In Naples, Florida, influential figures in the investment sphere play pivotal roles in shaping financial landscapes. Meet your local investors, financial advisors, wealth managers, and more while learning about the local landscape of "investment" opportunities.
Mirjana Kljajic of MGK Wealth
Tell us about your business.
At MGK Wealth, we are dedicated to empowering our clients to achieve their financial goals and live their best lives. We provide personalized financial planning and investment management services tailored to each client's unique needs and aspirations. Our approach is built on trust, integrity, and a commitment to delivering the solutions that will protect the financial assets of the clients we serve.
When did you start your business/get into your field?
My passion for finance began two decades ago with a desire to help others navigate the complexities of the financial world. After working in a corporate culture where selling widgets was more important than serving the needs of our clients, I launched MGK Wealth in 2020, driven by the desire to create a space where clients feel valued, informed, and confident about their financial future.
What’s your favorite thing about working in Naples?
The vibrant community and unparalleled quality of life in Naples make it an inspiring place to live and work. I love being surrounded by motivated individuals who are dedicated to achieving personal and financial success while also cherishing the beauty and tranquility of our coastal paradise.
How do you stay informed about market trends and changes in your respective investment areas?
We stay informed about market trends and changes through ongoing education, research, and collaboration with industry peers. Additionally, we utilize advanced analytics and technology tools to analyze data and identify opportunities and risks.
Serge Ecityan of BMO Wealth Management | BMO Private Bank
Tell us about your business.
I’m a Director, Private Wealth Advisor for BMO Wealth Management. I serve as a lead advisor and relationship manager to high-net-worth individuals and families. I closely work with my clients to gain a complete understanding of their lifestyle, career, philanthropic and wealth planning goals. I then engage a Client Strategy Team to create a personalized and constantly evolving financial plan and strategy to help meet these goals. I have been with BMO for over 20 years.
How do you stay informed about market trends and changes in your respective investment areas?
I always take the time to read from various sources and keep up to date on financial news. In addition, continuing education has been helpful. Upon moving to Naples, I then attended and graduated from the Florida Graduate Trust & Wealth Management School program from the Florida Bankers Association.
What role do mentors or advisors play in your investment journey, if any?
I am a big advocate for mentors! I have been fortunate to have great mentors throughout my career (and still do). My mentors have been very influential in my career by giving me advice, guidance, and encouragement. My mentors have supported my professional growth, and have helped me by making connections that have been of great value for my career advancement.
What are some strategies you use to invest in your personal development and mental well-being?
I read a lot of self-development and self-improvement books, and listen to podcasts on these subjects.
Mackenzie Rickman of Naples Wealth Planning, LLC
Tell us about your business.
I am a Certified Financial Planner™, working with high-net-worth clients. My focus is helping women grow their wealth and empowering them to reach their goals and gain confidence in their financial lives. My passion is to help guide women who are in a season of change whether due to divorce, death, retirement or sale of a business. I pride myself in partnering closely with them to develop a plan, face their fears and inspire confidence in managing their finances for their next chapter.
How do you define success when it comes to your investments?
This can be a complicated question in the world of wealth management. While you can certainly use market benchmarks- DJIA, Nasdaq or S&P 500, I’ve learned over my 24 years in the industry is it’s not always that simple. Some investors simply can’t handle the volatility of the market, others would rather lose money than NOT beat the indices. So, I define success as working with my clients to set very clear goals, create a plan and then make sure that plan stays on track so that they can have peace of mind and spend their time and energy doing the things they enjoy with those they love.
In what ways do you think investing in your health is similar to investing in financial assets?
Let’s be honest: money and our financial health are important to live the lifestyle we desire and make life “easier’, but at the end of the day, the most important thing in our life is OUR LIFE. So, I invest a great deal into my health and endeavor to help those around me, whether clients, family or friends. I am a huge advocate of fitness- physically, emotionally and spiritually. Paying attention to the food we eat and how much we move is so important. In my life, I’ve found meditation, yoga, running and strength training a MUST for being the healthiest version of myself.
Douglas C. DiGiorno of DiGiorno Wealth Management Group
Tell us about your business.
I work with individuals and businesses to help them reach their financial goals through customized planning and advice, utilizing the resources of UBS, a global firm.
Can you share a memorable success story from one of your investments?
Success is often found in trying times. I specifically remember a client during the market pullback in 2008 that was so thankful. They were able to continue receiving the income they needed without having to worry about the fluctuations that were happening in the market due to the planning and asset allocation that we had helped them put in place.
Conversely, have you faced any challenges or failures in your investment journey? If so, how did you overcome them?
The challenge for some clients is setting realistic expectations. Once that is done, the process can be much easier.
Can you discuss your experience with investing in real estate and the benefits or challenges you've encountered?
My wife Colleen has always had a knack for knowing when it was time to make the next move in our real estate purchases and they have always worked out incredibly well. So, I give her all the credit for our real estate success.
Can you share an example of a community project or cause you've invested in, and the impact it has had on you or your community?
I was fortunate to be invited last year to the Make a Wish gala. I was able to participate in fulfilling wishes for the children. Seeing past recipients of wishes tell their story was extremely powerful and makes you feel very fortunate that you have your health. Kids always tug at my heartstrings and I can’t imagine any of my children having to deal with what these kids have endured.
Nick Giacoumakis of NEIRG Wealth Management
Tell us about your business.
I am in the business of helping people prosper and maximize all their opportunities from a business, financial and personal perspective. One of the most highly sought after and requested services we provide is to help business owners through the process of preparing their business for a highly successful sale, exit or successful transition. This enables them to capitalize on the maximum business value and more importantly enables them to live the third act of their life and enjoy the fruits of many years of hard work.
What motivated you to start investing in your respective field?
I had a fascination and love for the Capital markets. As a businessperson, I find it satisfying to help fellow business owners grow their closely held companies into successful organizations and building our communities. I enjoy helping people achieve their financial goals & dreams.
How do you define success when it comes to your investments?
By achieving the defined objective for that particular investment, whether it be Growth strategies and outperforming the broad market indices, Fixed income needs, or Tax-Free yields. Success means reaching the life and planning goals assigned to the particular investment portfolio.
How do you prioritize investing time and effort into building and nurturing time and effort into building and nurturing relationships with others in your life?
I prioritize investing time into relationships where people are driven to improve the quality of not only their lives, but also the people that they serve. I want to surround myself with people that are caring, honest purpose driven who want to improve the lives of everyone they touch.
Nina Azwoir of Wintrust Wealth Management
Tell us about your business. When did you start your business/get into your field?
My name is Nina Azwoir and I am a wealth management advisor, first VP of Wintrust Wealth Management. I started in the financial world over 20 years ago when I moved to the United States from Canada. Prior to that, I was a network analyst in the technology field working at a company that later got bought out by Nortel Networks.
I help my clients by looking at both sides of their balance sheet to ensure that we are not only looking for growth opportunities with blinders on. Liability and risk management are just as vital to your overall outcome and must be taken into account to ensure greater success.
My love of this financial arena comes from my love of connection with humanity.
This connection can’t happen without care and attention to detail. I do this by finding out what is most important to the person whose life I am blessed to walk alongside. Those are my clients. They become my friends who are family.
Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you've incorporated into your investment strategy?
One of the most interesting trends to me is the growth of artificial intelligence in our lives. Coming from the technology field into finance has been a great opportunity for me to see the economic impact technology has and will continue to have on our world. It is important for investors to make sure that they are well balanced and look at all sectors and market drivers to make sure they stay ahead of the curve both from an economic perspective. Artificial intelligence is not going away, it will grow behind our wildest imagination. My goal is to stay progressive in this field so that my clients and I have the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve.
Johan Gutierrez of Oceanview Financials, Inc
Tell us about your business.
Oceanview Financials is an accounting firm dedicated to the hospitality industry; nevertheless, we handle all sorts of companies. Aside from our full accounting services, we also perform payroll, HR, audits, and taxation services.
What is the most challenging thing about working in Naples?
The most challenging thing in Naples is anywhere you establish a new office is getting to your customers. But, I think we are moving in the right direction with our Naples office.
How do you define success when it comes to your investments?
I define success as the success of others. If the restaurants we manage the accounting for are being successful — from each menu item to paying good salaries to their staff and still profiting, then we are successful.
Can you share a memorable success story from one of your investments?
We have many success stories, partly because when during COVID and all the restaurants had to close, we worked to the extreme creating financial budgets to keep them afloat, and paying bills without generating income until they were able to reopen. All of our restaurants reopened without failing during the economic downturn.
Can you share a personal experience where investing in further education or skill development significantly impacted your life or career?
I would not be able to accomplish any of this without my accounting degree. I strongly believe in investing in education, especially in continuing education for those adults who graduated years ago. Knowledge is real power.
