The ‘WE’ in Wealth Management

When thinking of wealth management and investments, we feel that most people seek reliability, trust, and consistency.

Today we are in conversation with David Kopitz, Senior Vice President-Investments and Vicki Unger, Senior Vice President-Investments of The Kopitz Unger Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. Vicki and David are an embodiment of the aforementioned traits. They balance out one another by bringing qualities to the table that reinforce the other. David acts as the team’s ‘Chief Investment Officer’, and Vicki serves as the team’s ‘Chief Strategy Officer’ – together, they are a power couple and a powerhouse of talent. 

Every company wants to be the different option in the market. They sometimes lead with performance to attract new clients. However, when it comes to wealth management, is simply taking on more risk really the way you want to go? Probably not.  

Both Vicki and David initially started with separate, parallel careers, and then came together to form their own team. As Vicki says, “two heads are better than one”. Together, they cover all the bases with their complementary skills. Their clients pay the same amount they would to a single wealth manager but receive the experience and points of view offered by both Vicki and David. David handles most of the investments and technical aspects of the business, while Vicki focuses on ensuring that the bigger picture goals, such as business succession plans, debt management, and charitable giving goals are being integrated into the financial conversations.

Their approach to business is unique.  They do not simply guide their clients based on textbook material. Instead, their wealth of knowledge is sourced from decades of training and education, research, travel, real-life experiences, networking, and relatability. Each client solution is custom made. Their clients often turn into friends, and sometimes even feel like family.  

Financial advising can be a narrow mundane lane, but David and Vicki have redefined the role to better suit the needs of their clients. “We can be our client’s investment advisor, confidant, and sounding board. We don’t limit ourselves to the traditional client-advisor relationship. Your wealth is a critical part of your life – we create a personal plan for everyone who comes to us,” says Vicki. “Each client isn’t just another name on a paper – they are real people whom we can help support and guide in the right direction based on their circumstances.” 

To add to this, David shares an anecdote with us from earlier in his career. “One of our clients had just come into a lot of money and wanted help from an advisor. He went to a wealth management firm that recommended a slew of hot internet stocks. Like it does every cycle, the market dropped. The client was clearly nervous, which is why he came to us. We educated him on what we felt was important, set up a long-term portfolio, and built up his trust in our process. He has been a client ever since.”

David smiles and says, “we learn about the person before learning about their money. What is important to them? What do they value? It’s essential for us to build that human connection and relationship with our clients.” 

Speaking to Vicki and David, it’s clear to see why they work so well together. They’re constantly bouncing ideas off each other and though work is taken seriously, it’s obvious how much they enjoy their client relationships. Together, they strive to be the complete package every client seeks. People say couples can’t work together, but married for 36 years and still going strong, Vicki and David have definitely shattered that norm.

One of their clients describes Vicki and David’s work style and approach to wealth management as ‘Relational, Educational, and Transactional’. These three simple words encapsulate the brand values and approach of The Kopitz Unger Wealth Management Group. Their strategy enables them to help their clients succeed financially, which is after all, the ultimate goal. That’s the power of the WE in wealth management.