How did three successful financial planners join forces and form a new partnership? Their combined experiences in the financial consulting and wealth advising world, along with their respective community involvement and desire to serve others, paved the way for this trio that is Alluvial Private Wealth. “The key that guides Alluvial and what’s distinctive about us is this concept: some goals in life are just too important to leave to chance,” states Lars Olson, Alluvial President. Manoj Sharma is the company’s Vice President and Lisa Bush is Assistant Vice President.
Located in the same building as Marion Tech Downtown, upstairs from TRECA, Olson says the group is right where they belong. “Our love for the Marion community is a key part of why Alluvial wanted to be housed right here in downtown Marion,” Lars stated. A member of the Marion CAN-DO Board of Trustees, Olson said the revitalization that has been happening is critical. Marion is on the upswing. Since 2015, Marion has attracted more than $500 million in business investments and welcomed new businesses and expansions that have created more than 700 higher-paying jobs, according to Marion CAN-DO.
Having been a wealth advisor with a large, national firm for 26 years, Lars joined Ken Vincent in 2013. Vincent had been a financial advisor with a number of Marion area firms since 1978, thriving on developing client relationships until he retired in 2017. However, Vincent came out of retirement in 2021 to serve as the Chair of Alluvial’s Investment Committee.
Alluvial is a flexible, independent firm focused on holistic financial planning based on your specific goals. “Someone may want to make a bequest to the Marion City Parks, or maybe they plan to leave a certain amount of money to their children, or a couple may have specific travel plans for post-retirement. We help our clients accomplish their goals with a 3-step plan,” Olson said. The first step is developing a financial plan; this is a roadmap for achieving the goal. Second, the client is advised on investing in a disciplined fashion. Third, the client is encouraged to regularly review progress toward that goal and make revisions as needed, with guidance from their financial advisor. Of course, the pandemic has stymied in-person meetings, but the firm continues serving clients through virtual meetings. Rolling with the punches, Olson stated, “We couldn’t hold an open house, so we shot a video instead.”
According to Sharma, “We want to continue the tradition of building strong relationships within the Marion community.” He added that they are dedicated to community service. Sharma, whose wife works at Ohio Health Marion, is past president of Marion Kiwanis. He is also the upcoming Lt. Governor of a large Kiwanis region, overseeing nine Kiwanis clubs. In addition, Manoj is the current president of Marion Industrial Club which holds monthly tours (on hold due to COVID) of area manufacturing companies to stay in touch with changes and new technologies.
Assistant Vice President Lisa Bush is passionate about supporting women’s financial goals and assisting them with investment decisions to achieve those goals. “There are not enough women financial advisors today, and I strive to work with women to become more engaged in the financial process, to build wealth and become financially empowered, and ultimately help to reduce the wealth gap that still exists between men and women,” Bush stated. Lisa is also very involved in the community, serving as Junior Vice President of Marion Women’s Business Council and Secretary of the Women’s Club Home board, along with several other organizations focused on supporting the needs of women in the community.
With the pandemic, volatility in the market has increased anxiety levels for many investors and that increased the need for people to seek professional advice. More than ever, many decisions require careful planning. Turning points in life also increase anxiety and make it important to seek the help of an advisor. The rate of return on a portfolio can be significantly impacted by a client’s behavior during crises, and the timing of buying and selling decisions can be critical.
Alluvial set up shop at 107 North Main Street because “We wanted a front-row seat to all the great things happening in and around downtown Marion,” Olson stated.
