Author: Bill Van Sant

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How March Madness Can Guide Your Investment Strategy

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division March 17, 2021

Picking the right investment strategy to meet your financial goals may seem as challenging as predicting which team will win the annual NCAA tournament. However, there are a few ways that picking an accurate March Madness bracket parallels a successful investing strategy. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Look for a solid coach. A good way to successfully create a bracket is by selecting teams that have a coach with a solid track record. This is also true for your investment strategy – set yourself up for success by working with a qualified, experienced investment advisor.

Think about…

Why Your Advisor, Accountant and Lawyer Need to Talk

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division March 6, 2020

Do your financial advisor, accountant and lawyer talk? It may sound like the start of a bad joke, but ensuring that these three professionals are conversing with one another is no laughing matter. With tax season around the corner, and as you look at your financial documents, it’s a great time to revisit your overall financial, tax and estate plans. Your financial advisor is an expert in planning for your financial goals, but also has tax and long-term planning to take into consideration. Your accountant is a tax expert, but also has to consider your investments and inheritance plans…

Why College Students Should Consider a Career in Financial Planning

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division October 31, 2019

Has your child recently started college, navigating a sea of majors and concentrations in the hope of finding one that fits? Perhaps your student is in the process of applying to universities, and is just starting to think about what they want to do for a living. It’s important for students to consider pursuing a career that will pay off monetarily and also fit their strengths and interests.

With roughly 40 percent of current financial advisors expected to retire in the next 10 years, now is the perfect time for prospective and current students to consider financial services as…

Beyond a Budget – Financial Tips

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division March 29, 2019

Planning your financial future may seem like a daunting task. You need to understand the full view of what you have, what you’ll need and what it all means for your retirement. The basics – budgeting, saving and getting rid of debt are great places to start, but there are many things to consider beyond these basics. Especially for individuals and couples who have accumulated assets, there are a few critical points to consider when striving for a more secure financial future.

Create tax efficiency: Accumulating assets for retirement via investment accounts is a great start, but it’s critical to…

Three Questions to Ask Your Advisor During Market Volatility

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division February 1, 2019

In times of market volatility, it’s vital to stay the course and not panic. However, it’s understandable to feel a little uneasy during these times. When you’re seeing the market go down, it’s natural to wonder how that’s going to impact you. If you’re apprehensive about your assets, it’s important to have a conversation with your financial advisor so you fully understand what you own and how this impacts your financial picture. Having such a discussion can help shed light on the situation and alleviate worries.

As financial advisors, it’s our job to help clients make educated decisions despite market…

Holiday Gift Guide for a Secure Financial Future

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division December 6, 2018

‘Tis the season for giving. Have you considered giving a loved one a gift that would help provide a more secure financial future? Check out this financial gift guide for the holiday season:

Financial planning: Helping a child or grandchild with a financial plan is one of those “gifts that keeps on giving.” This holiday season, set up some time with your advisor to sit down with your child or grandchild. Many people do not have the financial literacy or confidence to create their own long-term financial plan. Gifting a meeting with a financial advisor is invaluable and can help…

How a Basketball Bracket Can Guide Investing Strategy

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division March 1, 2018

Picking the right investment strategy to meet your financial goals may seem as challenging as predicting which team will win the annual NCAA tournament. However, there are a few ways that picking an accurate March Madness bracket parallels a successful investing strategy. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Look for a solid coach. A good way to successfully create a bracket is by selecting teams that have a coach with a solid track record. This is also true for your investment strategy – set yourself up for success by working with a qualified, experienced investment advisor. Think…

What to Consider when Relocating in Retirement

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division December 1, 2017

Did you know Lancaster, Pa. was recently named the 2nd best place to retire by U.S. News & World Report? The small, rural city, located in Univest’s backyard, is not a place that most typically think about when discussing retirement. While it’s certainly not a sunny beach town, it does check many important boxes pre-retirees should consider when deciding where to spend their retirement.

When discussing retirement and a potential relocation, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun things like what town has the best restaurants or where to catch the best shows and activities….

Personal Finance Lessons for College Freshmen

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division October 2, 2017

If parents were to ask their college-aged children about interest rates, 401(k)s or budgeting, chances are they would be stunned at their children’s limited knowledge of personal finance. The onus is on the young adult to grasp financial know-how throughout their college years, before they enter the real world. To help set up your child for financial success, parents should help cover fundamentals. College freshmen, who are getting accustomed to a new world of independence, have a few money lessons they must master.

Lesson 1: Safely build credit

Once enrolled in college, students will likely be approached by a bank to…

Should Estate Planning Be a Family Affair?

By: Bill Van Sant, SVP and Managing Director, Girard, a Univest Wealth Management Division July 3, 2017

Over the last few years, there have been quite a few headlines that have brought estate planning to the forefront. Remember the unfortunate situations with Prince, Robin Williams or even James Gandolfini – when they passed they did not have solid estate plans in place, which inevitably led to a nightmare for their loved ones who were left to deal with lengthy legal battles and familial disputes. Below, we take a look at a couple of reasons why these plans are usually overlooked, and best practices that not only individuals should consider, but entire families as…

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