We’re excited to welcome a new group of Normal Community High School interns to our Bloomington office this semester. They’ll be spending a few hours each week with us over the coming weeks learning more about the finance field so they can grow their understanding of business and finance as they pursue their academic goals. You can learn more about them in our upcoming newsletter. And if you stop in to our Bloomington office over the next couple of months, be sure to say hello and welcome them!
Have you considered including family in conversations about finances and how you would like your estate handled at your death?
These can be difficult conversations, but so worthwhile. We’ve had clients invite children/beneficiaries and their attorney to an annual review so everyone is on the same page. If you’re interested in a Beneficiary Book, which is a binder to keep all your pertinent information in one place, give our office a call and we’ll have one ready for you to pick up. Also, keep an eye out for our “Educating Executors” seminar coming this fall to our Bloomington office.
Recently, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) has released three Investor Alerts related to investment scams.
Social Media and Stock Tip Scams
Natural Disasters and Investment Scams
Against this backdrop, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you about imposter scams. Specifically, scammers may impersonate financial professionals by, for example, creating a fake version of a public FINRA BrokerCheck report for a legitimate investment professional. The scammer might then send the fake report to potential investors, using their name and registration number to solicit potential investors. More information about imposter scams can be found at https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/be-alert-signs-imposter-investment-scams
If you have concerns that someone is using your name or information as part of a potential scam, contact Cambridge’s Disclosures and Dispute Resolution Team (disclosures@cir2.com), and alert FINRA by calling the BrokerCheck hotline at (800) 289-9999 or emailing BrokerCheck@finra.org.
Judy Sypult joined Douglass Financial Services in February 2025 as a Client Services Assistant. As the CSA, she assists the Financial Advisor Assistant with key processes as it relates to client operations and helps prepare client tax return paperwork and invoicing.
Judy grew up in the Pontiac and Cornell area and graduated from Pontiac Township High School in 1989. She married her husband, Keith M Sypult in May 1996. She's a very proud mom of 2 adult children. Rachael is 26 years old and lives in Phoenix, AZ and Connor, a 24-year-old from Pontiac, IL. She loves spending time with her family and also enjoys being outside working in her yard and planting flowers. In her free time you will find her relaxing in her hot tub.
Effective wealth transfer within families hinges on open communication and early financial education. Research from The Northern Trust Institute reveals that families who engage in detailed discussions about inheritance are better positioned for successful wealth transitions. Notably, 79% of respondents have provided their children with financial education, yet 48% still express concerns about the next generation's preparedness to manage wealth.
To bridge this gap, it's crucial to initiate conversations that clarify the family's financial landscape and the responsibilities that come with it. Emphasizing core family values and shared goals can further strengthen these discussions, ensuring that wealth serves to maintain lifestyles, support descendants, and contribute to philanthropic endeavors. By fostering an environment of transparency and continuous learning, families can navigate the complexities of wealth transfer more effectively, aligning financial assets with the family's overarching mission and values