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Please note by using any of the links provided for your convenience you will be leaving Fidelis Wealth Advisors website. The hyperlinks are to websites and servers maintained by third parties. We do not control, evaluate, endorse or guarantee content found in those sites. Your use of such sites is at your own risk.
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The Right Tools Make all the Difference

The Right Tools Make all the Difference:

Created by: Jeff Bullock

A few years ago I was helping my brother renovate his front porch. Part of the project included taking out old concrete steps. Thinking we knew what we were doing, we began the demolition by pounding a sledge hammer over and over to break apart the old steps. After swinging the hammer for a while and with very little progress to show for our efforts, we realized there was probably a better way to accomplish our task. Knowing we needed a new approach, my brother ran to the store and rented a concrete cutting-saw. This proved to be a difference-maker!

I believe we did more demo in the first five minutes with that saw than we did in an hour of using the sledge hammer. We quickly dismantled the old step with the proper tool and moved on to our next task. The small price we paid for a professional-level tool was nothing compared to the time, effort, and body aches we saved by trying to use an outdated approach.

Principle:
Having the right tools, and in many cases, the right people to help operate those tools, can make all the difference in the outcome.

Application:
Are you using the right tools to manage your money? Have you ever found yourself saying, “There has to be a better way”?

Here are a few tools that can make a big difference:

    • Tax Loss Harvesting Strategy: For invested money that is not in a retirement account, a tax loss harvesting strategy can help mitigate or delay taxes. These strategies are usually done through a separately managed account and can be an effective way to offset capital gains from other areas of your portfolio.
    • Donor Advised Fund: Donor Advised Funds are great tools to facilitate charitable giving, especially if potential tax obligations merit a large charitable gift in a given calendar year. They can also be an effective way to set up a pseudo-family foundation without having to actually setup a foundation entity.
    • Securities-based Credit Line: A credit line, collateralized by an investment portfolio, can be an effective tool to manage cash flows, bridge financing, or fund ventures without having to liquidate a portfolio or hold too much cash on the sidelines.

Having the right tools can make all the difference.

When I finally upgraded my driver after many years, I instantly hit the golf ball farther – nothing changed other than the tool I was using. The same is with money and investing. There are many tools that are available that will make a difference in helping you manage your money. Let us help you find and implement these tools.

Feedback from these newsletters is not only welcomed but encouraged. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at jeff@fidelis-wealth.com. If you think this might be useful to any of your friends or family, feel free to forward it to them.

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John Van Sant

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PROFESSIONAL
John Van Sant began his career in wealth management in 2005 and has spent more than 20 years in leadership roles focused on operational excellence, strategic growth, and advisor support. Prior to joining Fidelis, John served as President and CFO at Cascade Financial Management and as OSJ Principal with LPL and Apollon Financial.

As COO and CCO at Fidelis, John draws on deep industry experience and a passion for building advisor-focused platforms, systems, and processes that help deliver an
exceptional client experience. He currently holds Series 7, 24, 28, and 65 licenses.

PERSONAL
John holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from Johnson & Wales University. A proud husband and father of two daughters, he is an avid golfer, dedicated “Dance Dad,” and enjoys beach days in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where he now resides after many years in Colorado.

Karley Fidani, CPFA®

PROFESSIONAL

Before joining Fidelis Wealth Advisors in 2022, Karley ran several local businesses, selling products both in the Castle Rock area and online. Her passion for entrepreneurship and finance led her to earn a degree in Financial Management from the University of Colorado Denver.

At Fidelis, Karley has specialized in assisting small business clients with their employer 401(k) plans. She has also taken on client-facing roles as advisor and paraplanner. Karley holds her Series 65 license and is a NAPA Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®). She plans to pursue the Certified Financial Planner® designation in the near future.

Karley is passionate about building relationships with clients and is dedicated to providing a thoughtful, valuable experience that brings them peace of mind.

PERSONAL

A Colorado native, Karley grew up in Castle Rock. She enjoys spending her free time riding her horse, Dante, hiking and mountain biking with her husband, and playing electric guitar.

Rilee Erickson

PROFESSIONAL

Rilee began working in the financial services industry in 2017 as an associate specializing in property and casualty insurance, as well as life insurance.  Since joining Fidelis Wealth Advisors she has taken on a paraplanner roll, providing life insurance support, as well as client and operations support. She also hopes to obtain her own Certified Financial Planner® designation in the years to come. Rilee’s passion in the industry is helping people protect their family and their future.

 

PERSONAL

Rilee graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Horticulture Science. She is a Wyoming native, growing up on the family cattle ranch in Lander, Wyoming, and now resides in Green River, Wyoming with her husband and two boys. Rilee enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors and exploring the beautiful and rugged Wind River Range.

Tina Jessick

PROFESSIONAL
Tina first began her accounting career in 2019 as an Intern at an accounting firm in Wichita, KS. She started working at Fidelis Wealth Advisors as an Administrative Assistant spring of 2025. Tina hopes to assist in helping clients achieve their financial goals long-term and looks forward to making a difference at Fidelis Wealth Advisors.

PERSONAL
Tina is currently attending Wichita State University in pursuit of two degrees in Finance and Accounting. She is a Kansas native, growing up in city known as the “Air Capital of the World”. She now resides in Castle Rock, Colorado with her husband and three kids. When she’s not running after her kids, she enjoys hiking, crafting, pottery, dance and baking.

RIA Innovations

Fidelis Wealth Advisors has a strategic partnership with RIA Innovations, a Division of NWAM, LLC. RIA Innovations provides administrative support services for registered investment advisors nationwide. This service is under the direction of Nelly Mubashi, the Chief Operating Officer.

 

NWAM, LLC, dba Northwest Asset Management & RIA Innovations is an SEC registered investment adviser. NWAM, LLC dba Northwest Asset Management & RIA Innovations and Fidelis Wealth Advisors, LLC are not affiliated companies.