Meet Jennifer Kirby of Talisman Wealth Advisors
Your Names: Jennifer + Brian Kirby
Child’s Name: Sansa Lorelei
Pets (if applicable): Jiji
Company Name: Talisman Wealth Advisors
Website: www.talismanwealthadvisors.com
Phone Number: 908-519-8120
Email: jennifer@talismanwealthadvisors.com
Why did you decide to raise your daughter in Cranford?
When our daughter was little, we were in Jersey City and decided that we wanted a change. So we started looking for a true community — somewhere that has everything Cranford has — a family-centered culture, a good school system, a walkable downtown, and access to public transportation.
We visited to get a feel for the town. After walking by the river, we went to Vanilla Bean for ice cream. Some teenaged girls were sitting at the table next to us. I asked them, “How do you feel about growing up here?” Their response was so enthusiastic and sweet: “We love Cranford! You should move here!” It was right out of a movie. That was when I realized, “This is the place for us.”
We moved into a Dutch Colonial farmhouse right on the river when our daughter started first grade in 2011. Now she is a senior at CHS.
Tell us a bit about your business. How did it start? Where is it now?
In early 2021, my partner Frank and I founded a fee-only financial planning and wealth management practice, Talisman Wealth Advisors, in Mountainside. We are on the border of Cranford next to Echo Lake Park.
He lives in Scotch Plains and, like me, has been part of his community for many years. We met at one of the big advisory firms about five years ago. He’s been in the business over 20 years, and I started my advisory career in 2013. When we teamed, we each brought a lot to the partnership in different areas but shared a vision — operating as fiduciaries and sitting on the same side of the table as our clients. We picked Mountainside for our office because we love our towns and wanted to make it very accessible for our local clients.
How do you help people?
We help people answer the most important financial questions of their lives: Do you have the money you need for the life and goals you deserve? If not, do you have a roadmap on how to get there?
What are your greatest financial concerns?
We review everything related to that — income, expenses, what they have, what they want, what they need, how they feel about it, and what challenges they face. We want to understand their values. From there we create a financial plan and help clients execute on it. We do this on an ongoing basis as their lives and needs change.
My favorite question for clients: “If you had no financial limits, what dreams would you fulfill?”
What specific challenges have you overcome with the business over the years?
People are nervous. The markets have raised concerns. The days of working at the same company for your whole career are over. The safety nets aren’t so safe. People are watching their elderly parents deal with big healthcare expenses. College costs. Saving for the future. Trying to enjoy the present. It’s a lot for anyone. So, I think the hardest part of this business is walking people through the emotional aspects of their financial lives; our role is to help clients make clear-headed decisions during big transitions, sometimes under very stressful conditions like illness, death, or divorce.
At the same time, we do it in bite-sized chunks. We keep the process manageable and make sure our clients understand everything we do. Many advisors try to tackle everything right away. Experience has taught us that people get overwhelmed; that prevents them from acting on important things. We help clients prioritize what to do first and go from there. It’s a very powerful, transformative process for clients.
What is unique about your company? What sets you apart from the rest of the companies like yours?
I think there are three ways we stand out:
Trust. This is a trust business, and people need to feel listened to. They must have a sense that you are competent — that’s table stakes. But trust is the heart of it. We focus a lot on earning that trust by listening closely, getting to know our clients very well, anticipating their needs, and getting in front of their concerns.
Service. How often have you called a contractor or a service provider, and have gotten no response? It’s pervasive and it drives us crazy. That’s why we are sticklers about service. We communicate quickly to the point that clients are often surprised: “Wow, you got back fast!” Apparently, this is a huge differentiator! We also ensure that clients hear from us regularly and they have access to us any time — in person, phone, text, online — we meet them wherever they are. And 9-5 doesn’t apply.
Depth. There is no robo anything about us. Clients tell us that we provide a lot of value because they can come to us about any aspect of their financial lives and the advice is contextualized, nuanced, and very specific to them. And it’s ongoing; as their lives evolve, we stay in step with those changes and advise accordingly.
Who do you work with?
We are open to working with people who see value in having a financial plan and have investment portfolios. Our practice has reached a critical mass around three types of clients: families, women, and small business owners. Each group shares common concerns with which we have a lot of experience, and that is helpful and reassuring to them.
Local Restaurants – what are your go-to faves?
Vanilla Bean, of course. Mr. Bin’s, Track 5, East Wok for takeout. And Ani Ramen House! The Pork Belly Bao Buns are killer.
What advice can you offer to the residents?
You deserve to feel comfortable about your finan-
cial life. Going it alone is not always the best solution. We offer a complimentary review of your financial picture, including your portfolio, to see if we are the right people to help you on your financial journey.