After the first half of 2022, the financial markets were solidly in bear territory, with the S&P tracking for the worst start in 50 years. Suddenly, people were looking at their 401K plan balances and worrying that their financial plans were insufficient. Between cryptocurrencies, meme stocks, rising rates and inflation worries, the financial services world seemed more confusing than ever.
Josip (Joe) Dunat with the Sturkie Wealth Management Group has been in the financial services world for over 20 years. A native of Croatia, he arrived to New York at age 12. His journey, escaping a war-torn country, a child of immigrant, blue-collar workers, to leading a large region for one of the world’s largest banks has taken many turns. For the last 12 years, Joe and his family have lived in Lexington. His love of sports brought him to coach youth soccer and his children play for Lexington High School.
Joe says, “I remember coaching my daughter in the local rec soccer tournament a few years ago. I had just won an award at work, ranking #1 out of 500 executives and getting recognized in front of my peers. That same weekend, I felt ten times the joy and exhuberation coaching 8-year-old kids in the Sunday rec league tournament. It was at that time I knew I wanted to leave the corporate world. I missed being involved in the community, and church and not spending so much time on the road. Today, I am active in my church, in our schools and still support my children in their athletic endeavors.”
For many years, Joe was an executive with a national bank and investment firm, supporting thousands of employees across South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. What he encountered was that traditional investment firms failed to create a comprehensive financial plan for their clients. Their focus was limited to investment management – which stocks and mutual funds should you buy. However, that’s not how the wealthiest Americans plan for their wealth. When you go over $10 million in assets, it is more common to use a family office, that includes tax planning, estate planning, investment management and risk mitigation. That’s where Sturkie strives to create its firm. When a new client visits the professionals at Sturkie Wealth Management, they find that the conversation starts by talking through the entire financial picture, including understanding those priorities that are most important.
Sturkie clients have spent their whole lives building their careers and raising their families and have not paused to work with someone to put their financial affairs in order. The process can seem an overwhelming task, but the Sturkie team handles it seamlessly. They work with their clients to go beyond the traditional world of investments. The process includes working with tax professionals, attorneys, insurance agents and other specialists. Questions about taking care of elderly parents with medical issues or a child with special needs are not uncommon.
For more information, go to SturkieWealthManagement.com.
