‘There Will Be Events We Can’t Foresee’

As a branch manager at the Woodland Hills office of Raymond James & Associates, Tony Battaglia oversees a staff of six, which includes a financial advisor, a senior registered sales associate, a sales client service associate, two senior vice president of investments and an administrative manager. From financial planning to comprehensive portfolio management, Battaglia’s recommendations are made solely in the interest of providing the highest value and benefit to his clients. Battaglia is a native of Glendale.Question: What do clients want now that maybe they didn’t want a few years ago? And do you know why?Answer: I am finding that clients are becoming more interested in discussing longevity planning (health care, caregiving and housing) in the overall context of the retirement plan discussion. As we are living longer in retirement, we are discussing more how we are going to be living in retirement.

Our lives will change in many ways, and there will be events we can’t foresee, which is all the more reason why starting the planning process earlier is important. It is also vital to connect all aspects of the financial planning dialogue at each stage of a client’s life.  What do clients most frequently need to be counseled about?Living in retirement today can be longer, and more active, than in the past. I continue to counsel clients on their investments, but it’s important as to what that performance means in the overall context of their financial and retirement plan. In addition to drawing income in retirement, clients want to feel comfortable that they will be able to pay for the different needs that will come up as they get older. Clients need to know how much income they can draw from their investments, and alleviate the fear of running out of money in retirement.

Starting early in the planning process will provide a greater opportunity to save enough for a long, fulfilling life.What do you think your industry will look like 10 years from now? We have use of highly scalable digital tools, and they will only become more efficient. … The power of the human relationship will continue to be important. We will continue to provide advice to our clients, and take a holistic approach to each stage of a client’s life.

– Mark R. Madler