At Upward Financial Planning, we’re excited to share some of the incredible things happening behind the scenes as we continue investing in the future of our firm and, most importantly, the future of our clients.
🏛️ Our New Office is Almost Ready!
Renovations continue on our new office, and we’ve embraced a Colonial Williamsburg-inspired design that celebrates our Virginia roots while creating a warm, timeless atmosphere for our clients. We can’t wait to welcome everyone into our new home very soon!
After carefully evaluating our previous office, we determined that converting it to meet our long-term needs would have required nearly $200,000 in parking improvements without adding enough value to justify the investment. Our new location is far more accommodating for our clients, provides room for future growth, and we’re excited to lay down roots here in Vinton for many years to come (hopefully never moving offices again! 😄).
🎉 Welcome, Rylee Johnson!
We’re also thrilled to welcome Rylee Johnson to Upward Financial Planning for a six-month internship. Rylee recently graduated from High Point University with a degree in Business Management and has already begun studying for her Life, Health, and Annuities licensing exam. Next up will be the Series 65 as she works toward becoming a full-time financial advisor. We’re excited to mentor her as she begins what we believe will be a rewarding career serving families throughout our community.
🤝 Investing in Better Client Service
We’re continually looking for ways to improve the client experience. One of our biggest initiatives this year is becoming a paperless office. Our team is scanning years of client files into a secure digital database and responsibly shredding paper records. This allows us to securely access client information within just a few clicks from virtually anywhere, helping us serve clients more efficiently and effectively.
We also enjoyed attending the recent regional networking event at Salem Memorial Ballpark sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Chamber, where it was great catching up with so many friends and fellow business leaders from around the Roanoke Valley.
📈 Looking Ahead
As we move through the summer and into the fall, we’ll continue proactively reviewing and rebalancing client portfolios where appropriate. Our investment process currently emphasizes opportunities in U.S. value stocks and international value stocks, while always tailoring recommendations to each client’s unique goals, risk tolerance, and financial plan.
We’re also expanding our planning capabilities by continuing to build a robust lineup of life insurance and annuity solutions because no two client situations are ever the same. Our goal is to provide thoughtful recommendations from a broad range of strategies—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
In addition, we’re helping many families implement advanced tax and charitable planning strategies, including Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and other planning techniques designed to improve long-term tax efficiency and legacy planning.
⚖️ Committed to Professional Excellence
Daniel recently completed his first year serving on the board of the Roanoke Valley Estate Planning Council, where he served as Treasurer. This coming academic year, he will serve as Secretary, followed by Vice President, and ultimately President of the organization.
The Estate Planning Council brings together many of the Roanoke Valley’s most experienced attorneys, accountants, trust professionals, and financial advisors to continually study the ever-changing world of estate planning. Remaining actively involved helps ensure that we continue bringing the highest level of knowledge and service to the families we serve.
Thank you to all of our wonderful clients, friends, referral partners, and community supporters. We are incredibly grateful for your trust and excited about everything that lies ahead. The future is bright at Upward Financial Planning!
When Daniel is not giving financial advice or managing investments, he enjoys renovating properties, real estate investing, drinking coffee, hanging out with friends, spending weekend trips in his camper van, and exploring the outdoors on a hiking or biking trail in his hometown of Roanoke, VA and beyond.