Teaching your children about wealth without creating entitlement

After the sudden loss of my husband’s parents, we realized that we needed guidance to ensure that, in the event something happened to us, everything would be in place for our children. That’s when we decided to seek the help of a financial advisor. We chose Deerfield for their trustworthiness and the range of services they offer.

From the very first meeting, it was clear that Deerfield wasn’t just focused on our immediate needs but on building a long-term relationship with us. They took the time to understand our needs and helped us define our financial goals, creating a plan that fit our comfort level and timeline.

The biggest benefit of working with Deerfield has been peace of mind. Their guidance has made us feel confident in our financial future, knowing we’re making informed decisions for our family. We’re grateful for the trust and support Deerfield continues to provide.

The most important benefit we’ve gained from working with Deerfield is assurance. We now have confidence not only in our financial plan but also in the guidance they continue to provide. Their advice has given us a sense of security, knowing that we’re making informed decisions for our future and our children’s future.

I decided to seek the help of a financial advisor after my husband died. He was 46 and I was 43. While my husband had just begun working with a financial advisor prior to his death, I was very uninvolved with our finances.

Coincidentally, the company where my husband was COO was sold the week before his accident. We were planning on our financial situation significantly changing, but suddenly there were catastrophic and unexpected changes which I was in no way prepared to navigate on my own.

My brother-in-law was working with Deerfield Founder Dick Belmer at the time. He was very fond of Dick and considered him a friend and mentor as well as his financial advisor. Within hours of my husband’s death, he called Dick, who told my brother-in-law, “Kara needs to work with Susie.”

We set up meetings with the firm my husband had been working with and a meeting with Deerfield as well. Within minutes of speaking with my advisor, I felt seen, heard, and cared for. That was not the case with the other firm. The decision to move forward with Deerfield was a clear one.

Deerfield has taught me everything I know about my personal finances and so much more. My husband handled all of our finances. I didn’t even know how to pay a bill online. As a stay-at-home mother of three young children, I was not only grieving, I was terrified. My advisor gently walked me through everything and explained things step by step. She was always patient and caring, never once condescending. She saved me.

The most important benefit I get from working with Deerfield is feeling financially confident and stable. That has been a godsend over these past 8½ years. I trust them completely, and I never hesitate to recommend them when I know someone is looking for financial help.

When I decided to seek help from a financial advisor, it was a natural choice to work with Deerfield since my parents were already clients. Through high school, military service in the Air Force, and now my career in private practice dentistry, I’ve always been aware of the chaotic nature of the economy, and I’m glad I stayed with a trusted team.

My advisor at Deerfield has been an excellent fit because they understand my personal view on money: they’re there to facilitate freedom in my life choices, not just serve as a scorecard. Deerfield has the unique ability to have deep conversations with me and then devise strategies that work for the present and the long term. Their similar perspective on life and finance helps as they raise issues I might overlook.

One of the most important problems Deerfield has helped me solve is staying grounded in my financial goals. I’ve always been interested in financial literacy and long-term planning, but they keep me focused on actionable items and remind me of the trade-offs of future opportunities. Transitions in my life — earning my degrees, serving in the military, starting my dental practice — would have been infinitely tougher without Deerfield keeping the financials in line.

I readily recommend Deerfield, and tell people their greatest strength lies in articulating my long-term goals and translating them into actionable steps. They keep me accountable for the day-to-day maintenance and documentation required to experience financial independence. Deerfield’s role is equally about financial planning and stress management, enhancing my overall financial health.

The most important benefit I get from working with Deerfield is knowing I have a team with a track record of success. They understand the long-term nature of financial growth, possess the necessary technical and legal know-how, and provide the persistent accountability I need to stay on track.

We had worked in ministry for 31 years, and although we did contribute to a 401(k), we never had a savings account. In 2020, when we were looking to leave ministry and start a new business, we thought it was impossible. How would we live?

A friend connected us with Deerfield Financial Advisors. Not only did they teach, direct, and advise us on how to make our goals happen, we felt known on a deeper level — who we are, what’s important to us, our family dynamics, all of it. Even when we couldn’t see it ourselves, they showed us that our dreams really could be a reality.

We are more than grateful and truly feel that Deerfield saved our lives. After four years of this relationship, we believe we know their “magic.” They don’t leave us to do this alone; they go with us. They tell us that it’s going to be okay. On December 23, I sent a frantic email to our client services contact. She called me back immediately saying, “It’s going to be okay. We don’t want you to lose any sleep over this.” On April 15, after a terrifying tax bill, our advisor’s first words to us were “It will be okay. We have a plan.”

We live in an epidemic of loneliness and anxiety, and the world tells us to look out for yourself, consume, produce at any cost. Deerfield operates in complete contrast; they seek to know and serve us well. They show us what’s possible even when we don’t believe it’s possible due to fear, doubt, or living in the past. They remind us of our dreams and keep them in front of us. They inspire possibilities beyond our own smallness or small thinking and continue to walk alongside us.