Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.
We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations.
Generally speaking, when I think of investments, impulsively I think of them in terms of financial rewards. And that's OK. Whether it's short or long term, there's no denying that the ability to provide for one's self and family is essential. That's called being practical, not selfish.
I think the key is understanding that individual gain isn't the end, it's the beginning. It's not the only thing that matters; it's an important part of the things in life that matter most.
When I first moved to Nashville, I attended a team-building meeting where one of my colleagues said that, when it comes to money, you should "save some, spend some and give some away." It made sense to me because, well, in the end you can't take it with you, right?
While some years are better than others, I've always kept that in mind.
This month we're happy to present some stories about some people and businesses in our area - Mariner Wealth Advisors, Simmons Bank and Exchange Club of Bellevue - who understand the value that comes from investing not only in yourself, but in your community as well.
We hope that by reading about how investing in Bellevue makes their lives richer, you may be inspired to do the same.
Doug Waterman | doug.waterman@citylifestyle.com
Ed Atlas | ed.atlas@citylifestyle.com
Sharon Asby | sharon@thenashvillephotographer.com
Ed Atlas, Emma Balkenbush, Kellie Walton
Sharon
Bellevue’s bourgeoning brunch scene soon will have another offering as upscale purveyor Another Broken Egg Café (ABE) is coming to One Bellevue Place. The restaurant will be located across from Bar Louie and next to Home2 Suites. According to its website, ABE’s “passion is delivering uncompromising Southerninspired culinary innovation and ‘craveably’ delicious dishes." The restaurant will be open daily although an exact opening date was not available at press time. AnotherBrokenEgg.com
Bandwagon Music & Repair, 7639 Highway 70 South, recently received a Top 100 Dealer Award at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Bandwagon was one of only three stores from across the nation recognized in the Customer Service category. Store owners Jennifer and Linden Lantz were on hand to accept the award. The NAMM Top 100 Dealer Awards spotlights the industry’s very best music product retailers and shares their strategies for success. BandwagonMusicAndRepair.com
The Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) opened an office in One Bellevue Place in early March. Located in Suite 503 next door to Luxury Nail Bar and directly behind DeSano's Pizza, the center will be staffed by six doctors providing a wide range of services for joint replacement, sports medicine, physical therapy and treatment for many common orthopaedic injuries. This is TOA’s 20th Middle Tennessee location and fourth in the immediate Nashville area. TOA.com/locations/bellevue
“We want the next generation to learn the importance of serving their community, of pouring into others.
Two Tuesdays a month, you can find John Cooper leading a morning meeting for the volunteers of the Exchange Club of Bellevue. He starts each meeting by addressing the group of civic-minded members with the same message. “This is the best way to start your day,” he says.
Cooper became the local non-profit’s president in 2023. He calls the organization an ‘escape’ from the everyday, mundane routine we so often find ourselves in.
“The Bellevue Exchange Club has really opened the door to giving back and being a part of the community, being in the know, and making life so much more,” Cooper says. “I want people to know that a group like this exists in Bellevue.”
The group’s volunteers are on a mission to change lives, focusing their efforts on four pillars: the prevention of child abuse and neglect, Americanism and patriotism, youth activities and community events.
Cooper says the organization financially supports local organizations dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, such as the Family Center in Nashville.
The organization is committed to serving youth in the community, whether it be chartering the local Boy Scouts Troop, paying for a storage unit for Nashville Foster Love Closet, which supports children in foster care, or creating a basketball tournament to raise money for James Lawson High School.
Cooper says the group sponsors a youth of the month from area high schools who have excelled in school and extracurriculars. They then compete for a variety of scholarships by writing essays, including a national $15,000 scholarship.
Jim Dyes, the group’s former president, has been active with the club since 2018. Dyes wants community members to understand the group’s focus on the next generation.
“We want the next generation to learn the importance of serving their community, of pouring into
others,” Dyes says. “Communities don’t happen unless people engage.”
Both Cooper and Dyes say the organization provides community members the special, and somewhat rare, opportunity to make the world a better place.
“We have speakers come to every meeting, and it’s always incredibly fascinating to listen to them,” Cooper says.
Some of those speakers have recently included Jacob’s Audible founder Brad Meshell, Early College High School Assistant Principal Nikki Healy, and One Bellevue Place Regional General Manager Gordon Conaway.
Along with its child abuse prevention pillar, the group practices and encourages patriotism by serving breakfast to veterans on Veterans Day and displaying American flags along Highway 70 South for holidays such as Presidents Day and Labor Day.
“We also recognize our public servants as well by celebrating police officer, EMT, firefighter, and 911 operator of the year,” Dyes says.
When reflecting on his time with the Exchange Club, Dyes says the 20th anniversary of the September 11 remembrance event at Red Caboose Park will always hold a special place in his heart.
“It took a lot of work to put it on, but it really had a broad reach. We had the mayor and other elected officials as well as local first responders,” Dyes says. “Bellevue can sometimes feel overlooked in Nashville, but I think that event was a wonderful way to bring people together and honor those who lost their lives during September 11.”
The group’s efforts don’t stop there. They are also responsible for several community projects to beautify Bellevue, including several art murals and funding the BELL Garden on the Bellevue Middle School campus.
The organization currently has about 40 members, ranging in age from 30s to 80s. While most live
CEO
The Bellevue Exchange Club has really opened the door to giving back and being a part of the community, being in the know, and making life so much more. “ ”
in Bellevue, it’s not a requirement. Dyes and Cooper hope to continue to spread awareness about the club to attract more people who want to make Bellevue an even better place to live.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the group can drop into one of its meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at the Bellevue Community Center.
In a world of technology and a greater need for human interaction than ever before, Cooper says the Exchange
Club is the perfect chance to get involved in the community. For anyone looking for a little more out of life, the Exchange Club of Bellevue’s doors are wide open.
“You come out of that meeting, and you feel like, 'wow, we are really making a difference,'” Cooper says. “The second you realize life isn’t about yourself, is the second that the world really opens up, and this organization is a great place for that.”
BellevueExchangeClub.org
When it comes to banking, it’s helpful to have a well-tenured team. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Simmons Bank’s local location. While it may have changed names during its residency in Bellevue, team members have remained on staff to support the community through mortgages, business loans, and a full suite of banking services.
“The local team has been here a long time,” shares Tami Terrell, manager of mortgage lending at Simmons Bank in Bellevue. “For me to have a group of people around me now that can offer other bank products, help me with HELOCs, and all the things I can’t do, it’s just perfect.”
While the team is poised to help clients with their banking needs, their community support goes far beyond accounts and loans. Tami herself is a Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce leader, with branch manager Yvonne Rhodes leading the charge in donation and sponsorship efforts.
You’ll often find a donation box or fundraising opportunity taking place at the Bellevue branch, and if you’re involved in community organizations, chances are there’s a Simmons team member working alongside you. Last year, Simmons hosted a holiday gift collection for a local nonprofit. The team is currently supporting an organization that aids local girls who have aged out of foster care. They organized a networking event for women before the Simmonssponsored Korn Ferry Tour golf tournament. They are even gearing up to present a financial literacy course at Bellevue’s James Lawson High School.
“We’re always doing things and being out, involved in the community, supporting the business and the people,” Tami shares.
The Simmons team may be rolling up its shirt sleeves with philanthropic spirit after hours, but rest assured lives are changing at the branch during the workday, too.
“All banks offer the same products,” Yvonne adds. “We are honest about that. What makes us different is that we actually care about people. We talk with people and work to find the right solutions.”
You’re not just an account number here. All customers gain access to their banker’s personal phone line and email address, and the team prides itself on building relationships and getting to know their customers well enough to offer the perfect solution.
One avenue Tami finds particularly rewarding is credit building. “It’s very rewarding when you work with somebody and say, look, if you do this and do this… and they do it. They come back and you can make things happen for them. When you have the ability to buy a home, then it builds your credit and everything falls in place behind that.”
Banking and home buying can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The Simmons team stands ready to help the Bellevue community tackle any concerns and set up for a successful future.
“People get scared, thinking if they don’t have good credit there’s no point in going to a bank,” Yvonne adds. “I’m the last person who’s going to judge anyone. I just want to help them and see them succeed. I can point them in the right direction of where they should go next to actually get things back under control.”
The Bellevue branch is located at 7114 Hwy 70 South, suite 105. SimmonsBank.com
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“We’re always doing things and being out, involved in the community, supporting the business and the people.”
“I just want to help them and see them succeed. I can point them in the right direction of where they should go next to actually get things back under control.”
Financial planning and wealth management can be a daunting task, but the financial professionals from Mariner Wealth Advisors' Bellevue office are here to help set clients up for success. The privately held, national wealth advisor team works with each client to create sophisticated, unified financial plans to meet lifelong goals.
We caught up with Christina Horan, managing director and senior wealth advisor, to answer a few questions about Mariner.
It is important to have a quarterback that knows all the players and is putting the plays together. We’ll design a wealth management strategy that integrates investments, taxes, estate planning, trusts and insurance solutions and reflects how you think about money and life.
We start with the client’s short- and long-term goals in mind and work backward from there. It is important to understand your risk tolerance (from conservative to aggressive) and objective (income, growth or both). Some clients think if they have enough money, they can take on more risk and accept the added potential volatility. Others with enough money want to avoid the additional stress volatility can bring. So, in both situations, the client can have the same income, net worth and expenses, but because of personal goals and risk tolerance, have completely different investment strategies.
At a high level, it is seeing my clients live the life of their dreams. It is not only about making sure you have enough money in retirement, but also about making sure you are healthy and enjoying life. Before you retire, it’s important that everyone in your life, particularly your spouse and children, agree on what your retirement will look like. You’ll also want to make a plan for how you’ll spend your time so you can avoid boredom and live a purpose-driven life when you stop working.
On a day-to-day basis, saving clients money through tax planning is the most fulfilling part of my job. I am a numbers person, so being able to show clients how we do that with the sophisticated software we use is very exciting.
Through the Mariner Foundation, our Nashville office has written grants and donated $55,000 to local nonprofits we want to support. We volunteer at Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee and Thistle Farms and sponsor baseball teams at the Bellevue Sports Athletic Association. We are also members of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.
Our CEO Marty Bicknell has long held the belief that, to whom much is given, much is expected. It is that belief that makes giving back to our communities central to our firm’s culture. Since our founding in 2006, Mariner Wealth Advisors has donated more than $5 million to charity.
Our ultimate goal is to give you the most personalized experience possible, so we limit the number of clients each advisor has, and we separate sales and advice roles. Your advisor is focused on partnering with you for whatever life brings your way and on helping you navigate your financial future.
As one of our clients, we’ll treat you like family and are committed to putting your interests first. Knowing that you have 360° advice designed to last during your life and beyond from an advisor dedicated to advocating for you can make all the difference.
MarinerWealthAdvisors.com/locations/ nashville-tennessee/
Retirement marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance and sound financial choices. A key element of effective retirement planning is diversifying your income sources. While staples like 401(k)s or IRAs are foundational, it’s equally important to branch out. Tax considerations significantly influence retirement strategies. Each financial action, from asset sales to account withdrawals, can carry tax consequences. Knowing these details can greatly influence one’s overall retirement income. Tactics such as Roth IRA conversions can help distribute tax liabilities over time, allowing for tax-free withdrawals later on. Using strategies like tax-loss harvesting can balance out capital gains, ensuring proactive steps to reduce tax impact.
Annuities have long been recognized as a popular retirement income source. An annuity is essentially a financial contract that can offer a steady and predictable income, with options that might even extend to lifetime payouts. Retirees should also be aware of certain drawbacks. These might include fees and expenses, issues around liquidity, and potential concerns related to inflation.
Delving into the world of Alternative Investments, retirees can consider assets such as hedge funds, private equity and real assets, among others. These investments may promise higher returns and provide diversification away from traditional stocks and bonds. However, the complexities of these investments mean they often come with challenges like illiquidity, higher fees and the need for a thorough understanding of the investment itself.
The backbone of many retirement plans, Social Security Income, provides a safety net for millions. Established with the intent of financial assistance, the amount one receives depends on various factors. There are also strategies retirees can employ to maximize these benefits, such as deciding on the optimal time to claim or considering the implications of working while receiving benefits.
Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), while not familiar to everyone, can be a potential retirement income source. Historically rooted, DSTs offer a form of passive real estate investment, which can lead to regular distributions. They also open doors to 1031 exchange possibilities, offering tax deferral benefits. But, just like any other investment, DSTs have their limitations, notably the lack of liquidity and the heavy reliance on trust management.
You only get one retirement. In the ever-evolving world of finance, staying updated and flexible is essential to ensure the continued relevance and efficiency of one’s retirement strategy.
Disclosures
Securities offered only by duly registered individuals of Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals of Csenge Advisory Group, LLC. MAS, Csenge Advisory Group, LLC and Impact Wealth, LLC are not affiliated entities.
Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. This is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Our firm is not permitted to offer and no statement made during this presentation shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency.
Every retirement journey is distinct, and each vision merits expert guidance. Impact Wealth is based in Boulder Colorado. You can contact them at Impact@ImpactWealth.com.
While traditional stretching methods attempt to make you more “flexible,” we work to adjust the stretch reflex. This way, the Stretch Zone Method gradually increases your active range of motion.
Consider how a car seatbelt works. If pulled too quickly, the belt locks. If the belt is forced, you are just stretching the material itself, and that’s where injury happens. When a car seatbelt is pulled smoothly and controlled, the belt will fully extend. It’s the same with your body’s stretch reflex.
stretchzone.com/locations/bellevue
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WEEKLY EVENTS THROUGHOUT APRIL
WARNER PARKS NATURE CENTER, 7311 HIGHWAY 100
A myriad of free, family friendly events are on tap this month. Tuesday 2, 9, 23, Spring Bird Banding; Thursday 4, Wildflower Stroll; Saturday 6, Collage Collective; Thursday 11, Gardening and Composting; Saturday 13, Nature’s Journalists, Old Time Jam and Star Party; Saturday 20, Spring Bird Migration Stroll; Tuesday 23, Mocktails Under The Pink Full Moon. WarnerParks.org/upcoming-events/
VARIOUS DATES THROUGHOUT APRIL
SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER, DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
The Nashville Symphony plays 10 dates in April with a wide range of events. Highlights include Beethoven and Shostakovich (April 5-6), The Nashville Pathways Festival (April 8), Dawson, Price and Gershwin’s America with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet (Arpil 12-14). Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (April 26-28), Tennessee Youth Symphony Spring Concert (April 29). Showtimes and tickets: NashvilleSymphony.org
VARIOUS DATES THROUGHOUT APRIL
BRIDGESTONE ARENA, DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE | 7:00 PM
The final push to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway and the Nashville Predators are back in Bridgestone Arena for their final four regular season home games. Tuesday 2 vs. Boston Bruins; Thursday 4 vs. St. Louis Blues; Tuesday 9 vs. Winnipeg Jets; Saturday 13 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets. NHL.com/predators
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