By Bill Monte, CLU, ChFC, CLTC, LTCP
Sometimes the things you enjoy and the things you have a knack for merge together and you find yourself with the opportunity to make a career out of your passions and skills. That’s my story of how I became a financial advisor.
When I was young, I was a math whiz. Numbers fascinated me and I loved seeing how you could apply math to different situations. Add to that the fact that I’ve always loved helping people, and finance was the ideal path for me to pursue.
Building My Career
I graduated from Clarkson University with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and immediately started working as a financial advisor…now I’ve spent the last 33 years as a Financial Engineer! For 15 years, I gained experience and knowledge and began to see particular areas where people either struggled to plan or didn’t plan at all. I decided to do something about this blind spot and created The Estate, Legacy & Long-Term Care Planning Center of Western NY in 2002.
Now I spend my days providing retirees and their families with the specific knowledge and informational tools they need to make informed decisions about their future—namely long-term care and estate and legacy planning. I offer planning strategies that allow them to maximize the legacy they leave to their chosen beneficiaries by minimizing any estate and especially income taxes that their children as beneficiaries will have to pay. This is particularly true in light of the recent passage of the SECURE Act and the new “10-Year Rule”. In addition, I also help them better understand all of the options that exist to protect their assets from the ever-increasing cost of long-term care, particularly nursing home care, which is exorbitantly expensive in our area and can have a devastating effect on a retirement nest egg.
These planning matters are incredibly important but also difficult to manage. That’s why, as an independent practice and leading long-term care and legacy planning expert in my area, my ability to give objective advice and guidance puts me in the privileged position of being a trusted informational advocate and sounding board. My number-one priority is my clients and their needs.
One of my favorite parts of my job is conducting free informational workshops around our community, in which I get to educate people about sometimes-confusing financial matters in a way that makes it easy for them to understand. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping clients save money, minimize taxes, and protect the assets they’ve worked so hard for, and knowing I’ve made a difference in their lives and the lives of those in future generations.
Can I Help You?
Our mission is to help our clients honor the past, enjoy the present, and secure the future. If you are ready to experience peace of mind and be fully prepared for whatever comes your way, I can help you make informed choices for you and your loved ones. Reach out to me at (585) 721-2385 or [email protected] to schedule a free consultation.
About Bill
Bill Monte is the president of The Estate, Legacy & Long-Term Care Planning Center of Western NY, with 33 years of experience in the financial industry. Bill is the leading long-term care and legacy planning expert in the area and has helped hundreds of Rochester’s retirees implement personalized plans that help secure and protect their current position and maximize the financial legacy that they leave to their chosen heirs. As an independent financial professional, Bill prides himself on putting his clients first and always working in their best interest, designing plans that are tailored to each person’s situation and goals. Bill holds multiple professional designations, including Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP), and Certification for Long-Term Care (CLTC®). To learn more about Bill, connect with him on LinkedIn or schedule a free consultation by contacting him at (585) 721-2385 or [email protected].