing than ever.
Barriers to adoption, though, still exist for many marketers, with most citing time constraints or simply not knowing where to start as their main obstacles. This indicates that getting started with video marketing could feel overwhelming.
To better understand how to tap into video marketing and its creative applications in financial services, we reached out to Matt Novello, Managing Director of FLX Media, a subsidiary services partner on the FLX Networks wealth and asset management platform. Matt brings a unique perspective to the industry from his previous work as a co-owner of a Los Angeles production company and Director of Photography for a wide array of television and cable projects. As a winner of a slew of video awards from SIA, AVA Digital, Viddy, and The Telly Awards for video work with his asset manager and wealth firm clients, we asked him to share his unique perspectives and experiences on the nature and power of the medium of video.]
Hortz: What is meant by the saying that video brings content to life?
Novello: When advisors or portfolio managers are trying to get across their message, they ultimately want to be relaying trust. That is at the forefront of any relationship, especially when we are dealing with finance and money.
While video messaging can establish subject matter expertise, its real power is in helping establish trust. Its rich visual nature addresses the fact that people want to see who they are dealing with. It can become a kind of virtual handshake, a way to get to know you, build your brand, and gain visibility and traction in a very scalable way.
In a video, you are able to utilize cinematography – a visual language – with strong client-centered messaging, and evocative music that can combine all those elements to create an emotion, an emotion that drives impact. I see it as the ultimate combination of all the arts rolled into one. You can do things and say things in a way that just does not come across in everyday conversation or in standard marketing brochures. It creates living, breathing differentiation from other competitors and that is really the heart of how it brings content to life. We always say it’s your story, but we just help you tell it in a powerful way.
Hortz: From your unique experiences in both the entertainment and financial services industries, how do you develop media content for a financial firm that differentiates them? How do you help them tell their most compelling story?
Novello: I look at it in a few different ways, of course. From one perspective, I look at myself as a cinematographer of a particular subject – the choices I consciously make in how I tell the story visually, how I use light, what lenses I use in different situations or locations. Is there camera movement, or advantageous camera positioning? There’s an art and skill in filming the subject in a way that separates them as unique individuals and thought leaders.
From another perspective, it is really getting to know your subject personally, with the ultimate goal being to humanize them and find out what makes them tick. Why did they get into this space? Why did they choose to work in finance and their particular markets?
When you look at the websites or speak to most asset managers, financial advisors, or wealth management firms, a lot of them are saying the same things. Many of their goals are the same, like protecting downside risk. So, I ask questions to dig into their underlying motivations and goals. My goal is to differentiate them from what everyone else is doing and saying. If the subject is a firm, I ask why that firm exists beyond just making money and a return for their clients? What is the ultimate goal? What are we solving for?
I then add my visual skillset, essentially adding an extra layer of accessibility to see them as human and distinctive to gain trust and emotional connection.
Hortz: What are the various video media solutions you offer to meet the unique goals of different financial firms?
Novello: We like to look at our different video solutions as a spectrum of offerings – brand videos, product videos, spotlight videos, FLX Reels. At one end is a bespoke, onsite, white glove, directed experience where I am onsite working with firm leadership or their advisors at their offices, and it is very high touch. We assemble a small, nimble team of craftsmen and cameras to help tell their story on site, using the practical backdrop of the office and in-person filming.
Towards the other end of that spectrum, it can be virtually hands-off on the FLX platform with our embedded virtual FLX Studios designed to meet people where they are – no travel and easy plug-in from their offices. Within this area, we can produce low-touch, low-involvement firm narratives and firm video messaging for clients. We can also offer full direct use of our video studio with the click of a button for speed and market responsiveness, where firms can get out their timely market or quarterly updates with their portfolio managers or other designated spokespeople. Of course, there’s a director’s version of that where I, or someone from our media team, will sit in with the folks and guide them through the studio environment, prompting them with questions, or whatever else they may need.
To round out our video solutions, FLX Reels offers digital avatars to solve for busy Portfolio Managers or advisors who do not have the time or the desire to be on camera. This is fully on the other end of the spectrum from the high-touch onsite experience, with FLX virtual Studios sitting in between.
Hortz: What are the key parameters or elements needed for a media product to be effective?
Novello: I always go back to story. Everybody has a story, but is it unique? Is that message coming across? Ultimately, I think it boils down to your message and why people should pay attention to you. Why are you different? I think if we can capture that, it is the biggest part of the job. But also, with the attention span these days, it must be concise, unless someone is tuning in to hear about something in their portfolio, and they know they are signing up for something detailed like that. You must catch people’s attention, do it quickly, and be different.
To do that – building a differentiated story or approach – you have to develop the right storyboard with the client to really sift out and determine those differentiators and emotional connectors. Sometimes it is hard for firms to do it themselves, to discover those elements. They need that third-party perspective, or you get the same sounding story across industry websites and marketing brochures.
Hortz: Once the media product is done, how do you help them broadcast and amplify that media message?
Novello: One of the reasons it made a great deal of sense for the FLX Networks platform to create a video content Studio, as opposed to using outside agencies, is that we are directly tethered to the asset and wealth communities. We can easily broadcast and amplify media content of all kinds.
We gain that ability to scale the message, obviously through our social channels, but also through our targeted email campaigns to financial advisors, our newsletters across channels that have this wide net, but can also be targeted at the same time. We are orchestrating campaigns where we are following the lead-gen process and passing those leads off to our client members.
Hortz: Can you give us a brief case study on your engagement with a financial firm on video marketing and the results of a recent video product?
Novello: A lot of our engagements honestly start with a firm having had a bad experience with video media. They did something before and they were completely turned off by it. Through their relationship with us here on the FLX Networks platform and getting exposed to all the different capabilities we have, we talked them into giving it another shot with our help to correct all the previous mistakes that were made. Our winning over sixteen major video marketing awards across multiple video award groups also helped us in making the case.
After one video with a recent asset manager, they were so pleased with the quality of the messaging and the results that they just signed up for four more. Many of our case studies and experiences followed that same playbook – converting them and changing their experiences with the power of video.
Hortz: Any concluding thoughts you would like to share?
Novello: I would just like to clearly reinforce that our goal at FLX Media is to deliver meaningful video content that grows audience engagement, generates leads, and gives brands their unique voice, all while saving the firm time and money building in-house production teams and infrastructure. And every video we produce is amplified through FLX’s proprietary email and social channels, ensuring your message reaches the audiences that matter most.
I am personally thrilled and privileged to bring my visual skillset and video production experience to financial services to help bring their important work and messaging to life in a powerful way to better engage their audience. I welcome discussions to explore a creative collaboration.
Bill Hortz is an independent business consultant and Founder/Dean of the Institute for Innovation Development- a financial services business innovation platform and network. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including expertise in sales/marketing/branding of asset management firms, as well as, creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms, including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman and Templeton Funds Distributors. His wide ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation and strategic account management as the nexus of business skills needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.
Olga Emelianova, MSCI Screening and Impact Research | Image Credit: Institute for Innovation Development
[As personalization continues to transform wealth management, advisors are being asked to accommodate not just an investor’s financial objectives but also their deeply held values, beliefs, and personal identity. Among these, faith-based considerations – particularly within the rapidly expanding universe of Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) – are becoming increasingly important.
Many investors within Christian communities want their financial lives to reflect the same principles that guide their personal and spiritual decisions. Yet the tools for systematically evaluating whether a company aligns with, or conflicts with, these values have historically been limited.
To explore how MSCI is helping fill this need with its new Christian Values Screening solution, I spoke with Olga Emelianova, who leads MSCI Screening and Impact Research supporting value-based investment strategies, impact investing frameworks, and sustainable finance polices alignment. We asked her questions to help us better understand the value-based screening process and how it addresses the needs of faith-based investors.]
Hortz: Why is personalization, especially value-based personalization, becoming such an essential part of modern wealth management?
Emelianova: Personalization has become a hallmark of the modern advisory relationship because investors increasingly expect their financial lives to reflect their identities. What was once a conversation focused solely on risk tolerance, goal achievement, or time horizons has evolved into a deeper exploration of who the client is and what matters to them.
For many, personal values, whether rooted in ethics, culture, or faith, play a major role in shaping how they want their capital deployed. Advisors who can authentically integrate values into portfolio design deepen engagement, enhance trust, and deliver a more holistic wealth experience.
Hortz: How does faith, and specifically Christian or BRI investing, fit into this personalization trend?
Emelianova: Faith-based guidelines vary widely, which made it difficult to design investment screens that were both rigorous and adaptable. We learned that while many institutions share similar foundational beliefs, the degree to which they apply exclusions varies widely. Some want to avoid any ties to certain activities, while others set revenue thresholds.
Our consultations helped us understand these nuances and build a framework that wealth managers can adapt depending on the client’s level of conviction. That adaptability is one of the reasons advisors find the dataset valuable.
Hortz: What challenges have wealth and asset managers faced in implementing faith-aligned investment strategies?
Emelianova: One of the biggest challenges has been the lack of structured, consistent, and transparent data that captures the nuance of Christian values across denominations and practitioners. In many cases, the underlying information does exist, but it is just not disclosed in a consistent or easily usable way. Wealth teams often lack the dedicated resources needed to research and validate company involvement in the activities that matter to faith-driven clients.
That is why structured screening datasets have become so valuable: they consolidate complex disclosure into clear, interpretable signals that advisors can use to create portfolios aligned with client convictions.
Hortz:How does MSCI’s Christian Values Screening address these challenges?
Emelianova: MSCI’s Christian Values Screening provides a structured, research-driven foundation that allows advisors to understand where companies may be involved in business activities considered misaligned with evangelical Christian values in the United States. The dataset uses MSCI’s long-standing Business Involvement Screening Research (BISR) to measure specific activities and revenue exposures.
Advisors can use ready-made aggregate factors or customize screens to reflect individual client preferences. By grounding the solution in transparent data and clearly defined methodologies, we can help advisors apply faith-based criteria consistently, reliably, and at scale.
Hortz: Can you explain the purpose of the three aggregate screening factors you developed – Faith Essentials, Faith Plus, and Faith Conviction?
Emelianova: The three aggregate factors were developed to reflect common patterns observed across evangelical Christian investment policies, but with enough flexibility to account for the diversity of conviction within Christian communities.
Faith Essentials represents a foundational set of exclusions that many practitioners consider core.
Faith Plus expands the scope to incorporate additional sensitivities.
Faith Conviction provides the most stringent level, interpreting values with the highest degree of restriction.
These tiers act as reference points rather than prescriptive standards, giving advisors a scalable starting framework that can be adjusted according to each client’s interpretation of their values.
Hortz:How might this type of screening bring value to client portfolios beyond moral alignment?
Emelianova: Values-aligned investing offers benefits that extend beyond the exclusion of certain business activities. When clients feel that their portfolios reflect their beliefs, they may be more committed to their long-term investment plans, which can support better financial behavior.
This alignment also strengthens the advisor-client bond by fostering deeper trust and more meaningful conversations about purpose and priorities. For many investors, being able to integrate faith into their investment decisions enhances satisfaction and engagement, contributing to a more holistic investment experience.
Hortz: How do you see personalization, and faith-based investment specifically, evolving in the years ahead?
Emelianova: We believe personalization will continue to expand into areas that allow investors to fully express their values and identity through their portfolios. Faith-based investing is increasingly being supported by more sophisticated data, analytics, and customization tools that make these strategies easier to implement across diversified portfolios.
As advisors look to serve next-generation clients and refine their value proposition, scalable values-based solutions – whether focused on faith, ethics, or other personal priorities – will become an integral component of modern wealth management.
Bill Hortz is an independent business consultant and Founder/Dean of the Institute for Innovation Development- a financial services business innovation platform and network. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including expertise in sales/marketing/branding of asset management firms, as well as, creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms, including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman and Templeton Funds Distributors. His wide ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation and strategic account management as the nexus of business skills needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.
