Advisor Corner

Question: When it comes to moving ahead in your career, what keeps you up at night?

Name: Michael F. Kay Firm: Financial Focus, Livingston, N.J. Assets under management: $150 million Years in business: 23

“What keeps me up at night is two-fold. How can I bring more value to my clients, and how can I continue to lead a balanced life while growing and supporting our firm so that I am bringing my best focus, energy and enthusiasm everyday? These are the keys to what I consider a successful and fulfilling career.”

Name: Levi Lamfers Firm: AXA Advisors, Chattanooga, Tenn. Assets under management: N/A Years in business: 7

“Having just made my next career move—into branch management—a key measure of my success is the success of those I manage. My energy is put toward helping financial professionals develop their practice and grow their business, getting them to perform at their very best. I am constantly thinking about new ways to do that.”

Name: Charles Zhang Firm: Zhang Financial, Portage, Mich. Assets under management: $800 million Years in business: 18

“I know some advisors lose sleep over the market. I don't. I shouldn't lose sleep over things out of my control. Two years ago I was associated with a broker/dealer that sold proprietary products. While working with my previous broker/dealer I did lose sleep sometimes. I was not always able to offer my clients the products that I believed were the best. Today I am an independent advisor and can truly put my clients’ interests first. I am proud to say I do everything possible to do the best job for each of my clients. Honestly, I no longer have a reason to lose sleep.”

Name: Jeffrey L. Gitterman Firm: Gitterman & Associates, a branch of ING Financial Advisors in Woodbridge, N.J. Assets under management: $300 million Years in business: 23

“I worry with the bank stress tests occurring and what’s going on with continued deleveraging of the credit markets, that we could see another big drop in the stock market this summer. Another big drop could scare Baby Boomers away from the market for a long time to come. As someone who manages money for a living that certainly worries me. I don’t think Wall Street has completely gotten the message of how transparent they need to be.”