Ryan & Associates

2447 Pacific Coast Hwy #215 in Hermosa Beach | 424-212-4939 | [email protected]

While Shannon Ryan began her career in the financial industry 20 years ago when she joined Ameriprise, her experience began with “money lessons” from her father when she was 13 years old. Shannon is the owner of Ryan & Associates—a full-service financial planning firm in Hermosa Beach and a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. “I am passionate about helping individuals, families and businesses make great financial decisions,” she says.

What would you like potential clients to know about you?

“I believe that financial advice is not just picking investments but how those investments will fit with your life goals and desires around money.”

Who is your typical client?

“My client base is a broad range of ages and income/asset levels. I see more clients interested in planning five to 10 years from retirement. Their greatest concern is how to take a retirement income stream from their accumulated assets.”

What’s one trend that is defining the financial industry today?

“An aging population and market volatility. This could cause our unprepared retirees to run out of money sooner due to poor choices with investment timing, risk exposure and lack of planning.”

What is the biggest benefit your clients gain from working with you?

“Peace of mind. Wealth can complicate your life; even the most complex financial issues can be handled successfully with an experienced advisor. Creating a financial strategy gives my clients peace of mind that they are making the best financial decisions for their family.”

What is the biggest challenge facing your clients today?

“Time. We live in a very busy world. Many times people put off planning. Months and years go by and families are left unprepared financially. We partner with our clients to help them make great financial decisions year in and year out.”

What’s the most common mistake people make with their money?

“People fail to plan for the certainty of uncertainty. We forget in our financial planning to consider life events that may derail our overall financial goals. Financial planning is far more than choosing a stock, bond or mutual fund.”

Give us your opinion on today’s economy and how it impacts your customers.

“The last five years, many have lost confidence in how they invest and their ability to reach financial goals. Unexpected job transitions or changes in business profitability have put a strain on family finances. It is my opinion that the volatility and uncertainty will continue for some time. We help our clients create a plan to achieve their goals in all types of markets.”

What is your best piece of investment advice?

“Know what you own. I find that over the years, clients end up with many accounts—401(k), IRA, savings, stock, etc. Often we create over-exposure to risk when we do not know what we own in each of these investments. It is important to look at all of your investments together to make sure you have the appropriate risk tolerance for your time-frame, income needs and goals.”

How do you give back to your community?

“I love this community. I am a trustee on the Little Company of Mary Foundation board, a Manhattan Beach Rotarian, a founding member of The Beach List, Leadership Manhattan Beach class of 2011, and a Girl Scout troop leader. My husband grew up in Manhattan Beach. After we were married 22 years ago, we moved back to the South Bay and plan to retire here.”    

Tell me about your work with Children around Financial Literacy?

“So many of my clients’ thoughts and hang-ups around money came from their family of origin. When my daughter was age 3, I started to work with her on financial concepts, and today she is more financially literate at age 8 than many adults. About a year ago I wrote a book, The Heavy Purse, which is a platform for children and families to become financially literate. It is my first in a series of books for children 3 to 9 years old.”