WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

WestPac® Wealth Partners is proud to announce that we have been recognized as one of Hawai‘i’s Best Places to Work 2025 by Hawaii Business Magazine in the small company category. This prestigious honor reflects our commitment to promoting a positive, dynamic, and growth-oriented workplace for our team members. At WestPac Wealth Partners, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. By cultivating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional development, we empower our team to thrive both personally and professionally. Our workplace is built on values of integrity, support, and excellence, ensuring that every team member has the resources and encouragement needed to succeed. Being named one of Hawai‘i’s Best Places to Work is a reflection of the passion and dedication each of our team members bring to work each day; and makes WestPac Wealth Partners more than just a workplace. We are honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to providing an exceptional work environment as we continue to grow and serve our clients with excellence. Mahalo to our incredible team for making WestPac a truly special place to work! To see WestPac on this list for small companies, visit: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/hawaiis-best-places-to-work-2025/

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

In today's fast-paced world, mastering financial literacy is not just a skill but a crucial aspect of achieving long-term financial well-being. At WestPac Wealth Partners, we understand the significance of making informed decisions in budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. Let's explore how you can enhance your financial literacy to help ensure a stable future. Understanding Financial Literacy Financial literacy empowers individuals to effectively manage their money, make sound financial decisions, and navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence. It encompasses various aspects: Budgeting: Creating a budget is the cornerstone of financial planning. It involves tracking income and expenses to allocate funds wisely, prioritize financial goals, and ensure financial stability. Saving: Building a savings habit is crucial for emergencies, future goals like education or retirement, and unexpected life events. WestPac Wealth Partners offers strategies tailored to your needs, whether it's setting up automated savings or exploring investment options. Investing: Investing allows your money to grow over time, beating inflation and working towards long-term goals. Our experienced professionals provide personalized investment strategies, considering risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial goals. Managing Debt: Effectively managing debt reduces financial stress and increases financial health. We educate clients on strategies to pay down debt...

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

We recently celebrated a major milestone for WestPac Wealth Partners—the grand opening of our new office building in Scottsdale. The ribbon-cutting ceremony wasn’t just about unveiling a new space; it was a testament to the growth of our firm and the deep relationships we’ve built within the community. Establishing a stronger presence here reflects our long-term commitment to empowering individuals, families, and business owners with financial strategies that create stability and success for generations to come. Our expansion in Scottsdale isn’t just about adding square footage—it’s about expanding opportunities. With this new office, we are better positioned than ever to deliver the highest level of service, experience, and support to those seeking financial clarity and long-term stability. The conversations that happen within these walls will drive real change, providing our clients with the confidence to take control of their financial futures. The Scottsdale community is thriving, and we’re proud to be growing alongside it. Our team here continues to expand, bringing on passionate professionals dedicated to helping clients navigate their financial journeys. The work we do extends far beyond these office walls; it ripples through families, businesses, and communities, creating lasting impact.

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

We're proud to share that Alex Jakovljevic has been recognized as one of the 2024 Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals and featured in Forbes for his article, "Winning Financial Strategies: Lessons from the Tennis Court." In this piece, Alex draws parallels between the winning mindsets of tennis greats like Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal and the principles that drive long-term financial success. From risk management to playing the long game, the strategies that lead to championships also apply to building and preserving wealth. Alex highlights the importance of discipline, adaptability, and professional guidance, emphasizing that financial success—like success on the court—requires precision, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Beyond his financial experience, Alex’s passion for tennis shapes his approach to planning, reinforcing the value of strategy, consistency, and a winning mindset in helping clients achieve lasting financial confidence.

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

One of the biggest sources of friction in planning for a successful future is time. Successful business owners like you aren’t sitting around, twiddling your thumbs, and wondering what to do with all this extra time you have. How can you, with everything else you have to do, find time to create plans for a successful future that may not even be close right now? Consider some of the benefits of having a plan compared to the downsides of not having a plan. Let's look at a quick fictional but representative story to show these two sides of the same coin.  Eye Trouble  Twin brothers Jonathan and Joey Larson had been in competition since the day they were born. They did not get along and did everything they could to outdo each other. They each founded companies in the same industry that were regional powerhouses on different sides of the country and achieved success in entirely different ways.  Jonathan was a Type A, hands-on, down-in-the-weeds kind of business owner. Everything went through him, and nothing got done without him. He rarely met with his advisors unless he was facing an emergency. He figured it was good enough that he knew where everything was and could tell you exactly what would need to be done if something ever happened to him. He simply never took the time to write it down...

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

If you’ve built a sizable retirement portfolio and are entering the distribution phase, managing taxes becomes a critical concern, particularly when it comes to preserving wealth for future generations. Without careful planning, large retirement accounts can create unexpected tax burdens. Here are five key pitfalls to be aware of. Who Faces the Greatest Risk? Individuals with traditional IRAs valued around $2 million or more are especially vulnerable to tax complications. Over time, these accounts can grow significantly, potentially creating major tax liabilities—especially when considering legacy planning. 1. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Last a Lifetime Depending on your birth year, RMDs begin at either age 73 or 75, and they only increase as you age. The size of your IRA determines the RMD amount, meaning that while the initial percentage starts at around 4% at age 73, it can climb to 6.25% by age 85. These withdrawals, combined with Social Security benefits, can push you into a higher tax bracket. How to Mitigate This Risk Start planning for distributions well before turning 70. Strategic withdrawals, Roth conversions, and charitable giving can help mitigate tax burdens.

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

We’re excited to share that Taylor Wong, recognized by Forbes as one of the 2024 Best in State Top Financial Security Professionals, has been featured in Forbes for his article, "All Roads Lead to Business Planning." In this piece, Taylor emphasizes that, ultimately, all business paths lead to exit planning—often marking the start of a new chapter for the business. He recounts the story of a client who owned a family-run contracting business facing significant financial hurdles. By focusing on fundamental protection planning—such as wills, trusts, and optimizing insurance coverage—the business was able to achieve a remarkable turnaround. With WestPac’s resources and Taylor’s guidance, the business owner gained the confidence and financial stability needed to prioritize both growth and family. Having owned several businesses himself, Taylor is able to see "the big picture" and understands the day-to-day challenges of owning a business in Hawaii. He uses that knowledge to work with individuals and business owners to help create financial strategies for their success.

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

Discover effective strategies to streamline your financial life by organizing bills, statements, policies, and other important paperwork. Financial organization is crucial for a stable financial future. It not only saves time and money by ensuring bills are paid promptly and documents are readily available during tax season, but also facilitates handling credit card disputes, errors, and reduces stress associated with disorganized paperwork. Moreover, a well-organized financial system enhances decision-making on investments, budgeting, and debt management. It fosters better collaboration with financial professionals, ensuring clarity on financial status and informed decisions. While the specific organizational system may vary, a combination of electronic and paper filing methods is generally effective. Utilize computer hard drives, online banking, third-party bill pay services, and document storage platforms to securely store and back up electronic documents. For couples, clarity on financial responsibilities is crucial. Even if one manages finances, both partners should be informed about financial status, document locations, and online account passwords.

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

As Featured in Forbes: Brennan Drew on Financial Planning for Business Owners We’re thrilled to share that Brennan Drew, recognized as one of the 2024 Forbes Top Financial Security Professional, has been featured in Forbes for his article titled "The Art of Fly Fishing and Financial Planning for Business Owners." In this piece, Brennan explores how the patience, strategy, and precision required in fly fishing align with the complexities of financial planning specifically for business owners. He highlights the importance of adaptability, experienced guidance, and a long-term vision in building financial strategies that support both personal and professional goals. Brennan’s insights provide a unique perspective on navigating financial challenges with confidence, supported by the dedicated team at WestPac. Beyond his professional expertise, Brennan’s passion for fly fishing fuels his thoughtful approach to planning. The focus and intentionality it demands mirror his commitment to helping business owners achieve clarity, balance, and success in their financial journeys. Check out the full article on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/top-financial-security-professional/2025/01/13/the-art-of-fly-fishing-and-financial-planning-for-business-owners/

WestPac Wealth Partners

1y

We’re overjoyed to announce that WestPac Wealth Partners has earned a coveted spot on Oregon Business's prestigious 2025 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon! This recognition is more than a celebration of our professional accomplishments—it’s a reflection of the thriving culture and shared purpose that define who we are as a team. This incredible milestone underscores the dedication, passion, and teamwork of our associates and staff in Oregon. Their relentless drive to create an environment where collaboration and excellence flourish has made this honor possible. Each of them plays a pivotal role in shaping WestPac into a workplace that people are proud to call home. What makes this recognition truly special is the process behind it. The rankings are determined through anonymous feedback provided by employees, offering an authentic glimpse into workplace satisfaction across multiple dimensions—including benefits, management practices, trust, career development opportunities, and overall work environment. Knowing that this honor is rooted in the voices of our own team members makes it all the more meaningful. At WestPac Wealth Partners, we believe that success extends far beyond financial achievements. Our mission has always been to enrich lives—not just for the clients we serve but also for the talented individuals who dedicate their time and energy to this organization. We’re committed to fostering a culture that inspires growth, cultivates trust...