The pandemic has been hard on nearly everyone, and it’s particularly difficult for professionals who normally meet with clients in an office setting. Fortunately, financial advisors have been able to adapt to this “new normal.”

Our goal is to be our clients’ trusted advisors. Once that relationship is established, we can work with clients by phone, email, and even via a Zoom or Facetime call if they prefer. But make no mistake — we’re still here. We understand what it’s like to go through difficult times and a big part of our job is to help you weather challenges just like the one the country is facing now.

One way we do that is by keeping you informed on topical news, from the government’s stimulus package to key factors driving the market. While our job is to build you a financial plan designed to withstand a variety of economic conditions, it’s also important to stay flexible. If you could use advice regarding appropriate financial products for your situation, feel free to contact us. We are always here for you.

Since most financial advisors have long embraced technology to help engage with clients, this has been a true advantage during this time. In fact, the head of one wealth management firm recently observed that client-satisfaction levels have increased during the pandemic because of the many ways that advisors are staying in touch with clients, including phone calls, emails, texts and social media. In many cases, the immediacy and frequency of these interactions have helped facilitate a more substantive and ongoing dialogue between advisor and client.¹

As financial advisors, it’s important for us to monitor not just investment performance, but the long-term outlook of U.S. businesses. According to a recent PwC COVID-19 US CFO Pulse Survey, today’s top concerns among the nation’s finance leaders include:²

• The financial impact on their business, including effects on operations, liquidity and capital resources
• The potential for a global recession
• A reduction in workforce productivity
• A decrease in consumer confidence and reduced consumption
• Supply chain disruptions

By tracking these trends, we can help clients stay on track toward their goals and make course corrections when necessary. Ideally, your investment portfolio is designed to meet long-term goals, so temporary economic or market fluctuations should not precipitate drastic moves. One of our biggest challenges is reassuring clients and discouraging them from making decisions about their money based on panic and fear.

A financial advisor helps you establish a plan that incorporates a whole host of considerations, such as:

• Focusing on your specific goals, such as asset allocation, college funding or retirement income
• Taking a broader look at your entire financial picture, not just your investments
• Taking into account the potential for various types of disruption, whether economic or personal
• Helping you navigate challenges to continue moving toward financial goals despite any future challenges

Remember, our reliance on technology and digital tools is designed to help you stay connected to your accounts with 24/7 access from any device. They also enable us to stay in touch virtually in a private and safe environment.

Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.

1 Jason Bisnoff. Forbes. May 21, 2020. “Merrill Lynch Head Predicts Bull Market For Financial Advice After Covid-19 Stock Selloff.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbisnoff/2020/05/21/merrill-lynch-head-predicts-bull-market-for-financial-advice-after-covid-19-stock-selloff/#4118bdb39f75. Accessed Aug. 19, 2020

2 PwC. April 22, 2020. “How COVID-19 is affecting the asset and wealth management industry.” https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/covid-19/coronavirus-asset-and-wealth-management.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2020.

3 Craig Hawley. June 4, 2020. “Don’t Go it Alone: 4 Benefits of Having a Financial Adviser.” https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/t023-c032-s014-4-benefits-of-having-a-financial-adviser.html. Accessed Sept. 3, 2020.

 Communications such as this are not impartial and are provided in connection with advertising and marketing of the financial services offered by Guardian Capital Management, LLC. Guardian Capital Management, LLC is not an attorney or a tax professional and the information contained herein should not be considered tax or accounting advice, legal or regulatory advice. 

The information provided herein is educational in nature and not designed to be a recommendation for any specific investment product, strategy, plan feature or other purposes. Accordingly, it should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation. Prior to making any investment or financial decisions, an investor should seek individualized advice from a personal financial, legal, tax and other professional advisors that take into account all of the particular facts and circumstances of an investor’s own situation.

Guardian Capital Management, LLC offers investment advice through Belpointe Asset Management, LLC, 125 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 (“Belpointe”). Belpointe is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration with the SEC should not be construed to imply that the SEC has approved or endorsed qualifications or the services Belpointe offers, or that or its personnel possess a particular level of skill, expertise or training. Insurance products are offered through Guardian Resources. Important information and disclosures related to Belpointe are available at http://www.belpointe.com. Additional information pertaining to Guardian Capital Management, LLC and/or Belpointe’s registration status, its business operations, services and fees and its current written disclosure statement is available on the SEC’s Investment Adviser public website at https://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/.