Nick McLaughlin

location sign

Hawthorne, CA

Quotation marks

"I like to avoid formality, I am not your three-piece suit financial advisor, talking over clients, or using finance jargon that may not resonate well with them. I focus on supporting my clients and helping them achieve their goals."

Philosophy

Nick aims to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for his clients seeking help with money management. He prioritizes support and goal achievement over formality, steering clear of finance jargon and emphasizing a personal approach.

Expertise

Nick specializes in investment management focused on growth and tax advantages, along with tax planning, financial planning, Roth conversions, college savings, optimizing cash yields, structuring mortgage loans, managing student loans, and overseeing 529 plans.

Client Range

Nick works with a diverse clientele between 30 and 60 years old, offering support in family future planning as well.

How did you become a financial advisor?

I pursued Business Administration in college with a concentration in finance because I knew I wanted a career in finance. Following graduation, I was recruited by a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) where I began as a Portfolio Analyst. I honed my skills in back-office functions, compliance, and eventually ascended to the role of Co-Portfolio Manager overseeing Equity Strategies and managing the taxable corporate bond strategy. Additionally, I handled the firm’s treasury account through investments in commercial papers.  

Once the RIA was acquired by a larger bank in Colorado, it led me to transition to a buy-side role as a municipal bond trader for the next decade. After a decade in this role, I felt that I wanted to shift my focus towards working directly with individuals and supporting individuals with financial planning. I decided to set off on my own and begin building my business where I may offer comprehensive investment management and financial planning. I have now joined Savvy, to continue to support my clients.

What types of clients do you work with?

I cater to a diverse clientele aged between 30 and 60, offering support in family future planning as well.

What is socially conscious investing?

Socially conscious investing involves identifying companies that actively contribute to positive change on both a planetary and societal level while also pursuing profitability. This approach focuses on businesses that may, for instance, engage in environmentally beneficial projects such as constructing green infrastructure or remediating superfund sites while generating profits. It's a business model that not only benefits investors but also the environment and communities.

Furthermore, socially conscious investing extends to endeavors that make a positive impact within a specific region or among a particular population. For instance, consider the healthcare sector, where companies develop innovative technologies like heart monitoring devices designed to alert doctors when a patient's heart starts to deviate from a healthy rhythm, such as a heart arrhythmia. Such companies aim to save lives by providing healthcare professionals with better insights into their patients' conditions.

How do you advise clients on thematic investing?

I provide guidance to clients on thematic investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a particular focus on institutions. My approach involves working closely with these organizations to establish a shared understanding of their core values. From there, we collaborate to craft customized portfolios that reflect those values while maintaining a risk-return profile comparable to that of conventional portfolios.

The needs and preferences of institutions in the nonprofit and endowment sector can significantly differ. My aim is to create adaptable portfolios that suit each organization's unique requirements, ensuring a tailored fit that aligns with their long-term goals.

What areas of expertise do you have? 

I specialize in investment management focusing on growth and tax advantages, along with tax planning, financial planning, Roth conversions, college savings, optimizing cash yields, structuring mortgage loans, managing student loans, and overseeing 529 plans.

What types of strategies do you usually help clients with?

I typically assist my clients in capitalizing on vested RSU grants, creating tax-efficient income, and saving towards particular objectives like a home, car, wedding, or early retirement. 

Is there a unique approach that sets you apart?

I strive to create an engaging, relaxed, and enjoyable environment. The reason many of my clients have approached me is because they were feeling frustrated about money and financial management. I often reassure them, "You know, it's not easy. If it's not a passion hobby for you, consider letting someone else assist you." I like to avoid formality, I am not your three-piece suit financial advisor, talking over clients, or using finance jargon that may not resonate well with them. I focus on supporting my clients and helping them achieve their goals. 

What is your favorite part about working with clients?  

For me nothing compares to the feeling of taking a financially disorganized household and dialing it in across all facets, then watching the clients take ownership, feel empowered, and have confidence in their retirement trajectory. 

Working with Savvy (what do you like about it?) 

Savvy is intentionally building out an RIA platform with tools that allow the advisor to optimize their practice and be super efficient with their time.

Do you have any designations or organizations that you are a part of?

Series 65 licensed.  
Wiseburn Education Foundation - I’m the Fundraising Director for this 501c3 organization in the South Bay supporting the Wiseburn Unified School District. 

Could you please share your current bio?

J. Nick McLaughlin counts 20+ years in the wealth management industry and is  Series 65 licensed. Coming from a background in both institutional money management and the investment advisory space, Nick strives to commingle sophisticated strategies and planning with the professional client experience that delivers measurable value. Whether a client has a long runway before retirement or nearing the wealth distribution phase, Nick specializes in walking the client through the process of assembling a sound, yet flexible, financial plan that is updated regularly and adjusted as circumstances in life change.

An Orange County native, Nick grew up in Irvine and started his college experience at UCI before eventually transferring to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration with a finance concentration.

Besides extensive experience working with high-net-worth individuals, Nick has worked as a stock and credit analyst, equity portfolio manager, and spent ten-years managing tax-exempt municipal bond portfolios.

Nick lives in the South Bay with his wife and two daughters. He is an avid skier, musician, and softball player. 

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