Tony Ohl Financial Services
Continuing His Life of Service to Country, Community, Family, & Clients
Tony and Lena during one of their many trips.
Tony Ohl has been serving others his whole life, beginning as a kid in Iowa delivering newspapers to enjoying a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy until retiring in 2012. While Tony admits it was an exciting career, it was the relationships he forged with his fellow Sailors that he most cherishes. As he says, “They were, and are, the best our country has to offer, and it was the most diverse group of professionals you can imagine. Our young Sailors are so good it makes you a better leader.”
In fact, Tony has always put relationships first whether they be with family, friends, colleagues, or the clients he now serves in his second career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with Raymond James Financial Services. His relationship with his three children—Ryan, Reagan, and Rowan—is why he left the Navy in the first place and chose a career that would enable him to balance work and family. And his relationship with his wife, Lena, is a true partnership in both marriage and business, as she is Tony’s Client Services Manager.
In 2012, when Tony made the decision to retire from the Navy and go into financial planning, he initially joined Edward Jones with every intention of remaining there until retirement. But 2½ years ago after much deliberation, he and Lena decided Raymond James Financial Services would be a better fit for their clients and for themselves. “First off, Raymond James has a world-class financial planning tool and many other tools for financial planners that help us better serve our clients,” he explains. “For all our clients – but especially our wealthier clients -- there are a lot more solutions I can offer. And in creating their financial plan, I can take a more holistic approach by incorporating their estate planning, tax planning, property and casualty insurance, long term care, disability insurance, and even healthcare.” That said, Tony is not a lawyer or tax advisor himself but recommends clients talk to those professionals if something looks as if it might affect the overall financial plan. In fact, Tony calls his office a Virtual Family Office, as he works with a network of professionals – his clients’ or his – to ensure his clients’ needs are met.
Tony also loves the fact that, like Edward Jones, Raymond James has a very solid Supervision and Compliance department. As he points out, “I look at Supervision and Compliance as my friends because they not only keep our firm and me out of trouble, but they let me focus on being a wealth manager for my clients and work with them on building and executing their plan.” After all, doing the right thing for his clients is what Tony is all about and is why his business has grown so successfully over the past 12 ½ years. “In addition to having served a larger cause via the Navy for so many years, Lena and I have continued that profession of service by volunteering within the community,” Tony says proudly. “I think our clients see that and see how much work we put in for them as well,” he continues. “Some of our closest relationships are with our own clients, and we are honored to be able to serve them and their extended families.”
Tony’s Naval training continues to carry over into his current profession in many ways. “First off, as it is in the Navy, we are a team here. Whenever I need assistance, I can call our home office, which is ‘lights out’ phenomenal,” says Tony. “Second, I learned to be a very process-oriented person in the Navy where everything you do you practice until it’s perfect. It is the same here as we use our deliberate processes,” he continues. “Finally, the people I saw succeed in the Navy were those who were humble, and it is the same in this profession. Being humble, polite, and respectful is key.”
Lena, too, is very process and detailed oriented having formerly been an Executive Producer, producing events like Phantom of the Opera, conferences, product launches, and events for companies such as Intel, Oracle, Singapore Airlines, and Morgan Stanley. Highlights included producing the Mercedes Benz events for the first Formula 1 Shanghai and serving as Mercedes Senior Project Manager for a business intelligence and analytics project.
Today Tony keeps a plaque on his desk that reads “Live a Great Story.” When asked what that means, Tony says, “The goal when working with our clients is to truly understand their values, their dreams, and what they are trying to accomplish so we can craft a plan that helps them get there in the way they wish and live the story they want to live.”
When asked what he loves most about the business, Tony answers without hesitation.
“Seeing a client’s reaction when they realize they can retire in the manner they had hoped is breathtaking. That’s not my work; it’s theirs. They are the ones who built that nest egg, earned the pensions and social security, and prepared for retirement. My part is to serve them, help them put their plan to paper, connect them with the other professionals they need, and help them see everything in one place – their dreams, those who mean the most to them, their nest egg, their debts, their income, their plan – it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Tony Ohl Financial Services | Raymond James | 16300 Mill Creek Blvd., Ste 121, Mill Creek, WA 98012 | 425-880-3988
Tony Ohl Financial Services is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.