Stifel Nicolaus

John A. Fuger Vice President/Investments

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We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning issues, and wealth preservation strategies. Most important, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.

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Value Proposition

Stifel Nicolaus

1.     Established in1890 with headquarters in Saint Louis, Missouri

2.     Parent Company, Stifel Financial Corp., Listed New York Stock Exchange – symbol SF

3.     Employs over 4,600 associates with over 300 offices

4.     7th Largest brokerage firm in the U.S., based on number of financial advisors, with over $94 billion in assets under management

5.     Ranked first overall out of 183 qualifying firms in The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street Survey for 2010.

 

John Fuger

·        Vice President/Investments, Stifel Nicolaus

·        Financial Service Business for over 25 Years

·        Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS) – 2007

·        Aquinas College – Bachelors of Business Administration – 1985

·        Resident City of East Grand Rapids

·        Married to Kathleen – daughter, Francesca (14) – son,  Hayden (10)

·        Enjoys Fishing, Scuba Diving Great Lakes Ship Wrecks, and skiing

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My clients are Plan Sponsors who are looking to work with a Financial Advisor who specializes in Retirement Plans in order to provide a well structured plan that may fit their particular situation.

 

The Retirement Plan market is constantly changing with new rules and regulations as well as changing needs of the plan and participants. My role is to design a platform which will be cost effective, offer top performing and diversified investment platforms, and service the account using a predetermined servicing model.

 

I am not offering one strategy or provider to my clients. Through Stifel Nicolaus, I can offer many of the major providers in the 401(k) market or custom design a plan platform specifically to my clients' needs.

 

My clients benefit from my knowledge, my Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist designation, as well as my over 15 years of experience in the retirement plan market. My clients are assured that I am keeping up with the ever changing rules and plan structures in order for them to feel comfortable that their plan is functioning in compliance and offering their employees the best tools in which to save for their goal – retirement. This can lead to lessened fiduciary liability but increased perceived value of one of the primary benefits the company offers – their retirement plan.

 

My Process

 

·        Hold Initial Meeting

·        Discover Specific Needs and issues unique to the Plan and Participants from Plan Sponsor

·        Survey Employees using my 401(k) Plan Employee Survey

·        Review Survey Responses

·        Compile Strategies utilizing existing Plan features and Platform or Propose alternate Plan Providers

·        Present Strategies to Plan Sponsor

·        Implement Strategies

·        Review Plan Annually with Plan Sponsor

·        Support Plan with Structure Service Proposal

·        Conduct Employee Meetings both Educational and Enrollment

 
Calculators

Savings Goals

How much do you need to save each year to meet your long-term financial goals?

Cash Flow Analysis

This Cash Flow Analysis form will help you weigh your income vs. your expenses.

Taxable Equivalent Yield

Calculate the rate of return you would have to receive from a taxable investment to realize an equivalent tax-exempt yield.

Disability Income Insurance

How much Disability Income Insurance do you need?

More Calculators →

Newsletters

New Opportunity Under the Federal Gift Tax

The 2010 Tax Relief Act raised the lifetime gift-tax exclusion to $5 million. This means it could be a good time to make the most of tax-free gift transfers. If so, it's important to understand the annual and lifetime gift exemption limits, as well as which gifts might not be subject to them.

Exchange-Traded Funds: In a Class by Themselves

In 2010, the combined assets of the nation's ETFs topped more than $800 billion. ETFs are unique investments that share some similarities with mutual funds but trade like stocks. ETFs have some appealing characteristics, including trading flexibility, potentially lower expense ratios, tax efficiency, and diversification.

Roth IRA Conversion Mistakes Can Be Costly

One popular way to fund a Roth IRA is by transferring assets from a traditional IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This type of transaction, called a Roth IRA conversion, is simple in theory but can be complicated in practice. If you make certain mistakes, you could lose some key advantages.

Be Ready for a Change in Interest Rates

Fluctuating interest rates can be challenging for bond investors who want to reinvest their principal. When rates are low, they may have to accept lower yields; when rates rise when principal is tied up, they may not be able to benefit. One strategy to help manage reinvestment risk is to build a bond ladder.

More Newsletters →