“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

 

¹ Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria, including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and compliant history, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, education, and professional designations. 3,178 Connecticut wealth managers were considered for the award; 293 (9 percent of candidates) were named 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers. (The criteria provided reflects the most recent year for which advisor received the award. The criteria used, the number of wealth managers considered for the award, and the percentage of those who receive the award, may vary from year to year). These awards are not indicitive of the wealth managers' future performance. Your experiences may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

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 unique 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.

Kelly supports our client operations and service team at Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors, helping to ensure timely and dedicated service on new accounts, transactions, and investment portfolio management. She joined the team in October 2018 after a career as a paralegal where she developed invaluable skills in client service. Kelly also brings a broad knowledge base from her previous work in matters such as bankruptcy law and litigation in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, civil litigation in the U.S. District Court, the U.S. District Court of Appeals, and the Massachusetts State Courts, as well as insurance defense and loan modifications.

Kelly received her B.S. in business administration from Becker College in 2001.  She grew up in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and has been a longtime resident of Connecticut. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Barry, as well as her two sons, Brayden and Tyler.  She also enjoys traveling, camping, and watching her sons play soccer.  Kelly is also a huge fan of the New England Patriots.

 

Heather Vogt joined Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors in May 2019 as the Brand Associate. Her role includes building content via investment-related research, copyediting, and multichannel content distribution, with an ultimate goal to help educate and deliver a superior experience for clients, prospects, and our community. Heather will be starting her senior year at the University of Connecticut in the Fall of 2019, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Heather's interest in marketing began during her time at Quinebaug Valley Community College, where she was the Student Government Association Representative to the QVCC Foundation and President of SGA the following year. She learned and appreciated that marketing and networking were interconnected ways of promoting ideas and brands. Heather graduated from QVCC with her associate's degree in Liberal Arts and Science in May of 2018.

Heather has always been a member of the northeastern Connecticut community, having grown up in Brooklyn and graduated from Killingly High School in 2016. Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with her family and friends. 

As Administration & Client Services Associate, 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.