We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharon Nassir a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sharon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

The wealth management industry has evolved significantly since I began my career 30 years ago. The internet, online trading and self-directed investment accounts have given investors more options and control over their finances. The role of the financial advisor has also evolved from stockbrokers who provided individual investment recommendations to now serving as financial advisors provide comprehensive planning.  Acting as a Fiduciary is the biggest trend I see today. The shift away from commission-based compensation structures has helped eliminate conflicts of interest, while ensuring financial advisors are acting solely in the best interests of their clients. With commission-based compensations, advisors could be incentivized to recommend products or services that were not necessarily aligned with their clients goals. By removing this incentive, advisors can now focus on providing recommendations that truly benefit the client.

Sharon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a seasoned financial advisor with over three decades of experience, and co-founder of AIRE Advisors, an independent registered investment advisory firm located in the heart of Beverly Hills.  I have the honor of serving high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and sports & entertainment professionals as their trusted advisor.  Over the past three decades, my role has evolved from simply providing investment recommendations to becoming a true partner in client’s financial legacy, guiding them in making thoughtful and strategic decisions that will benefit their families for generations to come.  My wealth management approach is rooted in a deep understanding of our clients’ unique needs and goals. I now serve as a fiduciary, via a fee-based model which allows us to provide unbiased advice without any hidden fees or commissions.  Financial planning is at the heart of our approach.  By understanding our clients full financial picture, we can create personalized and holistic strategies that align with their needs.  It’s an honor to be a part of their journey and witness them achieve their aspirations, from reaching a comfortable retirement to buying their dream vacation home or selling their business successfully.  This is why I love what I Do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I began my journey in Wealth Management in 1993, I was working at a boutique discount firm, Kennedy Cabot located in Beverly Hills California.  Within a 12 year time span the firm went through multiple mergers including Toronto Dominion Bank, Waterhouse Securities as well as Ameritrade. While every merger offered greater opportunity, it also come with changes in culture, management, and different philosophies. Through it all, I learned to stay focused on my objective, to serve my clients well and to remain true to my values and guiding principles. Having a clear mindset kept me resilient during times of change and uncertainty. Add to this, the unexpected turn of events within the financial markets, including the 2000 tech bubble, the 9/11 attacks and the 2007 financial crisis, which emphasis even more the importance of staying focused and grounded.  This approach helps me serve my client’s needs during challenging times.  Now as co-founder of AIRE Advisors, we come across challenges on a daily basis.  All the past experiences now guide me to tackle every obstacle head on with wisdom and confidence. Looking back at my 30 year career, I’ve realized how every unexpected change leads to an even greater outcome if you listen to your instincts and follow your core principles.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my partner Amir Monsefi early in my career in 1994 at Kennedy Cabot. We worked side by side within the full service advisory division of the firm offering investment advice to individual investors. Over the next 30 years we cultivated a deep friendship while developing our respective practices. Though we parted ways for a short while in 2006 upon the TD Ameritrade merger where our division was terminated, we reunited in 2006 by joining Merrill Lynch in Beverly Hills, where we continued to build our practice and eventually forming a partnership. After years of building our relationship, we decided in 2020 to take the next step and launch our own investment advisory firm AIRE Advisors. Our bond has strengthened over the years forming a lifelong friendship, and I’m grateful for the lessons learned, memories shared, and trust built. I’ll cherish these things forever.

Contact Info:

• Website: sharon.nassir@aireadvisors.com
• Instagram: sharon.nass
• Facebook: sharon nassirzadeh
• Linkedin: sharon nassir
• Other: www.aireadvisors.com