Spend Your Life Wisely™ Client Newsletter - Autumn 2024

In this Edition:

  • Implementing Standards of Care

  • Firmwide Volunteer Day: 180 Degrees

  • Edina Hometown Heroes Recognition

  • Nicole Boor Presentation to End In Mind

Implementing Standards of Care

Accredited was recently featured in a national industry publication for our work in designing and implementing a new system to measure, track, and improve how we serve you.

Building on concepts from the healthcare industry, our team has been developing protocols to clearly define and manage standards of care in how we support you. Co-Managing Partner Brian Martin presented our approach at an industry conference, and Bob Veres, publisher of the advisory industry journal Inside Information, wrote about the presentation and Accredited’s methodology in his January edition.

Led by co-founder Wil Heupel, the project has sought to add structure and processes to client service—a topic that is of critical importance, yet often difficult to define and even more challenging to measure. As Veres writes, “If you can’t define client service clearly, how can you know if you’re providing great service? If you can’t track it specifically, how would you know how to improve it, or whether your efforts to improve it are working?”

Since implementation, we have found that adopting a systematic approach to tracking how we address the key aspects of client service has had a significant impact. Based on the positive reception from industry peers at the recent conference, we expect others to adopt a similar approach. Speaking of Accredited, Veres notes, “At this juncture in the profession’s history, I know of only one firm that has attempted to track its client service to specific standards of care — something that I expect every wealth management/financial planning firm to do in the future.”

Giving Back: Volunteering with 180 Degrees

In our most recent firmwide volunteer day, our Accredited team of over 60 members came together to volunteer at Great River Landing in Minneapolis. Great River Landing, operated by 180 Degrees, is a 72-unit residential building that provides single and shared apartments to men released from prison or experiencing homelessness. Onsite services include case management, mental health support, substance use treatment, job placement assistance, and family reconnection services.

Our team contributed through activities such as painting interiors, sprucing up outdoor green spaces, refurbishing the gym, and deep cleaning apartment units.

Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, 180 Degrees operates a network of support shelters across the state, focused on serving both youth and adults. Their vision is to ensure that every person can experience hope for the future and reach their full potential while living in a safe space.

Our day also included a learning session led by the 180 Degrees team. Since its founding 50 years ago, the organization has helped over 15,000 youth and adults break the cycle of trauma created by poverty, racism, mass incarceration, and exploitation. They believe that healing, recovery, and growth are made possible through trauma-informed care, relationships, and community support. We were inspired by their impactful work and were thrilled to support 180 Degrees at their newest shelter location.

Accredited Investors Wealth Management believes it serves three constituencies: our clients, our colleagues, and our communities. Since this is a core value, we have emphasized sustainability within the organization. Sustainable means serving clients through generations, providing ample opportunities for colleagues to grow and thrive in the firm, and having an impact in the community.

We were pleased to be recognized by the City of Edina as a Hometown Hero for some of the efforts we have made with our building. The Edina Energy and Environment commission awarded us gold-level certification through its Green Business Recognition Program. Our building choices not only made sustainability sense, but good business sense.

Our solar panels on our roof paid for themselves in eight years and our electricity savings will continue for years going forward. Replacing our monoculture lawn with native prairie grasses has reduced landscaping costs and water usage. And the several electric vehicle charging stations allow staff and clients to “fuel” their vehicles during the day and neighbors to charge at night.

While it is nice to be recognized as a hometown hero, what is even more important to us is to have our actions consistent with our values. We hope you have personally noticed our sustainability efforts in the teams we build to serve you, the general longevity of our staff, and the efforts we make to serve the community.

City of Edina’s Green Business Outreach Program: Managed by the Energy & Environment Commission, the program celebrates green and sustainable actions promoted by local businesses. Businesses apply to be considered and earn points for taking green actions within their daily operations in the areas of solid waste, recycling, purchasing, energy use, landscaping and water conservation, transportation and more. Accredited applied in January of 2020 and was recognized as a gold Green Business in 2020 & 2022. No fee was paid in connection with the recognition.

Edina Minnesota Hometown Heroes: Recognized by the City of Edina in March 2024 for our work in safeguarding our natural resources including our gold-level certification through the Green Business Recognition Program. Accredited did not apply. No fee was paid in connection with the recognition.

Edina Hometown Heroes Recognition

Nicole Boor Presentation to End In Mind

Lead Wealth Manager Nicole Boor, CFP® is a board member at End in Mind, a non-profit organization founded by Minnesota Public Radio broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer. The organization encourages deeper inquiry into how to live with intention, purpose, and meaning at any stage of life, and thereby change how our culture engages with loss, dying, and death.

Nicole recently hosted a workshop for End in Mind, informing attendees about end-of-life financial and estate planning topics, aimed at understanding how to avoid leaving legal and financial complications for loved ones.

In her role as board Treasurer for End in Mind, Nicole has enjoyed working with Cathy and the organization’s diverse and talented board to bring educational and engaging events to the public. We appreciate Nicole’s dedication to service and her commitment to helping inform others about this important subject.

Disclosures

This newsletter is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice, as individual situations will vary. For specific advice about your situation, please consult with your wealth management team.

The views offered in this newsletter should not be construed, directly or indirectly, as investment advice. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. In addition, this material may contain forward looking statements or projections. There are no guarantees that these results will be achieved. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific subject matter discussed and its applicability to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the financial advisor of his/her choosing.

Accredited is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification mark CFP® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.