Special Release - Brian Mackin Selected to be Next President of West Financial Services
How quickly time passes! My forty years at West Financial Services has been engaging, grounding and a joy. Forty years of spending my days with intelligent, passionate, accomplished and diverse people is hardly work. But change is an inevitable part of life. Beginning in July, I will be shifting to a part-time schedule.
I am happy to announce that Brian Mackin has been selected to be the next President and leader of West Financial Services. Brian has been at West for over 22 years and has served in many roles, departments and teams within the company. Brian knows the “nuts and bolts” of the company through his prior roles as Trader, Technology Specialist, Portfolio Manager, Relationship Manager, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. A knowledge base and experience that is essential in these challenging times. Most importantly, he has helped define our company competencies and values through exceptional performance and by fostering a culture of cooperation, collaboration and innovation.
Brian earned a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from George Mason University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, having earned that designation in 2014. Recently, Brian was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as a Top Fee-Only Financial Planner1 (2022) and as a Five Star Wealth Manager2 by Five Star Professional (2022).
I look forward to ensuring a smooth transition, and for those of you who have not met Brian, I hope to have the opportunity to introduce you in the coming months. We appreciate the trust you place in us to manage your wealth and financial planning needs. In this, our 41st year, we remain committed to maintaining the highest quality of service. I know I will be leaving West Financial Services in capable hands and look forward to watching Brian and West Financial Services continue to grow in the years ahead. As always, please do not hesitate to call me directly if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
1Washingtonian: Top (Fee-Only) Financial Advisers
To arrive at the names of the area’s top financial advisers—the fee-only financial planners, fee-based advisers, estate attorneys, tax accountants, and insurance advisers marked with a “best adviser” tag—the Washingtonian distributed surveys to hundreds of people who work in the local financial industry, asking them whom they would trust with their own money. Washingtonian also did their own research, consulting industry experts and publications. The “best adviser” names on this list are the people who received the strongest recommendations. Most of the “best advisers” are at smaller, independent firms. The surveying process does not turn up as many names at large banks and brokerages. One reason is that banks and brokerages sometimes keep more work in-house—and if a financial adviser isn’t referring clients to outside professionals, that adviser might not have a network that earns peer votes.
2Five Star Professional: Five Star Wealth Managers
Five Star winners do not pay to win or to be considered for the award. Professionals showing up in Featured Results, however, may have paid a fee to appear there.
This award was issued on 10/17/2022 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 1/10/2022 through 8/26/2022. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,597 Washington, D.C. - wealth managers were considered for the award; 159 (2% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2021: 2,091 considered, 121 winners (6%); 2020: 2,535 considered, 115 winners (5%); 2019: 1,956 considered, 122 winners (6%); 2018: 1,975 considered, 100 winners (5%); 2017: 1,417 considered, 106 winners (7%); 2016: 1,665 considered, 208 winners (12%); 2015: 1,837 considered, 227 winners (12%); 2012: 449 considered, 97 winners (22%). Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.