
Craig Leone, CIMA®
Craig's financial background includes serving as a public accountant for Deloitte auditing large corporations, as well as managing finances for Invacare Corporation. This built the foundation for our understanding of capital markets. It also shaped our approach to overseeing the wealth of our clients with the same acumen offered to enterprises. In short, we manage personal wealth similar to how a chief financial officer manages corporate wealth.
Perhaps the most important aspect of our overall strategy centers on your family. Each family has unique dynamics, and the better we understand those nuances the more likely your wealth will be preserved into the future. We'll develop a contingency plan for the long-term stability of your assets in the event you're unable to manage your affairs —something everyone must be prepared for to protect their family.
ABOUT CRAIG LEONE
Began his career in financial services in 1989
at Deloitte and Touche; focused on clients'
finances across a broad spectrum of industries.
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Joined Invacare as a Manager of
Finance in 1993 for the large, publicly
traded company
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Joined Merrill Lynch in 1996 as a Financial
Advisor; became one of the largest
individual advisors in greater Cleveland.
He joined Morgan Stanley
as Managing Director in 2022
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Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Accounting from Bowling Green State
University and a MBA from Cleveland State University
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Received his Certified Investment
Management Analyst® (CIMA®)
designation from the Wharton School
of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
Whether in business or your personal life, you're more likely to reach any goal if you start with a comprehensive yet flexible plan. Our team has a formal, detailed "Playbook" which we use to help enhance and preserve your family wealth.
These are the steps we follow:
Assess your current financial position: A deep dive into what you own, owe and generate.
Identify your short-, medium, and long-term goals: By establishing goals, we can help mitigate risk and establish timeframes.
Specify your risk profile: Professional wealth management should help provide confidence, and reflect your preferences. Our 25 years of experience can help you better handle market cycles, and build a portfolio customized to your requirements.
Create and execute your plan: While the creation of your plan is important, it's the execution of that plan that determines the outcome. We excel here. Our disciplined approach seeks to ensure execution occurs at the beginning of the relationship and continues thereafter.
Generate "Next Man Up" tactics: At some point, your wealth becomes your family's wealth. It's crucial to establish a plan as you age.
Establish performance metrics: Within the context of your goals, how should we measure success?
Regularly communicate with you: A trusted advisor should be fully engaged with his or her client. Update strategies and tactics as your situation evolves: No-one knows what the future holds, but we must be prepared for it regardless.
1. Discipline is the key to long-term success
As a successful executive, you understand the importance of establishing goals, creating thoughtful strategies, setting benchmarks, and adjusting to evolving conditions. By removing the emotional swings that can derail a financial plan, we help you stay on track toward your goals. And our periodic reviews instill discipline into your financial life.
2. Plan for clients to outlive their ability to manage their wealth
Just like we establish contingencies for evolving economic conditions, we create a plan for changes in your health status. Our "Next Man Up" policy is a response to the growing number of clients living into their 80s, 90s and beyond.
3. A dollar is a dollar, no matter where it comes from
People think of financial advisors for investments, but we generate and preserve wealth in many ways – tax mitigation, debt management, cash flow, expenditures, etc. It's all a matter of making smart decisions.
4. The useful life of any decision may be short
Change is inevitable; when it comes, we need to be prepared, and to adjust accordingly.
5. At some point, wealth preservation is more important than wealth generation
Most of our clients don't need us to make them rich. They need us to ensure that their wealth is preserved and that their legacy is protected.
6. Managing family wealth means managing both family and wealth
It's crucial that your family members understand and buy into your wealth management strategy. We help educate and facilitate as needed.
7. There are two sides to every balance sheet, including yours
Assets and liabilities. Money coming in and money going out. For the most effective wealth management, it's shortsighted to think about one without the other.
8. There are downsides to family wealth
Wealth is like a car: treat it with care and respect and it's an amazing tool. Handle it recklessly and it can permanently damage the driver, passengers and even bystanders.
9. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason
We believe that effective financial advice depends more on what we hear from you than what we say to you.