Peri Ann Aptaker has been named director of KLR Wealth Management LLC, a division of Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co. Aptaker joined the firm in 2001 and is the director of tax services. She is vice president and treasurer of the Planned Giving Council of Rhode Island; serves on the professional advisory committee of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island; and serves as a board member for Rhode Island Public Radio and Jewish Family Service.
PBN: As director of the newly formed group at KLR, what are your main areas of focus going forward?
APTAKER: The main area of focus is to serve our affluent clients’ financial needs. For the wealthy individual, these needs are often broad and diverse. A broad range of financial needs calls for a broad, comprehensive perspective. Research shows that many affluent individuals want to work with advisers that provide more than just investments. They want real wealth management – a complete approach to addressing their entire financial lives.
We define wealth management as follows: (1) investment consulting, (2) advanced planning (3) relationship management.
PBN: How does the Wealth Management division team provide a “personal CFO”?
APTAKER: KLR Wealth Management LLC has been formed to give our clients financial piece of mind so that they can sleep at night. We do this by acting as their personal chief financial officer. We use a consultative process to identify their current financial situation and challenges, and then we work with a team of experts to design solutions to help them achieve their most important goals. In our first meeting with our clients, we conduct what we call a “discovery meeting.” In this meeting, we ask specific questions to determine the clients’ values, important relationships, personal and financial goals, their assets, who their current advisers are, what their interests are and how involved they want to be in the process.
PBN: What are you looking forward to in your new position?
APTAKER: I am excited to be given the opportunity to continue to build this business and provide world class service to our clients with respect to their wealth management. I have been in the CPA industry for more than 26 years, and at this point in my career this is the perfect role to utilize my skills and education. •
