Ed Wildermuth, CPA, ChFC®, CFP®

The thought of becoming a financial advisor always intrigued me, but graduating right after 9/11 and coming from a family history of accountants, it was the logical route to go, especially when new jobs were hard to come by. Fast forward to 2010, and my wife and I wanted to relocate to another city before starting a family. We had both grown up in the Chicagoland area, and knew this was our best chance to see what else was out there. After several extended weekends to various cities, we knew that Nashville was the next place to call home. So from there, I found a new job and it took us down to Music City. In 2012, I got a large promotion and raise, but the passion and impact wasn't there. So after much research and a big leap of faith, I took the plunge into financial services. I knew that I could take the skills I already had and use them to make a difference I could see in the families I worked for, that’s what ultimately fuels me to show up for my clients everyday.

Over time, I've developed a specialty in tax, and the Gen X/Y family. Taxes are all around us and are prevalent in so many decisions we make. My background helps clients avoid many pitfalls laid out and trap a lot of unsuspecting families. I have also found that Gen X and Y have all often been overlooked by the financial industry. So many of the toughest and most challenging financial decisions happen mid-career, while raising a family and often helping aging parents. These are the families that may not meet the minimum assets of a corporate organization, but need help with topics outside traditional investments and insurance. This is where I found a large need, and living through it myself with my own family, I can relate to their situation.

I work with a wider variety of clients who recognize that the financial world can be overwhelming to navigate on your own. My role is to be a trusted guide that can be by their side and help them achieve their goals. I help my clients cut through the noise, make confident decisions, and move toward their goals with a sense of clarity. At the end of the day, it’s not just about achieving those goals, but doing so in a way that feels easier, less stressful, and aligned with what truly matters to them.

The strategies depend on the time of the year, as many topics are cyclical. Early in the year, my clients and I are working on new goals and buttoning up last year's taxes. In the spring, it's time for tax projections, and I deep dive into portfolios. The summer can be a little quieter, which is a great time for less time sensitive topics like reviewing home and auto insurance and estate plan documents, and beneficiary checkups. The fall brings benefits to open enrollment for many, and thinking of education planning and funding.  Closing out the year, the winter brings on tax efficient topics like Roth conversions, tax gain/loss harvesting, and charitable contributions.

I try to embody the values of what it means to be a “true financial planner" for my clients. To me, this means being there to cover all financial topics, whether directly having an answer, or getting them in touch with the right subject matter expert. Throughout my years of experience, I have found that too many advisor relationships stop at insurance products and investment portfolios, and there are far too many additional topics in someone's financial world that could be the linchpin to their entire plan. 

It's humbling to know that I'm the call after many clients share good (and bad) news with their immediate family. When a family finds out they are having their first child, getting married, a big promotion, and more, it brings such joy to my day. And as hard as it is to have that call when there's a death in the family, a cancer diagnosis, divorce, or job loss, I'm grateful to help them walk through these by their side. This always reminds me of Michael Kitces' podcast (a must listen for financial advisors), where he asks at the end of the episode: “What's one thing about your journey that has surprised you the most”? I never realized how deeply personal the relationships with my clients would become.

I love that Savvy is working hard every day to try to improve the advisor experience. By doing so, it has empowered me to gain time back, time that I can spend working with my clients and doing the things I feel I do best. It's a great partnership, and I am excited to work with them to serve clients better, and keep moving our profession in a positive direction.