A Special Request for a Special Cause.

We Want to Hear From You - New Feedback Feature

Adopt a Charity - Roberson Museum

The Importance of Connection - Tonya Laughing

How Do You Manage Well? - Dave Nirchi

Good News - Matt Goliber Promoted

A Special Request for a Special Cause.

One day, a client asked us if we could do something to help an organization that was important to her. So, we got together with the client and the organization’s Executive Director and listened to their story. The organization was trying to do something amazing for the betterment of the community and our client was wondering if S.E.E.D. and/or any of our other clients would be interested in financially supporting the project. We listened intently and promised to follow up with any ideas we might have. 

We believe our growth comes from the commonalities our employees and clients share. Commonalities like passion about…

By: Tonya Laughing, Operations Specialist

The conversation began as…Hi! I hope this email finds you well. Per your planner, I have prepared the documents for… 

And it continued with the instructions needed to sign ELECTRONICALLY through a computer device. 

I typed my salutation and hovered over the send button, my thoughts going to “I have never met this client,” “Will she be comfortable with this process?”.

I pushed send, knowing that this was the preferred method of the Financial Custodian, and continued to wonder how much information I did not know.  

“What does this client look like?” “What color is her hair? The color of eyes? Her facial expressions?  The sound of her voice?” 

I am sure these are strange thoughts to many, but the realization that all I truly know about this soul was her name and a few written facts in a file. 

She lives in New York; I live in Tennessee. The distance on the map deepened the feelings of disconnection in a world that is supposed to be getting smaller with technology.  

Now, I want to stop for a moment and shout out my appreciation for the technology that has come during my time (I actually know what it’s like to live without a smartphone), and I enjoy (parts of) the ease and speed at which it allows us to accomplish things. 

But sending that email to someone I only knew their name, had me feeling inadequate.  

As I ponder all these thoughts, my “phone” line began to ring, and when I say “phone” I mean my computer device was ringing... Raise your hand if you remember when you had to call the operator and give them a line number to call... I digress.  

“Thank you for calling S.E.E.D Planning Group, this is Tonya, how can I assist you?” 

“Tonya? I need help! I don’t know how to do this sign electronically!”

MY CLIENT! 

I get to hear her sweet voice; the rhythm of her words flows with a different cadence than my Southern accent. Her emotions being poured out into each chosen word as she described why she needed this transaction completed and the urgency of it. She echoed my thoughts of a slower time when pen and paper were all we had, and she grieved the loss of what I was already feeling….  DISCONNECTION. 

But in just a few moments of connecting our voices together, our hearts connected. I heard her need; I heard her selection of words full of emotions describing her son and grandchildren. A language of love, longing, and pride.  

The transaction of the electronic signature was a stepping stone to the challenge of trying to reach them, travel to them, and close their gap of disconnection. 

The advancement of technology brought us to a moment of the most important part of humanity: HEART. 

A simple email conversation isn’t just because of a transaction, with the right heart it becomes a just cause for connecting. 

Connection brings a responsibility to help, to cheer, to understand, to feel the emotions, to embrace and overcome challenges, and to pursue happiness together. 

By: Dave Nirchi, Chief Operating Officer

Managing people is seldom straightforward. Whether you've got years of experience or are just stepping into your first management role, you may find yourself second-guessing your decisions. How do you find the right balance between micro-managing and not knowing what your team is doing?

As we’ve grown as a business, we’ve promoted from within and moved a number of our leaders into management roles – where they are responsible not just for their own work, but also for the development of others.

One of the questions these newly appointed managers often ask is, “How do I manage well?”

At S.E.E.D., we introduced the Manager’s Creed to help our team overcome the challenges that come with overseeing growing teams. The Manager’s Creed is a set of guidelines that aid our people in navigating the important decisions and general direction of their teams with confidence, while preserving their autonomy and personal style in the day-to-day.

This is our Creed:

• As a Leader, I require accountability for responsibility both of myself and others.

• As a Leader, I promote and exhibit teamwork by emphasizing honest and transparent communication while embracing the Team of Teams concept.

• As a Leader, I build teams of people who possess Hungry, Humble, and Smart virtues and who are committed to helping people overcome their challenges so they can find personal fulfillment.

• As a Leader, I build teams by inspiring confidence through embracing the Tours of Duty concept and relentlessly focusing on recruiting and employee development.

• As a Leader, I manage teams by understanding that employees are employees first and friends second, and making it my job to develop both myself and my team members professionally and personally.

Principles like these build an environment of growth and development. They help foster a culture of excellence and accountability, which translates into the higher standard of service you are accustomed to and can continue to rely on. Rising above challenges, making a difference in our communities, and helping you all achieve personal fulfillment is what drives our team at S.E.E.D. 

Our training topics are generated by our management team through an interactive ‘chalkboard’ populated with their greatest challenges and needs. Last year, we completed sessions on the following topics: Manager’s Creed, Manager Base Skills, and Project Management.

This year, our first session will focus on the benefits of managing people to their strengths, identifying personality tendencies, increasing awareness for more effective communication, and reinforcing this environment across all teams. This session is inspired by Thomas Erikson’s acclaimed book “Surrounded by Idiots”, which provides insight into the role of contrasting personality types in group dynamics and discusses how effective management can turn those differences into a team’s greatest strengths.

As we collaborate and grow stronger, our team members can realize their full potential and utilize their unique skill sets to ensure the best experience for you. We recognize each member of our team brings something special to our organization, and we are committed to helping them grow, refine, and continuously develop both personally and as a collective good. 

Tylar Polovchak Hired  

We proudly announce that Tylar Polovchak has joined our firm as an Operations Specialist in our Binghamton office. Before joining S.E.E.D., Tylar worked as a Recruitment Specialist with CrossAmerica Partners.

In her role, she reports to Emmy Shafer, Sr. Manager, Admin & Operations, and is the new counterpart to Tonya Laughing on the Operations Team as Matt Goliber transitioned to his new role and promotion.

Tylar will be connecting with clients as she is preparing internal financial planning and investment services agreements, opening investment accounts for the firm, and performing ongoing routine maintenance. Tylar will also be handling the majority of our tax season support, so don’t be surprised if she is sending you emails and requesting electronic signatures as your e-file papers are ready!