President Candy Yoder opened the meeting and introduced Mandy Leazenby who shared positive words, led the Pledge, and Four-Way Test to start the meeting.
Welcome table volunteers were Shannon White, Susan King, and Jan Farron, who also introduced today's guests including: Visiting Rotarians Ty Wu from Downtown LaCrosse Club, WI, Doug Grant from the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club, and John McSorley - - also today's speaker - - from the South Bend Club. Guests of Rotarians were Mary Troyer (Monica Abair), Maureen Teunissen (guest of the speaker),Val Head (Eric Garton), and Jenna Ellis and Mackenzie Murphy of CAPS (Melinda Konrath-Fielding). Welcome to ALL, we hope you can all join us again some other time!
Announcements and continuing club reminders for February 10:
- Grant Committee: This spring's COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS are now available on our website and will be accepted through March 13. Please share this with not-for-profit leaders you know. This is what we raise funds through weekly fines for!
- REMINDERS:
- The Marketing Committee is looking for events and volunteer opportunities among our NPO members! Are you a Rotarian who works at a not for profit who needs volunteers or help promoting your events that have volunteer opportunities? Let Erin Wagler know, the committee will help spread the word through our Rotary Facebook page.
- The Marketing Committee is also looking for help managing the club's Facebook page (and seeks others to help out with the Marketing Committee); have some skills and interested in helping?... let Erin know!
- Candy announced our Rotary District is looking for nominations for District Governor Nominee Designate - - nominees must have been a former club president.
- A message from Doug Risser, if you are interested in a Rotary International and Peace Corps Partnership trip that will be occurring April 18-26, please contact Doug directly.
- Meeting Reminders:
- Rotary Board Meeting, Friday, Feb 14 at 7 a.m. at Perkins, Elkhart.
- An upcoming Caring Committee Meeting on Monday, March 16 (third Monday) at 11:15 at the Matterhorn before our Club Meeting.
Today's speaker was introduced by Eric Garton who welcomed John McSorley - Managing Partner, Qualified Plan Development, and Financial Advisor from Guidance Wealth, LLC.
Guidance Wealth, LLC is a local, independent wealth management and financial planning firm. Through its companies, Guidance Wealth offers a range of services to individuals in every walk of life and to businesses at every stage of development. The mission of Guidance Wealth is to provide a reliable source of direction to help our clients improve the quality of their financial assets and lives. This is accomplished holistically by integrating services, as necessary, to provide a well-rounded experience. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, our team is comprised of high level professionals with vast knowledge in their respective specialties. The high values and standards of our team members extend beyond their personal lives and are woven into the service provided to our clients. We invite you to contact us to see how we can work together to reach your financial goals.
- Investment Portfolio Design & Management
- Personalized Retirement & Financial Planning
- Advanced Estate & Philanthropic Planning
- Tax Planning and Preparation
- Insurance Services
- Education Planning
- Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
- Retirement Preparation Seminars for Employees
- Investment Portfolio Design & Management
- Tax Planning & Preparation
- Insurance Services
- Business Succession Planning & Consulting
- Corporate & Executive Benefits
- Not-for-Profits
- Individual income tax preparation
- Electronic filing for Federal, State & Local
- Calculation of estimated quarterly income tax
- Securities cost (tax) basis calculations
- Rental property & small business tax assistance
- Guidance for maximizing your tax benefits
- Guidance on when to start Social Security, IRA distribution planning, transaction timing
- Tax projections for the following year
- Charitable giving strategies
About John and Guidance Wealth:
John McSorley is a former Marine Officer and the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for the Guidance Companies. John holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University and has his undergraduate degree from the University of the State of New York.
Guidance Wealth, LLC is a Private and Independent Registered Investment Adviser firm. They are headquartered here locally and their investment advisory services are 100% fee-based, which is rare in this industry. Presently they manage approximately $185 million in assets, which is comprised of approximately 200 clients, including Private Wealth (individuals, families, trusts and estates), Not-for-Profit Endowments and High-Level Fiduciary Investment Advisory Services to many prominent company Qualified Retirement Plans in the region.
In 2019 the readership of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine voted Guidance Wealth “The Best Wealth Management Firm in the Greater South Bend-Mishawaka Area”.
Thanks, John, for a very informative presentation about retirement planning and education! If you'd like more information or interested in learning more about retirement planning, reach out to John or check out Guideance Wealth's website. John also recommended other sources of education including nerdwallet.com and investopedia, though he urged checking your sources and seeking licensed, financial planners before making any changes.
- February 17: Jeanine Gozdecki, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
- February 24: Matt Rudkin, Chief Meteorologist WSBT 22 News, How's the weather outside?
- March 2: Krista Bailey, Sustainability: What, Why, How
- March 9: Terry Mark, ECCVB, Vibrant Communities - Well Crafted!
- March 16: Jamison Czarnecki, Director of the Elkhart Environmental Center, Sustainable Elkhart: A Project of the Elkhart Environmental Center
- March 23: To be announced
- March 30: Dinner at the Matterhorn, **5:30 p.m.** A fun evening gathering of the Elkhart Rotary Club - details to follow! RSVP to Eric Garton