Here’s how the power of professional financial planning can work for you

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During these volatile markets, both Cornerstone Asset Management Services, Inc. and Kruger Consulting Inc. can monitor clients’ portfolios and make changes tactically to help avoid major downdrafts in the stock market. Pictured L-R in the front row: George Anastasakis, Pamela Kruger and Nicholas Anastasakis. L-R standing: Stephanie Travers and Sue Bigley. (Photography: Felicia Vargo)

By Laura Briedis

In this current economy, it is more important than ever to have a financial planner to help you navigate through all the ups and downs. So, in recognition of National Financial Planning Month in October, Mimi reached out to two local companies that have been staples in the community for decades to see how they are helping families and businesses get their finances in order.

Kruger Consulting
A veteran of the insurance business since 1989 and the investment business since 1995, Pamela Kruger founded Kruger Consulting in 2001. With a personal touch, she offers comprehensive financial planning for local residents as well as small businesses.

“The future is always unpredictable. We are dealing with unknowns, such as inflation and interest rates, so that’s why financial planning is so important as it calms the waters,” Pamela says.

“As part of my financial planning services, I set up a time horizon strategy looking at now, soon, and later income and asset needs. You always want to protect your necessary short term needs and expenses,” she says. “My dad taught me to always save some and spend some, and that is still true today.”

With a focus on planning, investing and protecting, Kruger Consulting handles everything from investments to legacy planning to tax savings solutions—and how everything intertwines.

To get started, Pamela outlines six planning steps:

  • Determine your goals and priorities.
  • Create a spending plan.
  • Build an emergency savings fund.
  • Formulate retirement strategies.
  • Manage debt.
  • Establish tax efficiency.

“The sooner you get started on a financial plan, the better your peace of mind,” Pamela says.

Cornerstone Asset Management Services
“Just as important as having a financial plan is to execute it properly, and that is our expertise,” says Nicholas Anastasakis, who, along with his father George, founded Cornerstone Asset Management Services in 2005.

“Everyone’s risk tolerance is different, so we take an unemotional, systematic and disciplined approach to investing,” he says. “We are traders at heart. We do all our own market research in-house, and we monitor all our investment accounts daily looking for opportunities in the market to grow assets, as well as protect assets to create wealth.”

As an investment manager, Cornerstone creates model portfolios, risk-based portfolios and goal-oriented portfolios for its clients.

“When the market is too volatile, we can push it to the sidelines and look for other opportunities to grow wealth in risk-free assets,” says Nicholas, vice president portfolio manager and chief compliance officer. “In this current economy, with rising interest rates, it has created opportunities for fixed investors we have not seen in years. There are money market yields pushing six percent, and that is ideal for conservative investors.”

As a fee-based adviser, Cornerstone’s compensation goes up and down with clients’ account values, so the company is vested in their clients’ success.

“If you don’t like what you are seeing in your own 401(k) returns and other investments, seek a second opinion to maximize your assets,” he says.

Giving Back
Kruger Consulting and Cornerstone Asset Management are thankful for years of community support and want to give back. To show their appreciation, they are holding a food drive to help families in the community.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive—to benefit the South Hills Lend-A-Hand Food Pantry—runs now through November 22. Canned vegetables and soups, rice, pasta, cereals, water, juice boxes, coffee and other non-perishable food items can be dropped off Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1000 W. Wallings Road, Suite D, in Broadview Heights.

Cornerstone Asset Management Services (440-746-0707) and Kruger Consulting (440-234-0300) are located at 1000 W. Wallings Road, Suite D, in Broadview Heights. For more details, visit CornerstoneAssetMgmt.com and KrugerConsulting.info.

Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (JWC), Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Cornerstone Asset Management Services, Inc. (CAMS), and J.W. Cole Advisors. Inc. (JWCA), registered investment advisors. JWC/CAMS/JWCA and Kruger Consulting, Inc. are unaffiliated entities.
Categories: Westside Professional Services