Searer Planning and Investments

Ben Searer
CFP^®
I graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in finance, and headed straight into the financial services world from there. I began with 6 years at JPMorgan Chase as a banker and branch manager, learning to understand people and analyze profit and loss. I then invested 7 years with Bank of America/Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor, seeking an understanding of my client's goals, developing a plan, and setting them up with the tools they needed to succeed. During my time at Merrill, I earned my securities licenses and became a Certified Financial Planner^®.

There is little that excites me more in this field than digging into the details of a comprehensive financial plan. Each detail can have an impact, and the ability to build a model that can help a client visualize their future and make strong, informed decisions today with an idea of the true impact on their finances is a calling I enjoy leaning into. In addition, our family firm allows me to prioritize the people most important in my life. My wife Stephanie and our two little girls Victoria and Julianna enjoy enhanced access to both their parents, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to be so involved in their lives on a daily basis. I enjoy getting outside with the family, games with friends, and I keep an audio book in my headphones as often as I can spare the attention.

John Searer

Stock market investing has been intriguing to me since a 6th-grade school assignment. How could a stock go up (or down!) more in one day than my regulated passbook savings account could earn in a year? My first stock purchase was made with paper route money.

In more than fifty years of personal investing, professional training, and experience guiding clients, I have learned ways to reduce the fear and mystery that often accompany investing. The volatility that can make clients fearful can also be used to increase the likelihood of achieving your goals.

Meeting people and getting to know their financial and personal goals for their lifetime, for family, and charitable interests is a great privilege. Working to help pursue those goals (tax efficiently) is very satisfying.

After earning my BA from Wheaton College (IL), I worked almost forty years at JPMorgan Chase Bank and predecessors. I now have the double privilege of owning my own business AND working full-time with my older son, Ben. It's hard to adequately express how much we enjoy working together and how effectively we team together to serve clients better than what I can do individually.

My wife, Sarah, and I live in North Carolina where we very regularly see our three grown children and seven grandchildren. Hobbies and passions include bush-hogging, hiking, canoeing, and charitable giving.