Meet the Advisors: Matt McConnell

February 26, 2021

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Meet the Advisors: Matt McConnell

The newest member of our Hawaii team is Matthew McConnell! Bringing with him over 20 years' experience in wealth management, Matt is jumping into the role of Senior Financial Advisor to help clients plan their investment and financial strategies.

We conducted an interview with Matt to learn more about him, his story, and his thoughts on what matters most in wealth management.

Q: How did you get into wealth management?

I participated in a stock market competition in 6th grade as part of a team with some classmates.  That was my first exposure to investing and I always had an interest in following investments ever since.  Once I graduated from college, I was able to meet with an alumnus who was a financial advisor and shared with me how he worked with clients and he offered me a job. The idea of working in an industry that I was already interested in and being able to help other people at the same time really appealed to me and I haven’t looked back!

Q: What was your background before joining Hawaii Partners?

I ran my own financial advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial for 21 years.

Q: What are you most passionate about when it comes to working with your clients?

I have a passion for financial planning with clients.  I subscribe to the philosophy that a good financial advisor should have the heart of a social worker and the mind of a capitalist.  Listening and understanding the meaning behind their goals and helping clients think through their plan so they can make educated decisions is what I am most passionate about.

Q: How would you describe your wealth management philosophy?

My wealth management philosophy is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, with a twist.  In retirement, clients need predictable and reliable return rates for the majority of their portfolio so that they can maintain their lifestyle.  As return rate expectations have been decreasing, the twist would be to add an investment component that is geared toward trying to beat their respective indexes.

Q: What is the number one question you receive from clients, and how do you usually respond?

Typically, from new clients the number one question is “how are we doing?”  Having been able to work with many families over the years, I’ve got a pretty good idea of whether someone is on track to meet their retirement goal or not soon after sitting down with them and reviewing their situation.  I find it interesting that most folks really do not know how they are doing relative to their peers when it comes to planning for retirement.  My response is dependent on how good or bad their situation looks, and I will give my honest first impression.  The good news is that it can always get better!

Q: What is the single most important thing for investors to keep in mind?

It is a marathon not a sprint.  It is easy for clients to get wrapped up in the hot topic of the day and make emotional decisions that tend not to work out in their best interest.  Investing for retirement is a long-range goal, so make a plan, stick to that plan, and resisting temptations to veer off it along the way.

Q: What do you like to do outside of being an investment advisor?

You can usually find me spending time with my wife and daughter at the beach or a park when I’m outside the office.  I help to run the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waikiki and do other volunteer work in the community.  I enjoy surfing, hiking, and play in a men’s ice hockey league as well.

Important Disclosure Information

Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC (“CP”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this commentary will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this commentary serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from CP. Please remember to contact CP, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. CP is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the commentary content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the CP’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request.

February 26, 2021

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Meet the Advisors: Matt McConnell

The newest member of our Hawaii team is Matthew McConnell! Bringing with him over 20 years' experience in wealth management, Matt is jumping into the role of Senior Financial Advisor to help clients plan their investment and financial strategies.

We conducted an interview with Matt to learn more about him, his story, and his thoughts on what matters most in wealth management.

Q: How did you get into wealth management?

I participated in a stock market competition in 6th grade as part of a team with some classmates.  That was my first exposure to investing and I always had an interest in following investments ever since.  Once I graduated from college, I was able to meet with an alumnus who was a financial advisor and shared with me how he worked with clients and he offered me a job. The idea of working in an industry that I was already interested in and being able to help other people at the same time really appealed to me and I haven’t looked back!

Q: What was your background before joining Hawaii Partners?

I ran my own financial advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial for 21 years.

Q: What are you most passionate about when it comes to working with your clients?

I have a passion for financial planning with clients.  I subscribe to the philosophy that a good financial advisor should have the heart of a social worker and the mind of a capitalist.  Listening and understanding the meaning behind their goals and helping clients think through their plan so they can make educated decisions is what I am most passionate about.

Q: How would you describe your wealth management philosophy?

My wealth management philosophy is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, with a twist.  In retirement, clients need predictable and reliable return rates for the majority of their portfolio so that they can maintain their lifestyle.  As return rate expectations have been decreasing, the twist would be to add an investment component that is geared toward trying to beat their respective indexes.

Q: What is the number one question you receive from clients, and how do you usually respond?

Typically, from new clients the number one question is “how are we doing?”  Having been able to work with many families over the years, I’ve got a pretty good idea of whether someone is on track to meet their retirement goal or not soon after sitting down with them and reviewing their situation.  I find it interesting that most folks really do not know how they are doing relative to their peers when it comes to planning for retirement.  My response is dependent on how good or bad their situation looks, and I will give my honest first impression.  The good news is that it can always get better!

Q: What is the single most important thing for investors to keep in mind?

It is a marathon not a sprint.  It is easy for clients to get wrapped up in the hot topic of the day and make emotional decisions that tend not to work out in their best interest.  Investing for retirement is a long-range goal, so make a plan, stick to that plan, and resisting temptations to veer off it along the way.

Q: What do you like to do outside of being an investment advisor?

You can usually find me spending time with my wife and daughter at the beach or a park when I’m outside the office.  I help to run the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waikiki and do other volunteer work in the community.  I enjoy surfing, hiking, and play in a men’s ice hockey league as well.

Important Disclosure Information

Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC (“CP”), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this commentary will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this commentary serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from CP. Please remember to contact CP, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. CP is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the commentary content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the CP’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available upon request.