From the CEO
Richard Jones sent this to me and thinks you will all appreciate the day he had. I am referring to this as “A Day in the Life!” Enjoy!
Did I finish everything on my list today? No. Did I make a difference? I hope so—and I believe I did.
Some days are fun, some are easy, and some, like today, are just plain hard. But I’ve learned that the hard days are often the ones where our work matters most.
As financial advisors at HBW, we have a unique opportunity to forge deep, personal connections with our clients. If I were only managing 401k plans or building assets, I wouldn’t experience the relationships that truly define my career. Last week, I received a text the day my client’s new baby was born. When my own children arrived, I didn’t think to text my accountant, insurance agent, or realtor. That says something about the trust and connection we build.
Today, within minutes of my clients accepting a full-price offer on their home, I got a celebratory message. But I also received this message from a different client today: “Richard, I am sorry to tell you that David is at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, room 227. He’s terminal. I need to see you if possible.”
I made it to the hospital by 6:30pm. The family was waiting for me to review the DNR form before signing it—just the wife, their two children, and me. How did I get into this inner circle? I’m just their financial advisor. Or am I?
There’s no such thing as “just a financial advisor.” If you want to build a lasting business, you have to embrace the reality that we are called to be by our clients’ side not just for their best days, but for their most challenging ones as well.
Last week, I had a tough conversation with a client about her divorce and its impact on her finances and her son. Earlier today, I told a client I was genuinely worried about his future if he continued spending the way he was. I even told him I feared he might feel trapped and hopeless. He looked at me… and agreed. Together, we created a plan to reduce his debt, lower his bills, and increase his monthly cash flow—all while protecting his retirement. For the first time in nearly a year, he left our meeting with hope.
I share these stories to remind you how important our work truly is. If you see yourself as just someone who picks mutual funds or opens Roth IRAs, you might be missing the bigger picture. We are trusted guides, confidants, and sometimes even lifelines for the people we serve.
So, the next time you have a hard day, remember you’re not just managing portfolios—you’re changing lives. Keep showing up, keep caring, and keep making a difference. That’s what makes us more than financial advisors. That’s what makes us indispensable.
With gratitude and belief in all of you,
Richard Jones
$100 Million in AUM
It is with great admiration that we announce Tyson Kunst has exceeded $100 million in AUM in advisory assets at HBW Advisory Services! Tyson joined us a few years ago with around $20 million in AUM and has experienced remarkable growth over the last few years. His expertise is in retirement planning with an emphasis on tax efficient distribution strategies. His diligence, determination, intelligence, generosity, and most of all, his commitment to his clients are some of the reasons for his success.
Tyson is our third advisor to exceed $100 million with HBW Advisory, joining Richard Jones and Rick Harbus in that exclusive group. All these gentlemen are anxious to have several other HBW advisors join them in accomplishing this major milestone. - CEO Barney Hellenbrand
HBW Advisory Attains $1 Billion in Assets Under Management
May 26, 2021, Simi Valley, CA. Today at HBW Advisory Services LLC, we hit a significant milestone in reaching the $1 Billion mark in Assets Under Management (AUM). This achievement is the result of the great efforts of our extremely professional and diligent advisors in the field who consistently work to provide high-level fiduciary duties for their clients, as well as the dedicated personnel at HBW Advisory Services that support the efforts of these outstanding advisors.
HBW CEO, Barney Hellenbrand: “I want to express my extreme gratitude for the hard work and dedication of all the people involved in this achievement, our affiliated advisors, home office personnel and vendors that support them. Our advisors are part of an extended family here at HBW, and I particularly want to add a note of congratulations to Joe Bonanno, our Advisory President and Chief Investment officer for his outstanding leadership.”
At HBW Advisory Services LLC, we do what we do because we know that every time we help a family or a business solve important financial problems and issues, we make the world a little bit brighter and maybe even change it in ways beyond measure!
At HBW Job One is to maximize our advisors’ success by providing the support and resources they need to best serve their clients. The true independence of HBW and its advisors is critical to serving our clients in the way our culture and ethics require.
This achievement is, hopefully, just the beginning of a continuing long and successful growth phase as we strive to accomplish many other milestones on our journey to build a world class firm.
Investment advisory services offered through HBW Advisory Services LLC. HBW Insurance & Financial Services,Inc. dba HBW Partners and HBW Advisory Services are separate entities which do not offer legal or tax advice.
Raymond Berry selected to the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Our Honorary Chairman and mentor, Raymond Berry, recently had the honor of being selected to the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team as a unanimous selection by the blue ribbon panel, one of only 3 receivers to be unanimous. Raymond was honored, along with all the living members of this all-time team, at the recent Super Bowl game. In the pictures, hopefully you will notice his HBW tie clip. The following ae just a few of his credentials:
Hall of Fame (1973), NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, 4× First-team All-Pro (1957–1960), 6× Pro Bowler (1958–1961, 1963, 1964), 2× NFL champion (1958, 1959)
Together we can help
Hi All, the attached link is for a Go Fund Me for someone that has been exonerated from a terrible injustice. Mike Bender, the officer that has spent the last nearly 30 years working to get this innocent man out of jail, is a close, personal friend and former roommate of mine going back all the way to high school. Anything we can do to help this man, Craig Coley, overcome this injustice is greatly appreciated. To learn more about this incredible story click here.
Why More Regulations Aren't the Answer to the Equifax Breach?
HBW Advisory Services President/Chief Investment Officer Joe Bonanno joins CU Broadcast to explain why more regulations are a bad idea in response to the Equifax breach. Joe adds how more regulations would impact financial institutions and consumers in a negative way.
So what's the answer to these major breaches? Joe provides his take on this question and what credit unions need to be doing for their members to keep them safe.
Check it out and let us know your thoughts. Watch.
Investment advisory services may also be offered through HBW Advisory Services LLC. HBW Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. dba HBW Partners and HBW Advisory Services LLC are separate entities which do not offer legal or tax advice. IAPD
