Message From the President: Winter 2024

Steve Lear |
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Message from the President

As 2024 comes to an end, I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on the milestones and successes we’ve achieved this year. These accomplishments represent not only the hard work and dedication of the Affiance team, but also the trust of clients like you. Your confidence in Affiance Financial has been at the foundation of our commitment to delivering exceptional service and meaningful impact. It is with this shared sense of purpose that I am pleased to highlight some of the ways we have grown and given back in 2024:
 

Financial Planning: We set ambitious goals around the delivery of our financial planning services and worked diligently to achieve them. Here are some of the key milestones we reached this year:

  • Thanks to many of your referrals, we are now providing financial planning services to approximately 100 new clients. Your trust and confidence in recommending us means the world, and we are honored to welcome these new members to the Affiance fold. 
     
  • Meetings are the lifeblood of our financial planning process, empowering you with the clarity and confidence to pursue your goals. This year alone, we executed over 2,000 financial planning meetings, helping you take meaningful steps toward securing your financial futures.
     
  • Your feedback is invaluable to us. In 2024, we conducted a Client Survey to better understand your experience with Affiance Financial. Your insights help us improve and refine our services to meet your needs. Thank you for sharing your perspectives.


Business Continuity: Creating a lasting firm is a top priority. We are committed to keeping Affiance Financial a proudly independent business so that we can continue to serve you, and our future clients, with unwavering excellence. In 2024, we:

  • Took another significant step forward by completing an additional tranche of ownership transitions, moving shares from the founders to the second generation of owners. We remain dedicated to serving our clients for many years to come. 


Generosity: At Affiance Financial, our mission is to make lives better. While we strive to do this every day through our financial planning, we’re also passionate about giving back to the communities we serve. This year, we:

  • Spent time volunteering, with our clients and as a team. We packaged food with the Food Group, filled backpacks with the Kids in Need Foundation, and pulled weeds with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. 
     
  • Continued our generous community sponsorship program, providing financial support to organizations that create lasting impacts in our communities.


Personal Milestones: 2024 was a year of celebration and growth for the team at Affiance Financial. Here are some of the exciting personal milestones I am honored to share with you:

New Addition to the Family

  • Financial Planner Michael Fishman and his wife Shelby welcomed their first child, a baby boy, Noah Jack.


Professional Achievements

  • Tammy Gallagher was promoted to Office Manager and Lucas Warner became Lead Paraplanner. It was a privilege to recognize and celebrate both of these team member’s dedication and contributions.  
     
  • Associate Financial Planner Hunter Schwimmer reached a significant career milestone by passing the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) exam. 


Welcoming New Team Members

  • We were excited to add to our team with the addition of Niko Pantazides, Tyler Hanson, Tee Lor, Zach Miller, and Emma Mattison, whose talents are already making a difference. 
     
  • We held another successful summer internship program, infusing our team with fresh energy while investing in the development of future workers. 


Thank You! 
As we celebrate this year’s achievements, we are also looking to the future with excitement. Our dedication to personalized service will remain at the center of everything we do in 2025 and beyond. 

Thank you for the continued trust you place in Affiance Financial. 

Respectfully, 
Eric Unger, Partner, President, Chief Compliance Officer

 

Please remember to contact Affiance Financial if there are any changes in your personal circumstances, financial situation, or investment objectives.