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This asset class has faced an uphill battle in a sector defined by low-cost, index-hugging funds, but there are some true standouts.

One of the industry's largest aggregators now has around $15B in AUM.

Ending a three-year slump with its largest quarterly increase in almost 30 years, the timing is right for a closer look, Lipper research analyst Patrick Keon says.

With over 35 years of experience, Valery has seen clients through just about every type of market cycle. Born in the Caribbean and having lived in Europe, Latin America and the U.S. Valery is uniquely global in her perspective and a student of history. Valery is fluent in Spanish, Dutch, French and Papiamento bringing an extended family level of personal service to her work of nurturing, protecting and passing along considerable wealth from one generation to the next. As a member of several financial boards, she offers valuable practical experience to Board Members, Investments Committees, CFOs and Treasurers among our clients.

Susan Campbell, CFP®, CDFA™, Principal of Buena Vista Financial Resources, is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and has been a Certified Financial Planner for over 20 years. Susan received her Master’s degree from San Diego State and has been trained in both mediation and collaborative divorce. Buena Vista Financial Resources provides fee-only financial planning services, specializing in the financial aspects of divorce. Providing clients with the knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions during one of the most stressful times in their lives, she helps clients understand the short and long-term impact of different settlement proposals to determine an equitable settlement that will best meet the needs of the family. She practices throughout the Bay Area and has offices in San Francisco and Santa Rosa. Susan is a Board Member of Collaborative Practice California, Collaborative Practice San Francisco, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, and is an Affiliated Representative on the Board of the Sonoma County Bar Association. She is also a member of Collaborative Practice East Bay, Association of Divorce Financial Planners, Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, and International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She is featured in the video, Collaborative Divorce: A Safe Place on the IACP website and is also a trainer with the Collaborative Practice Trainers. Ms. Campbell has been a guest on KRON-TV and has given presentations to the California Society of CPAs and Collaborative Practice conferences at the State and National levels.

Steven M. Ayer, CIMA ®, AIF®, is a Managing Director and Partner with Strata Wealth Management at Hightower Advisors LLC. Ayer has been in the financial industry since 1994. He worked at two of the largest broker\/dealers on the Street before joining Hightower, a premier, registered investment advisory firm with a national presence. After acquiring a degree in Finance from Southern Connecticut State University, he amassed a broad knowledge of economics, asset allocation, and alternative investments which he uses to complement Strata Wealth Management's diversification strategy. Ayer is going to begin hosting his own radio show at http:\/\/www.voiceamerica.com\/show\/1938\/strategic-wealth , starting July 21, 2011 at 11am EST every Thursday. The show's title is Strategic Wealth: Choosing Financial Simplicity. Steven currently resides in Ledyard, Connecticut, with his wife Delia and their four children, Cyrus, Sofia, Madison, and Isobel. Therefore, it has been a natural progression for him to release this set of principles that he uses to help him make better choices, not only at work, but in life in general. These Quotes, Thoughts, and Actions have been a true blessing to him. They have been instrumental in helping him overcome the many challenges of life along with those that accompany a financial advisory practitioner in the midst of one of the worst economic\/market environments in the history of the United States. \n\n

\n\n\n\nUntitled Document\n\n\n\n\n\nSharon has a financial practice in Dunedin, FL with a primary focus on retirement planning. She helps clients better understand what adjustments may be needed for a secure retirement so they can continue to enjoy the lifestyle they have today throughout their lives. She has been in financial services for 10 years and associated with Lincoln the past six years. \n Her prior work includes ownership of a small software development company and working for AT&T as an Account Executive and National Account Manager.  She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s College of Business.\n Sharon has been married for 30 years and has two young adult children who also live in the Tampa Bay area. \n

Ms. Egan was a commercial banker for many years, working for Bank of America, First Chicago and LaSalle Bank over a 25 year period. She decided to leave banking and work with individuals in an independent setting, and joined Asset Financial Services, Inc., in 2006 as a Financial Advisor.  Asset Financial has just merged with North Star Investment Management Corp. and Sharon is Director of Financial Planning Services.\nShe works primarily with women, helping them to understand their life goals and aligning their financial life to support those goals. She also places emphasis on working with the elderly and has helped clients navigate into the decumulation phase of their lives,\nSharon speaks about financial issues to various community groups and in addition to her work with the FPA is an active member of NAWBO, the National Association of Women Business Owners.\nSharon is an Instructor at Northwestern University and teaches Introduction to Financial Planning.\nIn 2012 she will be President Elect for the Financial Planning Association of Illinois, the largest FPA chapter in the country.\nShe was awarded her MBA from Indiana University in 1979 and her Certificate of Financial Planning in 1994.\n

\nRosemarie leads a team that provides the guidance, education and support that help Women in Transition get back to a new beginning. She has significant expertise in the area of working with women who are experiencing divorce or have become widowed.\n\n\nRosemarie volunteers a considerable amount of time empowering women by promoting financial literacy. She speaks frequently on the importance of financial planning for women and provides guidance on how to get started. Her recent speaking engagements include: The Governors Conference for Women; The New Jersey Society of CPAs; The Women’s Institute at Bergen Community College; and the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Prior to joining the firm in 2008, she spent the majority of her career in the banking industry. \n\n\nShe holds board positions in: Volunteer Management Center in Morristown, NJ; The Women’s Institute at Bergen Community College; the YWCA Women’s Education Task Force, the Executive Women’s Leadership team of the American Cancer Society “Go Red” initiative and the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education. Her memberships include: New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, The New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, The New Jersey Collaborative Law Group, The Mid Jersey Collaborative Law Group, and Executive Women of New Jersey. \n\n\nRosemarie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Francis College. She is a Certified Financial Planner, a Chartered Life Underwriter and is Certified as a Divorce Financial Practitioner. She holds Series 7 & 66 New Jersey life and health insurance licenses. \n\n\nShe was named by NJBiz as one of New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2011. \n