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Marcus Lemonis, a serial entrepreneur and host of the show “The Profit” on CNBC, is a true survivor in the corporate world. The native-born Lebanese business man endured the chaos of a civil war in Beirut and eventually moved to Miami. Lemonis was exposed to the automotive industry throughout his upbringing - his grandfather owning two of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the United States and Lee Iacocca serving as the family friend and later mentor to Lemonis. On page 12, we conducted an interview with “Profit” host Marcus Lemonis, who offers struggling small businesses capital investment and his expertise in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. In the latter part of the magazine, we interviewed countless wealth advisors during these tough economic times. We recognize that some of the changes in 2013 and 2014 require relevance for financial planners. Therefore, the financial industry continues to push for more realistic standards and reforms. Marcus Lemonis, a serial entrepreneur and host of the show “The Profit” on CNBC, is a true survivor in the corporate world. The native-born Lebanese business man endured the chaos of a civil war in Beirut and eventually moved to Miami. Lemonis was exposed to the automotive industry throughout his upbringing - his grandfather owning two of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the United States and Lee Iacocca serving as the family friend and later mentor to Lemonis. On page 12, we conducted an interview with “Profit” host Marcus Lemonis, who offers struggling small businesses capital investment and his expertise in exchange for an ownership stake in the company. In the latter part of the magazine, we interviewed countless wealth advisors during these tough economic times. We recognize that some of the changes in 2013 and 2014 require relevance for financial planners. Therefore, the financial industry continues to push for more realistic standards and reforms.

20.03.2015 Views

y felix badea TRUST IS THE BEST ASSET Despite smears from the Bernie Madoff and Allen Stanford scandals, financial advisors remain at the head of the list of most trusted professionals. A recent John Hancock Trust Survey out of its Boston location, puts financial advisors ahead of primary care doctors and accountants. This was as reported by online survey respondents, with at least $200,000 in investable assets, regarding which service providers they view as most trustworthy. Building trust with clients is the name of the game for Ernie Nivens, president of Nivens Wealth Strategies in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a concept his prior professional life engrained in him. “For 20 years before I came into this (financial services) industry, I was a United Methodist minister all around South Carolina. I have been in the financial services industry for 25 years now – and the common trait in both of those arenas is trust,” Nivens explains. “People want somebody they can trust. This is especially true in a volatile environment such as we are in now.” Listening to client concerns is as important in Nivens’ work as is selecting asset classes in which to invest. His approach is to treat clients – not as a commodity to process – but to focus instead on how he can provide service for their financial needs, caring for them as people balancing life’s challenges with their own hopes and dreams. Nivens does not require clients to have a minimum amount of assets that can be invested. Rather, his qualification as a certified personality tester allows him to determine if he and the potential client could build the type of working relationship together, through which Nivens’ investment advice would be followed. “I choose my clients based on possible relationship quality,” he said. “A simple way of explaining this is, when I meet someone, I ask myself, ‘Is this someone I would enjoy having dinner with?’ If so, then they become my client. If not, then I refer them to someone else.” “An effective advisor/client working relationship is critical in today’s market,” Nivens said. He notes that the Dow Jones is at record highs, leading him to believe demographers who are warning that the second part of the Great Recession, which should have taken place in 2008, Nivens said, “Is still on its way – to cause an even larger market correction than previously experienced.” “This is the time that people ought to be looking for floors for safety. I strongly encourage them to seek safety and be very selective regarding how they invest their money,” Nivens said, adding that professional advice can often mitigate at least some risk. “As Will Rogers said, ‘I’m not as concerned about the return on my money as I am the return of my money.’ Only half of the Great Recession occurred. The second half of it is still coming.” Ensuring that return of money for his clients – especially the ones entering their retirement years and beginning the account drawdown period – is constantly on his mind. It is THE SUIT MAGAZINE - JULY 2014

part of why he attained a certification in accredited estate planning as well as testing to become an approved National Social Security Advisor. In doing so, he learned more about the role women play in long-term asset management. “Statistically speaking, most husbands die before their wives do,” he said. “Many did not manage the family finances during their marriages. Many need significant guidance, reassurance and education.” His training also reinforced a concept he’s held for quite some time: That unfortunately it isn’t all that uncommon to find folks headed into retirement without all three legs properly attached to that financial three-legged stool often referenced by academics and professionals in the financial services field. “Generally speaking, there are three areas of assets to help in retirement: Social security, pensions or 401K assets and personal assets,” Nivens explains. “Rarely do I find any person who is strong in each of these three areas. If you consider that there are three legs to a stool but most people have only two legs on that stool, then it does not make for very comfortable seating.” Reinforcing each leg of the stool and equalizing each leg’s financial supportive abilities requires planning, perseverance, a lot of communication and a long-term view. He spends a great deal of time on client education via newsletters, quarterly meetings and blogging. Despite being himself a member of an older generation, Nivens embraces social media for his business. Yet, his take on social media quickly reveals an old-fashioned common sense approach. “My Daddy taught me how to fish and when we went fishing, he never used just one hook. He always had multiple poles, and a rod and reel, and a trout line. He had multiple hooks in the water and we always ate well,” Nivens said. “Likewise, what he taught me about being successful in the water – I apply that same approach now to having a strong mix of social media.” Power leads to corruption, and absolute power corrupts absolutely! This adage is true for countries, corporations, and even small companies. It is true in the North, East, West and even in the South. Blind Ambition in the Modern South C. Ernie Nivens knows the real South, the Modern South. His 20 plus years as a Methodist Minister and 24 years as a Professionally Advanced Personal Wealth Strategist has given him a unique look into the hearts and dreams of Southern people, rich and poor. If murder is performed by individuals or by cultural, national greed it is still bloddy murder! In Southern Fried Hope you will meet both murderers face to face. Southern Fried Hope is for people who like mysteries, southern literature, and indigenized characters. This is the South that you have never met. This is the South that national leaders fear! Eston, an indigenized Negro character, reveals the truth about his ancestors. Greedy ambition by a Southern Bubba leads to self-destruction. Published by: Evangel Publisher, LLC 1348 Ebenezer Road, Suite 103 Rock Hill, SC 29732 ISBN: 978-0-9887467-0-1 Southern Fried Hope Excerpt In one move, Robbie grabbed the warm handle of his cast iron frying pan and like a tennis racket. He swings it around, and strikes Brian squarely on the side of his head, right at the temple. THWAHNG! Brian goes down like a cut tree, collapses on the floor. Mrs. Shealy rising, screams, "What are you doing? What have you done? What are you doing? You've hurt my son!" Mrs. Shealy steps toward Brian. Robbie winds up, swings the cast iron pan and hits Ms. Shealy upside the head as well. THWAHNG! She falls on top of her son. In a second, her breathing stops. Robbie takes several deep breaths, checks Brian for a pulse. "No, he's as dead as road-kill opossum." He checks Ms. Shealy's pulse. "Oh, bless her dear heart. At least she went home with Brian. They're home together. She's gone." Robbie reaches into the pantry, sees a box of black trash bags, and fluffs one open, puts several more bags in it. He then sticks the frying pan in it, wraps it up, puts it under his coat, holding the handle with his hand. He shields the pan under his arm so it cannot be seen under his coat. He grabs two fried chicken legs and pockets them. THE SUIT MAGAZINE p.41

part of why he attained a certification<br />

in accredited estate planning as well as<br />

testing to become an approved National<br />

Social Security Advisor.<br />

In doing so, he learned more about<br />

the role women play in long-term asset<br />

management. “Statistically speaking,<br />

most husbands die before their wives<br />

do,” he said. “Many did not manage<br />

the family finances during their marriages.<br />

Many need significant guidance,<br />

reassurance and education.”<br />

His training also reinforced a concept<br />

he’s held for quite some time: That<br />

unfortunately it isn’t all that uncommon<br />

to find folks headed into retirement<br />

without all three legs properly<br />

attached to that financial three-legged<br />

stool often referenced by academics<br />

and professionals in the financial services<br />

field.<br />

“Generally speaking, there are three<br />

areas of assets to help in retirement:<br />

Social security, pensions or 401K assets<br />

and personal assets,” Nivens explains.<br />

“Rarely do I find any person who is<br />

strong in each of these three areas. If<br />

you consider that there are three legs<br />

to a stool but most people have only<br />

two legs on that stool, then it does not<br />

make for very comfortable seating.”<br />

Reinforcing each leg of the stool and<br />

equalizing each leg’s financial supportive<br />

abilities requires planning,<br />

perseverance, a lot of communication<br />

and a long-term view. He spends a<br />

great deal of time on client education<br />

via newsletters, quarterly meetings<br />

and blogging.<br />

Despite being himself a member of<br />

an older generation, Nivens embraces<br />

social media for his business. Yet, his<br />

take on social media quickly reveals<br />

an old-fashioned common sense approach.<br />

“My Daddy taught me how to fish<br />

and when we went fishing, he never<br />

used just one hook. He always had<br />

multiple poles, and a rod and reel, and<br />

a trout line. He had multiple hooks<br />

in the water and we always ate well,”<br />

Nivens said. “Likewise, what he taught<br />

me about being successful in the water<br />

– I apply that same approach now to<br />

having a strong mix of social media.”<br />

Power leads to corruption, and absolute<br />

power corrupts absolutely! This<br />

adage is true for countries, corporations,<br />

and even small companies. It is<br />

true in the North, East, West and even<br />

in the South.<br />

Blind Ambition in the Modern South<br />

C. Ernie Nivens knows the real South,<br />

the Modern South. His 20 plus years<br />

as a Methodist Minister and 24 years<br />

as a Professionally Advanced Personal<br />

Wealth Strategist has given him a<br />

unique look into the hearts and dreams<br />

of Southern people, rich and poor.<br />

If murder is performed by individuals<br />

or by cultural, national greed it is<br />

still bloddy murder! In Southern Fried<br />

Hope you will meet both murderers<br />

face to face.<br />

Southern Fried Hope is for people<br />

who like mysteries, southern literature,<br />

and indigenized characters.<br />

This is the South that you have never<br />

met. This is the South that national<br />

leaders fear!<br />

Eston, an indigenized Negro character,<br />

reveals the truth about his ancestors.<br />

Greedy ambition by a Southern Bubba<br />

leads to self-destruction.<br />

Published by:<br />

Evangel Publisher, LLC<br />

1348 Ebenezer Road, Suite 103<br />

Rock Hill, SC 29732<br />

ISBN: 978-0-9887467-0-1<br />

Southern Fried Hope Excerpt<br />

In one move, Robbie grabbed the<br />

warm handle of his cast iron frying<br />

pan and like a tennis racket. He<br />

swings it around, and strikes Brian<br />

squarely on the side of his head, right<br />

at the temple. THWAHNG!<br />

Brian goes down like a cut tree, collapses<br />

on the floor.<br />

Mrs. Shealy rising, screams, "What<br />

are you doing? What have you done?<br />

What are you doing? You've hurt my<br />

son!"<br />

Mrs. Shealy steps toward Brian.<br />

Robbie winds up, swings the cast<br />

iron pan and hits Ms. Shealy upside<br />

the head as well. THWAHNG! She<br />

falls on top of her son.<br />

In a second, her breathing stops.<br />

Robbie takes several deep breaths,<br />

checks Brian for a pulse.<br />

"No, he's as dead as road-kill opossum."<br />

He checks Ms. Shealy's pulse. "Oh,<br />

bless her dear heart. At least she went<br />

home with Brian. They're home together.<br />

She's gone."<br />

Robbie reaches into the pantry, sees<br />

a box of black trash bags, and fluffs<br />

one open, puts several more bags in<br />

it. He then sticks the frying pan in it,<br />

wraps it up, puts it under his coat,<br />

holding the handle with his hand.<br />

He shields the pan under his arm<br />

so it cannot be seen under his coat.<br />

He grabs two fried chicken legs and<br />

pockets them.<br />

THE SUIT MAGAZINE p.41

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