Charlie Massimo and Peter Anastasian are on a mission to clarify your view of the financial world. Welcome to Your Pathways to Wealth, a podcast dedicated to helping you navigate the wealth management industry with perspectives and lessons from two industry-leading advisors.

In the podcast's inaugural episode, Charlie Massimo and Peter Anastasian, Senior Vice Presidents at Wealth Enhancement Group, share their remarkable journeys in the financial industry. Through rocky starts, turning points, and pivotal decisions, they tell powerful stories of how they came to be at the forefront of the wealth management field.

Charlie's Path

In the episode, Charlie explains how a firsthand experience of bad financial advice shaped his view of the financial industry and how he approaches his role as a financial advisor. He has served at top firms Shearson Lehman, New York Life and Merrill Lynch, culminating in a role as a Senior Investment Officer at Smith Barney. In 2003, Charlie launched CJM Wealth Management, focusing on various issues, from tax and estate planning to life insurance and using trusts. While Charlie works with many high-net-worth families, he also strongly focuses on serving the unique financial needs of affluent physicians, business owners, and families impacted by autism. In 2020, Charlie and the CJM team joined forces with Wealth Enhancement Group.

Peter's Path

Peter began his career in 1998 as an unpaid intern at a boutique Park Avenue investment firm, where he then became a licensed financial advisor. He moved on to Smith Barney three years later before becoming an independent advisor in 2004. He joined CJM Wealth Management in 2006 as Managing Director and Partner, where he was a major contributor to the firm's growth and development. Peter specializes in wealth and risk management, asset protection, business succession planning and tax minimization strategies for ultra-affluent families and closely held businesses pre- and post-liquidity. Peter lives in Queens, NY, with his wife and two children. An avid soccer fan, he enjoys playing competitive sports and traveling.

Episode Highlights and Upcoming Topics

Charlie and Peter provide valuable insights to help you on your financial journey in this episode. They also introduce the topics they'll discuss in future episodes:

• Charlie emphasizes the importance of finding predictability in today's age of uncertainty. The transition from the accumulation phase of life to the distribution phase can be challenging, especially if you still need a plan. Your hosts will explore the most effective ways to turn your portfolio into a regular and consistent paycheck, no matter what happens.
• Efficiently managing financial change is critical for long-term success. Peter has found that his clients who liquidate or otherwise monetize their businesses receive a windfall of capital but also give up a substantial portion of their income. The question then becomes how to turn that windfall into a steady income stream for the future.
• There are countless ways to achieve wealth. Charlie has found that diverse types of affluent clients use the same basic principles to protect and grow their capital. Applying the same principles for yourself can boil down difficult financial decisions into simple ones.
• There is more to wealth than making money. One of the most important goals Peter helps clients with is to help instill their values in the next generation. By clarifying your view of the financial world, you can build the skills needed to effectively communicate your values to your children and family—to understand the opportunities and risks presented to us every day.

Where to Listen

Listen to this episode and others from the podcast on the Your Pathways to Wealth webpage.

You can subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow and connect with the hosts:

• Charlie Massimo on LinkedIn
• Peter Anastasian on LinkedIn

Wealth Enhancement is an independent wealth management firm with an endless passion for enriching the lives of our clients. Our advisors relentlessly apply their craft to your unique financial life and provide a personalized level of financial planning that goes far beyond the standard approach. If you're interested in meeting with an advisor like Charlie or Peter to simplify your financial life, schedule a free, no-obligation meeting with an advisor today.