FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS, friends and family join in and Race for the Cure!

On Saturday, May 21, 2011 the Financial Architects team and their families joined together at the 20th annual Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.  The event raises funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivors, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.  It was held near Comerica Park in downtown Detroit where nearly 40,000 runners and walkers attended the event.  Everyone had a great time for a great cause and we look forward to participating again next year!

Pictured Left to Right: (Front Row) Kim Keith, Ken Grace, Dick Griffin, Jackson Bay, Ethan Laporte, Sydney Scheib, Natalie Bay, Emma Bay. (2nd Row): Jameson Scheib, Brandon Scheib, Melissa Scheib, Jason Keith, Jane Grace, Peggy Griffin, Abby Bay, Leslie Gillespie, Jan Winters, Ashley Sanburn, Erika Werner, Janice Reynolds, Kristi Laporte, Jenifer Bay, Spence Bay (Back Row): Joe Werner, Samantha Werner

August 2010 (Brighton, MI) - FINANCIAL ARCHITECTS MENS SOFTBALL TEAM WINS 2nd CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP!

After winning the 2009 Championship in Brighton Community SELCRA league, the FAI team stepped it up this year and took the trophy with a 13-0 perfect season!  
 
Most of the 2009 players returned for the 2010 season, including our own Chris Cousins. The league has some tough competition, some teams with very strong hitting/scoring. The FAI team had a season of consistent team offense, ending up 3rd in runs scored. However, the statistics show that the key was the strong defense with the team leading the league in least runs scored against by a large margin.  Just as in wealth management, a strong defense is key to finishing strong. Way to finish strong guys, great season!

Left to right standing: Frank Wittman, Jack Barry, Jim Mattson, Marty McCarthy, Tim Stanisz, Chris Cousins, Mark Geiss, Steve Spagnola, Rich Stanisz, Steve Anthony, Bill Tripp Kneeling left to right (The Fans): John-Paul, Mike, Eric, Austin Not Pictured: Steve Roberts, Brian Edtkin, Kahle Strickland (coach), Adam Zebrowskie

2009/2010 Victory!

The Financial Architects Board of Directors and a few local clients gather at Leaf Barley Vine.

In July, we hosted a small gathering at Leaf Barley Vine in Brighton, MI to enjoy some food, wine, and the summer weather. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves at this first time event, especially once the wine education began. The Sommelier (Matt and Kim) at Leaf Barley Vine treated us not only to useful information about wines in general, but on things like: Proper ways to taste the different types of wine, how they are made, and the different regions of wine making around the world. Based on the questions from the audience, it appeared there was a great amount of interest in this information!

We do look forward to having more events like this in the future, it was a great time!

The Sommelier opens wine	George Cousins, Lori Caverly and Pat Cousins
The Birthday People: Pat Cousins, Lori Caverly and Tom Riley	Happy Birthday cake for: Tom Riley (7/20), Lori Caverly and Pat Cousins (7/21)
Kristin Holcomb, Rod Marlow and his wife Jill Love	Karen Schickel, Lila Riley, Jim & Theresa Linenger
The Sommelier shares her knowledge	Susie and Pat Cousins
Mark & Danielle Bourdo

Erika Werner Has Her 1st Baby!

Another long-time employee of ours, Erika Werner, had her first baby July 19th.  
Erika has been with the firm since 2002.  she currently is in charge of our securities processing.  We are delighted to announce that Erika and her husband Joe had a daughter, Samantha Reese.  We are so happy for the Werner Family and the new addition to their family.

Another FAI Client Writes a Book!

K. Marie Swift has been a client for a number of years now. Her husband, Richard “Berk” Berkfield is also a long time client and owner of Berkfield & Co., LTD, an independent personal and commercial lines property casualty insurance agency.  

Author K. Marie Swift grew up the youngest of five girls in Dearborn, Michigan.  She was inspired to write the Jake and George series after her father, also named George, passed away in 2001. The lessons taught by her father are the same lessons woven into her fable-like stories.

The Adventures of Jake and George will have children wondering what these two frisky dogs will do next.  Jake is an energetic, attention-loving little terrier that is sometimes surly, while George the foxhound always looks on the bright side of things.

This collection of seven short stories follows these two lovable pooches as they wander through their daily adventures. The first story has Jake adjusting to a new baby brother.  Seeing no reason for this addition to the family, Jake wonders why the new puppy can't just be returned. He then does everything he can to demonstrate his disapproval!

These two real-life dogs and the way they handle every day adventures will capture your heart and have children asking, "What would Jake and George Do?"

For more information or to purchase Jake and George merchandise please visit www.JakeAndGeorge.com.

FAI Client Makes News With A Private Surgery Center.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Leider, an ear, nose, & throat specialist for both children and adults and a Financial Architects client, recently made news! As part owner of a new private surgery center, he was featured in a Detroit News article called "Private Surgery Centers Compete With Metro Hospitals." Click here to read the article.

Kim Has A Son!

Kim Keith has been with Financial Architects for several years now. Currently she is the Securities Principal for the firm as well as main assistant to Ken.  Kim and Jason are the proud new parents of Brendan Keith, who joins sister Lauren as the Keith Kids.  

Melissa Has A Son!

Things run in pairs it seems.  Melissa joined the firm in 1998 and has served as the Principal/Compliance Officer, Office Manager and  Financial Officer.  Melissa and Brandon are the proud new parents of Jameson, who joins sister Sydney and dog Gracie.

Ken Grace Goes to Haiti!

In April Ken joined a team from his church, Orchard Grove Community Church and went to Haiti.  In a city of roughly 4,000,000 people, there were roughly 230,000 who died in the earthquake.  The remaining population is basically homeless living in tents.  “The devastation and destruction cannot be described.  The Haitian people are sweet spirited and grateful in the midst of extreme hardship” said Ken.  The team spent many hours in the tent cities taking in rice and cooking oil for food.  They worked with a few families to meet their immediate needs.  Orchard Grove will now send teams of workers every few months to work with the churches and orphanages that Ken and his team identified.  Ken is planning on leading a team there in the fall.

Patrick Marody to hang up his skates

After 8 years and 3 state championships as a youth hockey coach, Patrick Marody has decided to hang up his skates. “I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of coaching young hockey players.  I was able to fulfill a dream of mine to give back to a sport that was so good to me when I was a young hockey player.  Hockey totally shaped who I am as a man, husband and father.  It was my pleasure to provide kids with the skills they needed to be good hockey players but more importantly to share with them the life principals they needed to be fine young men that happen to play hockey.”

 While he may be hanging up his hockey skates, Pat Marody is not giving up his coach’s whistle.  “I am focusing my efforts now on giving back to an industry that has been so good to me.  The financial planning industry is a true passion for me and I am eager to share my enthusiasm, experience, and coaching talents by building a winning team of financial advisors.”

 The financial planning team that Marody is looking to build must include players that possess the following characteristics:

-Energetic

-Positive Attitude

-Self Starter

-High Morals and Ethics

-Enjoy Helping People

-College Graduates with Financial/Economic background who are looking to make their mark on the industry

Or

-Current Financial Professionals who are disenchanted with their industry and are looking for a fresh, inspiring perspective and approach

Or

-Business Professionals who are looking for a career or industry change to be in an industry with an entrepreneurial spirit

 If this is you or you know someone that fits this description, please give Patrick Marody a call at 248-482-3614 or email, Patrick@financialarch.com.

Jill Love, Rod Marlow's wife has been awarded Detroit Professional Photographer of the Year

Jill Love, owner of J. Love Photography in Dexter, has received this year's top annual award from Detroit Professional Photographer's Association (DPPA), which has a membership of over 200 professional photographers.

This award is based on the highest total cumulative scores from the annual print competition held in November.

A jury of five members, each with a Master's degree in photography from the Professional Photographers of America, gave Love's images the highest cumulative score of all entries. In addition, the judges awarded one of Love's entries the highest individual score of the competition.

According to Tom Hicks, Chairperson of the annual print competition, this prestigious honor has been awarded for seven decades by the DPPA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance the professional photographic industry.

Love's fine art and portrait work is on display at Artistica 3203 Broad Street, Dexter, MI as well as at her studio, both located in Dexter. Jill Love can be reached at info@jlovephotography.com or click here for her website.       

FAI Clients Publishes Children’s Book

C. Fran Card, director/founder of Christian Cradle, Inc. and a Financial Architects client, recently wrote a children’s book called Ceana Has CP. Fran wrote the book after her granddaughter, Ceanna, was born with Cerebral Palsy. When she wasn’t able to find a children’s book about CP, she decided to write one herself, just for her granddaughter.

Fran has spent her entire career working with children. In addition to being a mother of seven sons, Fran has been a school teacher, counselor and foster parent. Today she runs Christian Cradle—an adoption agency where she met Ken Grace back in 1986 when he and his wife started the process of adopting their two sons, Adam and Jordan.

Click here to order the book!

A Hit at the Woodward Dream Cruise

Over 100 people joined us for this year’s Rev Into Yesterday event at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Royal Oak. Every year the Woodward Dream Cruise gets bigger and bigger and it was great to see all the classic cars and join with our friends for the celebration. We’re already counting down to next year! (Click here to see more photos of the event)

with our clients!

John and Carole Haupt

John and Carole Haupt have worked with Ken Grace for +15 years.  They have a beautiful 1981 Vette with 350 CID and only 72,000 miles. They love to drive it in the Woodward Dream Cruise. (Click here to learn more about the Haupts and their 1981 vette)

with our clients!

Dave Perrine

Dave Perrine has been a client of Financial Architects for a number of years, working with Patrick Marody and Chris Cousins.  Dave has a passion for drag racing. (Click here to learn more about Dave Perrine and his passion for drag racing)

with our clients!

Colleen Egan

Colleen Egan has been an avid, no that’s not quit accurate…..a rabid Vette aficionado for years!  She blames the whole thing on her dad, Jim.  You can see her helping him wash their “give me a ticket” red 64 coup. (Click here to learn more about Colleen Egan and her coup)

with our clients!

Jim and Karen Demmith

Jim and Karen have been clients since 2002.  They were married in 1969.  The car they drove in their wedding was this 1962 Mercury Convertible.  Big Red has a tri-power on it’s 390 CID.  (Click here to learn more about the Demmiths and see photos from their car collection)

 with our clients!

Kirk Jabara

Kirk has been a planning client of Ken Grace’s for a number of years.  Kirk is a partner in Fulcrum Partners, a Michigan based M&A advisory firm serving owners of privately held, lower middle market companies. (Click here to learn more about Jabara, his 67 and 08 Mustangs and his company, Fulcrum Partners)

 with our clients!

Paul Coleman

“I am only the second owner of this car! " says Paul Coleman. Coleman has worked been a client of Chris Cousins for years and has passed his love for car collecting on to his son, Jeff, who has has taken up the hobby. (Click here to learn more about Coleman, his 57 Ford Sunliner and his family)

 with our clients!

John McElhinny

John McElhinny is the Sales and Engineering Manager at McNaughton McKay Electric, Eastern Region.  He has been a client of Ken’s for a number of years.  At any given time, John may have as many as eight or nine cars.  He has a sweet 67 Vette in the reassembly stages right now. 

This 1971 Trans Am is special as it is one of approximately 800 built that year with an automatic transmission.  This T/A is numbers matching and powered by 455HO.  It also has air, tilt, AM-FM 8 Track.  

with our clients!

Dr. Bob Singelyn and Diane Singelyn

Clients of Ken Grace for a number of years, the Singelyn's own this 1967 Corvette. (Click here to learn more about the Singelyns, their dental practice and more photos of their Corvette)

with our clients!

Terry Smith

Terry Smith has always had a passion for Ford cars, and Mustangs in particular.  His 1967 convertible is a 5 speed 302 CID with deluxe interior and the turn signal hood option.  Pat, Terry’s wife has worked at Financial Architects for over ten years. 

Financial Architects and the Woodward Dream Cruise

Every August the Woodward Dream Cruise--the world’s largest one-day celebration of car culture--attracts more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles. Last year, several clients, friends and associates of Financial Architects attended the event. Are you a fan of muscle cars and the Dream Cruise? Stop by and see us this year at our Rev into Yesterday event! If you have a classic car, send a picture with a description to ken@financialarchitects.com.

From left to right: Don Courtley and his 1968_Tempest Custom; Raffi Der Manuelian and his 1968 Dodge Charger; Terry Smith and his 1967 Mustang and Ken Grace with his 1967 GTO.

Terry Smith's 1967 Mustang and Ken Grace's 1967 GTO.

Kucera embarked on mission trip to Africa

Mike Giving a Helping Hand

Mike Loved The Elephants

Mike Kucera, our Retirement Plans Division leader, took a mission trip to Malawi, Africa in the Spring of 2008. His group worked in a village providing clothing, housing, medical supplies and other care.  They also delivered fun, recreational items like soccer equipment to the children in the area.  Malawi has an AID's crisis and Mike and his team hope their work made a difference in the lives of a few Malawians.