Goals-based investment planning from a Series 7 and Series 65 licensed advisor — helping Omaha-area individuals and families build and protect long-term wealth.
Book a Free ConsultationWealth doesn't grow by accident. It grows through disciplined, consistent investment guided by clear goals and an honest assessment of risk. As a Series 7 and Series 65 licensed financial advisor, Michael Schroder has the qualifications to help individuals and families in Omaha build and manage investment portfolios — not just sell insurance products, but provide the kind of comprehensive investment guidance that independent clients genuinely need. All investments carry risk, including the possible loss of principal, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Michael takes a goals-based approach to investing rather than chasing market trends or adopting one-size-fits-all strategies. Before any investment recommendation is made, the conversation starts with what you are actually trying to accomplish: Is it building a retirement nest egg over 20 years? Saving for a home purchase in 5 years? Creating a college fund for your children? Growing an inheritance while managing risk? The answer to those questions determines the appropriate asset allocation, time horizon, and risk parameters — not the other way around. Diversification across asset classes helps manage risk but does not eliminate it.
As your wealth grows and your circumstances evolve — job changes, inheritance, the sale of a business, marriage or divorce — your investment strategy should evolve with it. Michael provides regular portfolio reviews that look at performance, fees, tax efficiency, and alignment with your current goals. For clients in Omaha, having a local advisor who is accessible for questions, responsive to life changes, and aligned with your long-term interests is a meaningful advantage over managing investments in isolation or relying on impersonal online tools.
Every investment recommendation is tied to a specific financial goal — not a generic model — so your portfolio is built to serve your life, not someone else's benchmark.
Understanding how much portfolio volatility you can financially and emotionally handle is critical. Michael helps you find the level of risk that is appropriate for your situation and timeline.
Investment accounts have different tax treatments. Coordinating taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts can reduce your overall tax burden over time. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Markets shift, life changes, and goals evolve. Regular reviews ensure your portfolio stays rebalanced, aligned with your risk tolerance, and on track for your targets.
Michael holds both the Series 7 (broker) and Series 65 (investment advisor representative) licenses — enabling a full range of investment advisory capabilities beyond what insurance-only advisors can offer.
Investments don't exist in isolation. Michael coordinates your portfolio strategy with your insurance coverage, retirement accounts, and estate goals for a cohesive financial plan.
If your savings have grown past what a standard savings account is designed for, investment planning may help those funds work harder toward long-term goals while managing risk appropriately.
Many business owners reinvest everything into their company, leaving little diversification outside it. Investment planning helps build personal wealth that isn't entirely dependent on the success of one business.
If you're within 10 years of retirement, a portfolio review may reveal concentration risks, high-fee funds, or allocation mismatches that could affect your retirement readiness. Early identification creates time to adjust.
Receiving a lump sum — from an inheritance, business sale, or settlement — without a clear investment plan creates real risk. Michael helps clients deploy those funds deliberately and in alignment with their broader financial picture.
A Series 7 license authorizes a financial professional to buy and sell most types of securities — stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options — on behalf of clients as a registered representative. A Series 65 license qualifies an advisor to act as an investment advisor representative (IAR), providing fee-based investment advice and managing client portfolios. Holding both licenses — as Michael does — means he can serve clients in a full-service capacity rather than being limited to one type of engagement.
Traditional investing often focuses on beating a benchmark or maximizing returns relative to a market index. Goals-based investing starts with what you actually need your money to do — fund retirement at a specific age, pay for college, purchase a property — and then structures your portfolio to meet those goals with appropriate risk. This approach is less about performance rankings and more about whether your financial plan is on track to deliver the outcomes that matter to you.
The decision to pay down debt versus invest depends largely on the interest rate on your debt compared to the expected return on your investments, as well as whether any employer match is available in a 401(k). High-interest consumer debt (credit cards at 20%+) almost always makes mathematical sense to pay off before investing aggressively. Low-interest debt like a mortgage at 4% is less clear-cut. Michael helps clients think through these trade-offs in the context of their complete financial picture.
At a minimum, Michael conducts an annual review with each investment client — more frequently if market conditions shift significantly or if you experience a major life change like a job transition, inheritance, or approaching retirement. Reviews cover portfolio performance, asset allocation drift, fee analysis, and continued alignment with your current goals. You are also welcome to reach out at any time with questions or changes in your circumstances.
Schedule a free consultation with Michael to discuss your financial goals and explore whether an investment planning engagement is the right next step for your situation.
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