MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Explain how Northstar Wealth Partners was born and how you came to be in West Hartford Center.

Northstar is an 8 year old brand, but has over 100 years of experience within its advisors. West Hartford was identified as a prime location that would provide excellent opportunities for the aggressive growth that founding principals, Robert Laraia and Brandon Marinelli, had in mind. I came on board as the first in-house advisor with the attitude “If you build it, they will come”. Northstar never looked back offering unparalleled service, advice, and care for clients.

With the recent addition of new employees, explain how you have been able to expand your business in a time where businesses are working to stay open.

Everything about us is contrary to the issues facing our industry. We are a completely transparent and independent firm. Northstar Wealth Partners is 100% locally branded and committed to the West Hartford Community. 

With all the industry distrust, not only from clients, but advisors themselves, everybody is in search of non-biased advice. The idea of “Big Companies” offering securing to customers is long gone. That idea has actually backfired and offered up tons of human capitol on the streets.

Clients and Advisors seek out Northstar Wealth Partners. We are not associated with any particular insurance company, mutual fund company, bank, or wire house. This enables us to provide the same service Advisors and their clients are used to, under an independent model.

Your web site, www.NSTARWP.com, has an underlying theme of travel to coincide with your tag line “Charting a course for your success”. Explain how you are best able to guide clients through their assets.

Our firm uses a marketing consultant with experience working for a billion dollar insurance company. She brings her expertise to Northstar Wealth Partners and is dedicated to connecting us with high-level executives, pre-retirees, and those in retirement when it is applicable. Being an independent firm, we have the perspective and tools necessary to look at the big picture and offer advice based on our findings. Northstar Wealth Partners is more than an asset manager, and works to deliver that message to the business community.

Northstar Wealth Partners has been a tremendous supporter of the Chamber since celebrating its Grand Opening in town last year. Explain how you have maximized your membership.

We are a team. Like all of our initiatives, including the Chamber, we are active at the grassroots level. We are at events meeting members and maximizing the benefits of being a part of the organization. I am passionate about the vision of the Chamber and the West Hartford community. We love to host Chamber events, like the August Business After Hours we are hosting in the Town Center courtyard on Thursday, August 12, 2010. We will also be sponsoring the Chamber’s 24th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, September 13, 2010. The Chamber does an outstanding job at connecting business owners and the community. The benefits and services offered are not matched by any other Chambers in the area. Northstar Wealth Partners is delighted to be an active member and sees it as a way to keep our business entrenched with the West Hartford community.

What is your best advice for small business owners? 

I always say spend more time looking at the future if the business and less time reflecting on the past. If your business needs to find new revenue sources, consider potential cost-savings as well. Renegotiate contracts with your vendors – the worst they can say is “No”. Vendors are smart business people, and, usually will accept the old adage “Some of something is better than all of nothing”. Small business owners should be on top of the expenditures and realize it all adds up to the bottom line. Cash flow should be a focus of anyone steering a company through this economic time. Lastly, I encourage all people to make sure they have access to independent financial advice.

To learn more about Northstar Wealth Partners and their unique approach to financial planning, visit:  www.NSTARWP.com