Financial Architects - October 2020

Financial Architects - October 2020

OCTOBER 2020

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A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM A FIGHTER

U.S.). I loved being able to help people through my work as a real estate attorney, and my passion only increased when I started working for a mortgage company. Within two years, I’d learned all of the positions in the company and bought the business, which I called Equity Funding, Inc. & Associates. It was incredibly freeing for me to be my own boss, and I enjoyed it for 10 years. But in 2008, it became clear that even though I understood the mortgage business front to back, I’d messed up my financial plan. Equity Funding went under, but instead of giving up on my dreams, I developed a new plan for my future. In 2013, I became an insurance agent, which was the best decision I ever made. My mom’s crash was 2014, and I was dealing with a cancer diagnosis and deaths in the family at the time. Yet, it was the best decision I ever made. The second best was joining Financial Architects as a financial representative in September of 2019. Working on my own under the Financial Architects umbrella, I can finally deliver the kind of full-service experience I’ve always wanted to give my clients. When I sit down with a client today (on Zoom, of course!), I always draw on my legal, mortgage, and financial experience to help them in every way I can. Not only can I assist them with retirement, but I can also help with credit repair, questions about financing and explain the basics of QuickBooks. It truly is my dream work. Many people have not had a formal education in finance, and I absolutely

love helping with that and seeing that lightbulb of understanding go on. I’m happy to sit with a client for as long as it takes for them to understand and feel secure in their financial future. As far as this pandemic goes, I’m not going to let it stop me from pursuing my career and enjoying my life. I feel incredibly blessed to be doing this work, and I know God didn’t get me through all of the trials of the past few years only to have me quit now! As I said, I think everything happens for a reason. We tend to panic about anything that changes the expectations we have for our lives, but I think the best way to look at challenges, like this pandemic, is to ask, “What am I supposed to learn from this?” I’m taking this time to work hard, stay in the moment, and reflect on my life. If we all work on accepting where we are, we’ll have a much better outlook going forward. Now is the time to ask ourselves, “What am I doing now, and what can I do differently?” If you’re one of the people who has always felt too busy to pursue your dreams, organize your finances, or plan for the future, now is the time to do it! You can make the life you want a reality. You just have to have hope, and put in the effort and belief to make it happen. If that involves a financial checkup, I’m here to help.

Everything happens for a reason. It might sound a bit cliche, but that’s truly what I believe. My name is Michele Robinson, and I’ve been fighting uphill battles for the last decade. I owned a mortgage company that went belly-up during the 2008 financial crisis, lost my mom to complications due to a car crash, lost my brother to suicide, and was diagnosed with cancer all in the span of a few years. But I’m not taking on the newsletter this month to ask for sympathy — far from it! Instead, I want to tell you about the hope and positivity I’ve found along the way. When I was a little girl, my mom told me I’d make a good lawyer. Like so many lessons from her, I took that advice and ran with it. I studied business, finance, and accounting at university, then earned law degrees in both Canada (where I’m from) and Michigan (where I settled down after moving to the

– Michele Robinson

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A Chat With a Client Nate and Marvalinn Stull

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS? NS: I met Cort Otterbein at a Hillsdale College Alumni event. ... We quickly learned that we had several things in common: our love for Hillsdale College, our commitment to Christ Jesus as savior, and a natural referral relationship as an estate planning attorney and a financial planner. I first met with Cort to see how he could help Marvalinn, my wife, and me with our financial planning needs. We had a great experience learning about the nine Fs and became very excited about Financial Architect's holistic approach to planning. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS VENTURES AND WHAT YOU TWO ARE INVOLVED WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. NS: I am the founder and owner of Real Estate Solutions Unlimited, LLC, known publicly as RESU Homes. We work with distressed homeowners. We help them find solutions for houses that have fallen into great disrepair. Often the solution is for us to purchase the property for cash, remodel the house, and then sell the newly updated home to a new homeowner. ... I also own STULL LAW, PLC where we offer real estate and estate planning legal services. MS: I am a songwriter, pianist, flutist, and worship leader at my local church. Through my music company, Marvelous Music, LLC, I have released two full-length worship albums, and I am currently working with a producer in Franklin, Tennessee, on a couple new songs. One of the rewarding things is knowing the gifts the Lord has given me are blessing others. NS & MS: We are equal owners of Prosperous Properties, LLC, an indie real estate brokerage firm that sells properties for RESU Homes, and homeowners who are fortunate enough to find us through friends and family. WHAT HOBBIES DO YOU ENJOY AND WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GET TO DO THIS SUMMER THAT STANDS OUT? NS & MS: Our hobbies are based around our businesses and our children. We work with our four children to hone their skills and work toward turning their interests and passions into businesses. Our daughter Autumn, 19, is pursuing a professional career in ballet. As part of her pursuit, she is creating some training tools for ballet teachers and students ages 3–9. Our son Grant, 17, is pursuing photography and videography. He photographed his first wedding this past July. He's already being requested for more weddings. Our son Daniel, 14, is pursuing videography and podcasting. He is working on several stop-motion projects and enjoys creating segments for his upcoming “Uncommon Sense” radio podcast. Our son Broc, 12, is pursuing ballet and is in the beginning stages of designing dance clothes for boys and male ballet dancers.

THE SPOOKY ‘STAR WARS’ SHORTAGE OF 1977

A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away. The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.

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. Registered Representatives offer Securities through The O.N. Equity Sales Company, Member FINRA/SIPC (www.FINRA.org/ and www.SIPC.org). Investment Advisory Services offered through O.N. Investment Management Company and FAI Advisors, Inc., Financial Architects, Inc., FAI Advisors, Inc., and The LifeMethod are not subsidiaries or affiliates of The O.N. Equity Sales Company or O.N. Investment Management Company. We have representatives currently registered in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, and WI.

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Take a Break

INSIDE FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS

Teaming Up to Help Transitioning Companies

AN EXCITING NEW ALLIANCE

As Financial Architects continues to grow and evolve, the company is always looking for ways to provide the best services for our clients. As we told you last month, FAI President Chris Cousins earned his CEPA designation recently to help business owners in the transition of their companies. Exit planning is so important, and Financial Architects is joining forces with Absolute Succession, Arbor Valuation, and Empowering Futures, LLC to create the "The Q5 Experience."

Solution on Page 4

Q5 is a collaboration between a group of business consultants that, when working together, helps create and build seamless value that allows a business to grow and transform beyond the foreseeable future. The collaboration is quarterbacked by Absolute Succession CEO John Carter, an expert in the marketplace for exit planning. He has teamed up with Arbor Valuation, a company designed specifically to help business owners determine the value of their enterprise with solid research and analysis. To achieve universal goals and objectives, they must address the Three Legs of The Stool. Addressing this means that you confront your personal issues related to the transfer of your business, meet your financial objectives to live your desired lifestyle, and build "transferable value" in your business. Furthermore, how should the business owner address their wealth management? We tackle the financial leg of the stool here at Financial Architects, Inc. In addition, how will they address the personal leg? We will introduce them to the team at Empowering Futures, LLC and The LifeMethod™. This group takes the business owners through a process that allows them to navigate successfully through life by providing clarity of personal vision, value, and purpose. They will help create a road map for post-transition planning and guide them to answering the ultimate question: What is next?

SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz white chocolate, chopped • 24 strawberries • 1 package mini dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

ASALYN IS FEATURED

FAI advisor Asalyn Coachman recently took part as a panelist on the “Business and Community Leaders Roundtable” webinar series. The show, developed this spring by FAI and The Empowering Futures Podcast Network, highlights local entrepreneurs discussing a variety of issues. Asalyn joined the program focused on growing sales through challenging times. Her panel, hosted by FAI's Matt Dery, included Effectv Local Sales Manager Mary Fork and Alana Nicol, president of Gerry Weinberg and Associates. Asalyn talked about her approach in checking in with

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

existing clients virtually and how important Zoom and GoToMeeting calls have become over the past six months. To view the show, go to GoToStage.com/ channel/empoweringfuturesllc. Then click on Episode 10.

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Inside This Issue 1 | A Message of Hope From Financial Representative Michele Robinson 2 | When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween 2 | A Chat With a Client 3 | Inside Financial Architects 3 | Spooky Strawberry Ghosts 4 | 5 Steps to a Safer Hotel Room

5 Steps to a Safer Hotel Room Keep Strangers and Viruses Out With These Quick Tips

3. QUARANTINE YOUR REMOTE CONTROL. As USA Today puts it, “It's common knowledge that one of the germiest items in a hotel room is the remote control.” To avoid the ick, pick up the remote while wearing gloves and drop it into a Ziploc. Then, remove your gloves and seal the bag. Now you can use the remote without touching it directly! 4. INVEST IN A RUBBER DOOR WEDGE. Viruses aren’t the only risk in hotel rooms — break-ins are another concern. To keep your room secure, bring a rubber door wedge. They cost less than $10 on Amazon and make kicking in a door much more difficult. 5. FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY, BRING A DOOR ALARM. Simple travel alarms hang from the handle of a door and have two prongs that slide between the door and its frame. When the door opens and the prongs separate, that triggers the alarm. These simple devices send thieves running, and Lewis N. Clark makes a model for just $14.99.

Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and your family from illness, but sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe you need to travel for work, to help a relative, or just to keep your kids from bouncing off the walls. If you have a hotel stay on the books, worrying about safety is understandable. But by taking these precautions, you can protect your loved ones and increase your odds of coming home healthy. 1. BRING A SANITATION KIT AND USE IT! Most hotels are going above and beyond to sanitize their rooms these days, but it never hurts to take extra care. Before you check in, pick up cleaning supplies like disinfectant spray, wipes, plastic bags, and gloves. Then, use them to wipe down your room. Focus on big surfaces as well as features like faucet handles, doorknobs, lightswitches, and microwave buttons. 2. SKIP THE DECORATIVE LINENS. Many hotels don’t wash decorative bedding like comforters and fancy pillowcases. To be extra safe, strip these off the bed and wash your hands afterward. If you’re chilly, opt for the hotel’s spare blanket (it’s probably hiding in a closet) or bring one from home.

Hopefully, these tips give you some peace of mind on your next trip. Happy trails!

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