“It is imperative to invest with rationale and with our clients’ risk tolerance in mind.  We offer the Plan Well. Invest Well. Live Well. process to our clients based on this premise of guidance and partnership.”

Laurence is a principal and founding partner of Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors. He is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), leading portfolio management efforts and chairing the firm’s Investment Committee. In addition to developing goal-driven financial plans for clients, Laurence has extensive investment experience with estate planning and charitable strategies.

Laurence brings many years of institutional investment experience, having started his career in the institutional defined contribution business for Putnam Investments. In addition to more than 20 years of investment management for our clients, Laurence has volunteered his professional talents on behalf of many non-profit and public institutions. He formerly served as an appointed member of Connecticut's Investment Advisory Council (IAC), an advisory body to the Connecticut State Treasurer, overseeing the approximately $29 billion in the State of Connecticut's retirement plans and trust funds, on behalf of more than 200,000 beneficiaries.

Laurence graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, with a degree in economics and holds the designations of Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist^® (CRPS^®) from the College for Financial Planning.

When not advising clients, Laurence is active with several non-profit and charitable organizations. Laurence currently serves as co-chairman of the YMCA of Greater Hartford’s Investment Committee, as chair for the Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center’s Board of Advisors, and is completing his first term as chairman of the Rectory School Board of Trustees. He is a former member of the Pomfret School Board of Trustees, Day Kimball Healthcare’s Finance Committee, past President of the Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) Foundation, and over the years has supported many other organizations.

A native of Pomfret, Connecticut, he resides there with his wife, Jane, and their three children. In his free time, Laurence enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, golfing, and sailing.

Laurence Hale is proud to have been recognized as a Summit Club advisor for 2016—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 22 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Summit Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Summit Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.

Laurence Hale is a Five Star Award Wealth Manager. ¹

 

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser 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 Five Star Professional, 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 Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’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. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star 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 client’s 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 Five Star Professional 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 Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 3,147 Connecticut area wealth managers were considered for the award; 289 (9 percent of candidates) were named 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2018: 3,178 considered, 293 winners; 2017: 2,218 considered, 283 winners; 2016: 1,985 considered, 417 winners; 2015: 2,398 considered, 468 winners; 2014: 3,926 considered, 515 winners; 2013: 2,263 considered, 531 winners; 2012: 2,204 considered, 503 winners.

 

Jim Zahansky is Principal/Managing Partner at Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors, leading practice strategy, business development initiatives, and team leadership for the firm. Additionally, as our chief goals strategist and investment advisor, Jim leads clients through our Plan Well, Invest Well, Live Well™ process to help them reach their financial life goals.

Jim transitioned to these pivotal roles in the practice in 2014 after 17 years as a senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry, where he developed and implemented strategies and initiatives for major US pharmaceutical brands. At his previous company, Jim was Vice President, Respiratory Division at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he was responsible for all US business and marketing strategies and initiatives for the company’s respiratory product portfolio which included 8 brands, a team of 300 people and $600 million in revenue. Since this transition to Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors, Jim has taken his years of strategic training and financial acumen to assist clients in building strategies that align to their individual or organization’s goals.

Throughout his career, Jim developed strong skill sets in strategy, leadership, fundamental finance, and interpersonal dynamics and regards one’s character as their defining quality.

Jim is active in the community and serves on the Hale YMCA Board of Advisors, where he was elected as Board Secretary. Jim also serves on the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation Board. He graduated from Bryant University with a business degree and was appointed to the University's Wall Street Council, joining other high-powered, finance-oriented alumni who are focused on innovations in the investment industry.  Jim holds the designation of Accredited Wealth Management Advisor^® (AWMA^®) from the College for Financial Planning. Close to home, he leads the Frog Rock Youth Basketball Association as president. He has coached teams in basketball, Little League baseball, and youth soccer leagues throughout the Last Green Valley. In his downtime, he enjoys basketball, biking, running, and spending time with his wife, Melissa, and their three children.

Jim Zahansky is a Five Star Award Wealth Manager. ¹

 

Kate Pitts joined Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors in March, 2021. She oversees our mission to deliver the best wealth management experience for every client, every time. She is also responsible for building relationships in the broader community to further our commitment to helping others to live well.

Kate brings over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, starting her career at State Street Global Advisors in Boston, MA. At Street Street, she was primarily focused on helping large, institutional clients engage their employees with their retirement plans through education and financial wellness programs.

Kate grew up in Pomfret, CT and graduated from Woodstock Academy in 2004. She went to Quinnipiac University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 2008. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two girls and black Labrador. She enjoys going for family walks, catching every living organism with her daughters to examine close up, golfing, snowboarding and traveling.

As Senior Associate, Administration and Client Service, Beckie is committed to ensuring that every client's experience is at the highest level.
With her superior organizational and communication skills, Beckie manages daily office operations, scheduling, and phone inquires. She comes to Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors with more than 20 years of experience in client support, including positions with American Airlines, American Express Travel, and Electric Boat. 

Beckie Received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in 2014, focusing on Women's Health and Integrative Health Practices. She lives in Pomfret Center with her youngest daughter and has two grown children nearby as well. Outside of work, she spends time cooking and relaxing with her family and friends. She's also an active volunteer member of the Northeast Connecticut Women and Girls Fund, an organization committed to helping women and girls in Eastern Connecticut lead more fulfilling, productive, healthy lives.