Blog

Everyone but the Owner is Ready for Retirement

Michael H. Olivia, CFP® CExP™

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Many successful business owners (and their families) look forward to retirement. After years of hard work, retirement allows business owners to kick up their feet and live the dream. But, what if that dream doesn’t exist for your...

Vladi Sasic Earns Prestigious Forbes Recognition

Nash Subotic

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

We are excited to announce that Vladi Sasic, a valued member of our WestPac team, has received accolades from Forbes as a Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professional for Arizona. This remarkable achievement is a testament to...

Predicting a Student's College Success: Examining the 6 Factors

Rod Roberto, CExP™

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Parents who prioritize getting their children into top-ranked schools, regardless of the cost, can save a significant amount of money by understanding the true factors that lead to positive outcomes for their children. With some...

Forbes Recognizes Alex Jakovljevic as a Top Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professional

Nash Subotic

Monday, August 14, 2023

We are absolutely thrilled to share that Alex Jakovljevic, our exceptional team member at WestPac, has been acknowledged by Forbes 2023 as a Top Best-in-State Financial Security Professional in California. This prestigious recognition...

Nikola Novakovic Recognized as a Leading Financial Security Professional in FL

Nash Subotic

Friday, August 11, 2023

We are excited to announce that Nikola "Nick" Novakovic from WestPac Wealth Partners has been acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Top Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals in Florida. This prestigious recognition is a...

Liang Lee - Best-In-State Financial Security Professional 2023

Nash Subotic

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

SOURCE: FORBES.COM HAWAII TOP SECURITIES PROFESSIONALS (AWARDED JULY 2023. DATA COMPILED BY SHOOK RESEARCH LLC FROM 12.31.21-12.31.22 We are pleased to share that Forbes has recognized Liang Lee of WestPac Wealth Partners as a...

Michael Olivia Named Forbes Top 100 Advisors List for 2023

Nash Subotic

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

We are pleased to announce that Michael Olivia, a member of our team at WestPac, has achieved an impressive ranking in the renowned Forbes Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professionals. In the state of California, Michael has...

Congratulations for Making the Forbes List

Nash Subotic

Thursday, July 27, 2023

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed wealth advisors, Michael Olivia, Vladi Sasic, Aleksander Jakovljevic, Nikola Novakovic, and Liang Lee, for their well-deserved recognition as Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2023 by...

Recipe For Success: Building an Advisor Team

Taylor Wong

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Just like every business is unique, so are the plans owners have for transitioning out of business. Their financial and values-based goals, the desired exit path, and their timeline are all specific to their personal and professional...

Brennan Drew Featured in Yahoo Finance

Brennan Drew, CExP™

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

We are thrilled to announce that Brennan Drew, vice president and financial advisor, has been recognized by Yahoo Finance for his insightful article titled "WestPac Offers Informative Series To Bolster Small Businesses’ Financial...

Executors Who Don’t Execute Your Will

Aaron Domingo

Thursday, July 13, 2023

When it comes to estate planning, an untrustworthy executor can undermine even the most meticulously crafted will. Selecting a reliable executor is crucial to ensure your assets are distributed correctly.

WestPac Wealth Partners Earns 2023 Great Place To Work Certification™

Aimee DeYoung

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

For the fourth consecutive year, Westpac Wealth Partners takes immense pride in being Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. This prestigious recognition is solely based on feedback from our current associates, highlighting...

Tackling California’s Towering Tax Rates

Alex Jakovljevic, MBA, CExP™

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

We all love California’s coastline, sunny days, mild winters, and access to magnificent nature. Of course, pros are often balanced out with cons. Luckily, the cons we are referring to here are more like maneuverable hurdles and...

Exits Are Inevitable, Failure Is Not: Planning a Successful Exit

Brennan Drew, CExP™

Monday, June 26, 2023

We understand that business owners are so busy addressing today’s economic challenges that they can overlook the critical task of Exit Planning. We also understand that, at some point, all owners exit their businesses. When that...

Expanding Horizons: WestPac Opens Office Location in Downtown Gilbert, Arizona

Nash Subotic

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Wealth management is a critical aspect of financial planning and achieving long-term prosperity. As more individuals seek professional assistance in managing their wealth, esteemed firms are expanding their presence to cater to the...

Building a Better World Together: Explore WestPac's New Philanthropy Landing Page

Rich Kettley

Friday, May 26, 2023

Recently, WestPac has launched a new philanthropic landing page on our website, which highlights our charitable initiatives and partnerships. This page provides a platform for us to share our philanthropic goals, the impact we hope to...

Succession Planning vs. Exit Planning

Alfred Valencia, CExP™

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Many people believe that succession planning and Exit Planning are one within the same and can be used interchangeably when talking about owners who are in the process of leaving their businesses. However, this misconception can end up...

Inc. Best Workplace 2023

Rich Kettley

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

At WestPac Wealth Partners, we are thrilled and honored to be recognized as an Inc. Best Workplace for 2023. After collecting data from thousands of submissions, this prestigious award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of...

You can view the article on Forbes: 

Welcome to WestPac, Bailey and Aimee

Rich Kettley

Thursday, March 30, 2023

We are thrilled to welcome Bailey Creager and Aimee DeYoung to the WestPac Marketing and Development team!

Who Cares about Diversity… I mean… Does it Really Matter?

Rich Kettley

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Let’s say you’re stranded on a desert (not deSSert) island with a group of 15 OTHER individuals, think LOST (not cupcake wars). The exception is, this time, all that is needed to get off the island is to travel to an...

The High Cost of Fame: Managing Wealth as a Professional Athlete

Nikola Novakovic

Monday, March 27, 2023

Anyone hoping to become a professional athlete must work hard on the fundamentals. Those annoying essential drills and exercises ensure you can score even when the pressure from the crowd, other teams, and time left on the board creep...

Setting Exit Goals for the New Year

Phil Kang, CExP

Friday, January 20, 2023

With the new year upon us, many people have begun their journeys to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. For business owners, it’s no different. Between creating goals for the business to achieve and assuring that the...

Liang Lee Ranked #1 in Forbes Top Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals in HawaiiWestPac is proud to announce our very own Liang Lee has been selected by Forbes as #1 Top Best-in-State Financial Security Professional in Hawaii...

 We are extremely excited to share Alex has been published on Forbes.com for his recent accomplishment of being named a Top Financial Security Professional. 

Connecting Your Personal Financial Plan and Business Continuity Plan

Rod Roberto, CExP™

Monday, December 5, 2022

Owning a successful business is a constant exercise in planning. Many successful business owners have already committed to personal financial planning, including investing and providing financial protection for themselves and their...

Successful Planning Starts Much Earlier Than You Think

Taylor Wong

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Many business owners believe they have plenty of time to create a successful plan for the future of their businesses. Most commonly, owners think that if they give themselves a few years, they can transform their businesses into...

WestPac Featured by California’s Business Journal

Rich Kettley

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

We are pleased to announce that our CEO, Nash Subotic, was recently interviewed, then featured in the California Business Journal. As a firm, we are committed to helping people reach their goals and to live better lives. WestPac Wealth...

Best Workplaces for Parents™

Regina Reiff

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

We're proud to announce that WestPac Wealth Partners has been named a finalist for the Best Workplaces for Parents 2022! The award recognizes companies that offer exceptional benefits, policies, and programs to make the workplace more...

Determining Business Value: The Inconsequential Owner

Nichole Mayer, RICP®, CExP™

Monday, October 10, 2022

The modern business landscape, and the Exit Planning industry, has plenty of variables. Unprecedented occurrences can happen at any given time. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how many businesses were unprepared for sudden changes...

The Common Element Among Unique and Successful Businesses

Phil Kang, CExP

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Successful business owners may face a conundrum as they pursue success. “Though my competitors do something similar, they don’t do it the way I do it. So, how do I know the right way to achieve success, especially if I...

Forbes' Top 100 Financial Professionals

Nash Subotic

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

This month Forbes Announced their Top 100 Financial Security Professionals in America. WestPac is honored and pleased to announce that out of 35,465 qualifying nominations, Aleksandar Jakovljevic was selected to be one of the Top 100...

Building Business Value Through Exit Planning

Joseph DeLisi, CFP® ChFC®

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Business owners seldom seek to exit their businesses without attaining financial security. They understand that one requirement of financial security is to grow business value, but many struggle to achieve this goal. Fortunately for...

Fortune® Unveils WestPac® Wealth Partners as a Best Workplace for Millennials

Rich Kettley

Thursday, July 21, 2022

WestPac Wealth Partners has recently been nominated as a Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials. We believe this is important because it shows that our employees feel valued, making them more productive in the workspace. We have...

The Essential Business Agreement: A Business-Continuity Agreement Among Owners

Aaron Puttroff, CExP™, CFP®

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

If you co-own your business, the business-continuity agreement (or buy-sell agreement) is one of the most important documents that you will sign. If you have a buy-sell agreement that is out-of-date, not reviewed, or focuses on the...

Introducing the YHHC Program

Regina Reiff

Thursday, June 23, 2022

It's no secret that a healthy workforce is a productive one. In this article, we are going to share key points on how to craft a simple, balanced health and wellness program for your employees. The most significant benefits are...

In Tough Times, What Are Your Options?

Brennan Drew, CExP™

Thursday, June 2, 2022

In this issue we discuss how owners of mid-sized business are making decisions about their futures in a quickly changing economy. As exit planners, we consistently urge business owners to take the initiative when planning their exits....

Which Comes First? Estate Planning or Exit Planning?

Rod Roberto, CExP™

Monday, December 20, 2021

Once owners see that the two processes share the same goals, they can appreciate how to leverage the time and money they spend developing their Exit Plans into the design of their estate plans.

Protecting Yourself Against Employee Risk

William Combs

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Successful business owners constantly strive for growth. And when everything’s humming along, it can be easy to think the good times will last forever. However, it’s crucial to protect yourself, your company, and your...

What’s the Point of Asset Protection?

Rachel Novak

Monday, October 25, 2021

As a successful business owner, you know how important asset protection is. However, many business owners look past an important question when protecting their assets: “Why am I doing this?” A cursory glance at that...

A Match Made in Hawaii

Nash Subotic

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Spectrum Wealth Management is a proud member of the beautiful Hawaii community. Over their fifteen years as a firm, Adelia and Bryan of Spectrum Wealth Management have built many relationships with clients and business partners,...

5 Common Financial Mistakes Made by Professional Athletes

Alex Jakovljevic, MBA, CExP™

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Professional athletes sometimes make as much money in a week as other people might make in a year. With that level of income, how is it that so many recently-retired athletes face financial problems? With 78% of NFL players and 60% of...

Set Your Exit Objectives... Even If You Are Not Ready To Exit

Nichole Mayer, RICP® CExP™

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Peter Daniels wanted to leave his food processing plant in five years by selling it for enough cash to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. A quick review of the company’s financials suggested that with a current annual cash flow...

Ten Things to Consider With Biden’s Proposed Tax Plan:

Alex Jakovljevic, MBA, CExP™

Thursday, September 30, 2021

If enacted as-is, the tax reform proposals introduced by the Biden Administration and members of Congress could turn tax planning, as we know it, on its head. Corporate tax rates could increase from 21 percent to 28 percent The Section...

WestPac - A Great Place to Work For Millennials

Regina Reiff

Monday, August 16, 2021

WestPac® Wealth Partners is officially a Great Place to Work for Millennials for the second consecutive year since 2020! Millennials make up approximately 45% of our team and are an important piece of our WestPac culture. Great...

Determining Business Value: The Inconsequential Owner

Aaron Puttroff, CExP™, CFP®

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

In all likelihood, you are absolutely critical to the success of your business. Without you, there is no business. We want to fix that. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, we can help you become an Inconsequential Owner. Having...

Myth: "My CPA will tell me when it is time to start planning for my business transition." (Replace CPA with "attorney," "financial planner," or "insurance professional" and the myth remains intact.) Fact: Your advisors, be they...

Congrats to Theo Stiller and Christopher Chow from our Hawaii team for their recent feature in the Honolulu Real Producers magazine! Theo and Christopher were featured for their unique approach to financial advisement – which...

Soon President Biden will be rolling out his tax plan for the upcoming year. This article addresses the most important proposed federal tax changes found in his plan. Note that specifics for the proposals are often lacking, but we...

Inc. Magazine has recognized WestPac Wealth Partners as a 2021 Best Workplace, marking the second year running that we have received this award! We are incredibly proud to have earned this recognition, especially after a year that...

As advisors, we often hear from business owners some variation of the following comments: “I think it is time to back away from my business.” “I'd really like the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want.”...

Owner has already achieved financial security. Owners who have already achieved financial security (separate from and prior to any sale or transfer of their companies) enjoy the luxury of selling to their key employees. They may have...

WestPac Wealth Partners has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Best Workplace in Financial Services & Insurance for 2021! Fortune Magazine partners with the Great Places to Work program to anonymously survey thousands of...

We're on the list! WestPac Wealth Partners is on San Diego Business Journal's The List as a top firm in Life and Health Insurance Services. We are honored to receive this recognition and know that it would not have been possible...

WestPac Wealth Partners has been named one of the 250 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in California by Inc. Magazine! We are constantly striving to achieve new heights and have some exciting changes coming, so while we are extremely...

We are thrilled to announce that WestPac Wealth Partners has been listed as one of the Best Companies to Work For in Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine! Each year, Oregon Business surveys employees across the state to identify those...

We’ve all pitied the well-past-his-prime athlete who refuses to retire. Does the aging business owner who stays in his business deserve our pity as well? Is there something wrong with an owner who refuses to retire — not...

It is safe to say that this year was full of surprises. Some businesses thrived, while in other areas jobs were lost, companies were forced to go under, and we even lost loved ones along the way. Many businesses were affected by the...

WestPac has been featured by Fortune three times so far for being a great workplace. But our firm is more than just one of the best companies to work for; it’s one of the best companies you can do business with. But what makes...

The list of our best workplace awards continues to grow. WestPac was recently ranked one of the Best Workplaces for Parents in 2020!

Once again, Fortune Magazine has recognized WestPac as one off the top 100 medium-sized workplaces in the United States. Fortune magazine anonymously surveyed thousands upon thousands of employees across the nation, receiving feedback...

People have always been at the center of WestPac Wealth Partners, including its associates, clients, community, and the world. An integral part of our process is our focus on the values, dreams, and goals of those around us, keeping...

San Diego Business Journal announced their list of Best Places to Work in 2020, and WestPac Wealth Partners does it again! Landing in the 1st place spot, our firm is honored to come out on top among the best workplaces in San Diego. A...

Since its founding, WestPac has made working with quality people a priority. As a result of this focus, our team members naturally have various backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and traits. At our firm, we believe in celebrating our...

WestPac has been named as one of Fortune Magazine’s Best Workplaces for Millennials, landing the 5th place spot. This means millennials really like working at WestPac! Out of more than 4.9 million U.S. employees, our associates...

Amid an uncertain financial climate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WestPac Wealth Partners remains strong and brings more support to its communities and clients by expanding its footprint and opening a new office of financial advisors...

In the space six months, WestPac Wealth Partners has received three awards – two from Fortune Magazine and one from Inc. Magazine. In October 2019, Fortune named WestPac as one of the top mid-sized companies to work for (at that...

As they say, the third time’s the charm! We are excited to announce that WestPac Wealth Partners was recently named as one of Inc Magazine’s Best Workplaces, making this the third time this year that our firm has landed on...

WestPac Wealth Partners was just named as the best place to work in Hawaii! Hawaii Business Magazine recently ranked our Honolulu office #1 on its list of the state's best paces to work 2020 in the small companies category. We are...

We are pleased to announce that WestPac Wealth Partners was recently ranked #1 on Fortune Magazine’s list of Best Small and Medium Workplaces in Finance and Insurance! We are incredibly proud of our being named the best firm in...

When you find the right culture, the rewards can be great

Jeff Pawlowski

Friday, December 20, 2019

In a world where change is constant and there are as many opinions about a topic as there are people, it is critical for a company to create a culture where differences are accepted, embraced, and understood. By so doing, it creates an...

You just opened your first personal business. Everything is running smoothly, clients are happy, and life is good. Next, your expenses come. You need to get supplies, pay for utilities, and maybe even organize travel plans for...

In life, we all feel like we are part of something great. However, it isn't very often that you are able to b`e recognized for the difference you are making in the community. Today is one of those days where you get to see the fruits...

As 2019 finishes strong for WestPac Wealth Partners, the company is excited to bring new team members on board, expanding the company's reach into the state of Arizona. The new office opens in early December. WestPac Wealth Partners...

Community. That is what WestPac Wealth Partners in Las Vegas is all about. On September 27th, 2019, the Las Vegas Agency welcomed an impressive 400+ guests to their front doors for their Annual Block Party, doubling the headcount from...

I love to work with professional athletes. It probably has something to do with the fact that my wife and I used to play competitively, and we love the energy and drive that any professional brings to the table. I think it’s...

The market has experienced significant volatility recently. Should this be cause for concern? In the article I wrote for Vegas PBS's Source magazine, I provide context. Additionally, I answer the question, "What does tennis great Roger...

A hearty congratulations to Michael Hess, RICP®, vice president and wealth management advisor with WestPac Wealth Partners in Beverly Hills, California. Michael was recently recognized by The Top 100 Magazine as one of the "Top Top...

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to shore up old relationships and forge new ones. WestPac Wealth Partners is proud to be forming a new relationship with Northern Rockies Financial Group to help serve the state of Montana...

Congratulations to Travis Scribner, Managing Partner in our Vegas and Irvine offices, for being named one of the Top 100 Men of the Year by My Vegas Magazine.In this article, Travis describes what it means to protect, invest and...

Since its beginning in 2007, Wealth Strategy Partners has been proud to be part of the beautiful Hawaii community. We have built many strong and long-standing relationships with clients and business partners, spreading the Aloha Spirit...

As the owner of a closely-held business, you’ve worked long and hard to build the business to what it is today and what you have planned for in the future. Owning a business requires the coordination of many moving parts –...

When you want to attract and retain the best talent possible the “usual” benefits aren’t enough. That’s when you need to put everything on the table and go beyond the standard health benefits, 401(k), and two...

Starting a business is like climbing a mountain; from the base it may look daunting but focus on taking it one step at a time and you will soon reach the summit. Some of the first steps to starting a new business may not be as...

At the 2012 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, Warren Buffett stated that the following was critical to all business owners: “If business schools could offer just one course, it would not be on stock trading, the efficient market...

We are pleased to announce that Jonathan Couwenberg has joined our firm as a Financial Representative.Jonathan came to the WestPac Irvine office from Merrill Lynch in Newport Beach. He enjoys spending time with his family and...

When we were kids, we were often asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?". For some people, this question remains in their adult life. Another, possibly more impactful question that someone begins to ask themselves is, "What...

On December 22, 2017, the President signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Act"). The Act will have a significant impact on businesses for many years to come. Many of the Act’s provisions are still unclear and will require IRS...

We have all heard that small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, and according to Townsquared Resources there are 28 million small businesses in the United States (2016). A small business is defined by the Small Business...

Multimillion dollar contracts. Big-money endorsements. Lavish lifestyles. Professional athletes are famous not only for their elite skills and refined athletic prowess; many sporting celebrities are just as notorious for burning...

We are pleased to announce that Doug Weber has joined our firm as a Financial Representative. Doug is coming to the firm from US Bank, where he worked as an anti-money-laundering investigator. He is a graduate of the MBA program at the...

According to the Social Security Administration, three in 10 workers entering the work force today will become disabled before retiring1. If you’re like many individuals today, you probably already have a lot of protection in...

It is a well-known fact that many professional athletes rake in a significantly higher income compared to other careers. Knowing this, it is still alarming how many of these professional athletes end up declaring bankruptcy after their...

We are pleased to announce that Riley Rankin has joined our firm as a Financial Representative. Riley is coming to us from Waddell & Reed in Lake Oswego and is a graduate of Pacific University '16. He enjoys sports, especially golf and...

We are pleased to announce that Malissa Dreyer is our newest Financial Representative at WestPac. She is coming to us from the U.S. Army after doing 8 years of active duty service. She recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in...

College costs continue to skyrocket – at a pace that far exceeds the rate of inflation. But there is a bright side to planning for college expenses, and it’s getting a little brighter all the time – thanks to federal...

When you’re in business for yourself, every penny counts. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of as many tax deductions as you can. But the time to start planning for these deductions is not tax time –...

We are pleased to announce that Lillie Bennett has joined our firm as the Marketing Coordinator. Lillie is coming as a recent graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University. She enjoys traveling, taking photos and exploring new places with...