Kevin Reardon, president of Shakespeare Wealth Management Inc.
Name: Kevin Reardon, CFP
Title: President
Company: Shakespeare Wealth Management, Inc.
Family: Married to Christine; three sons (James, 11; Caleb, 9; and John, 7)
City of residence: Mukwonago
What’s new at your company? "Our business has risen 50 percent during the past three years as individuals seek out fee-only financial advisors. We eliminate the conflicts of interest that exist with commissioned-based advisors and provide more objective advice. Our membership in The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), a prestigious group of fee-only advisors, has affirmed that we are providing a high level of service to our clients."
What are the most interesting issues you work with clients on? "Whether we are helping a client pay for their children’s education, formulating a plan to pass the family cottage to the next generation, or planning for a stress-free retirement, we are helping people achieve their specific dreams one client at a time. Although some goals are more interesting than others, they are all equally important. We find each of these opportunities to assist others to be professionally and personally satisfying."
What is the most difficult or challenging project you’ve been involved with? "The most challenging projects we deal with pertain to inevitable life transitions that our clients face. These may include divorce, illness, death of a spouse, loss of a child, loss of a job, or the failure of a business. During these difficult times, we are called to step in and provide valuable direction to clients when they are most in need. It is extremely humbling to deal with someone who has lost a loved one, and we are honored to be in position to help people at their weakest point."
What was the funniest moment of your career? "I had a meeting with a prospective client and, after shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, we went to sit down. As I sat down, I missed the chair and landed flat on my backside. After a good laugh, the client quipped, ‘That’s OK, my current advisor has fallen flat on his face almost every day for the last few years!’ He has been a wonderful client for several years, and I haven’t missed a chair since."
