About

Our Guiding Philosophy

Watching a symphony orchestra is pretty amazing. All the different people and instruments working together to produce beautiful music harmoniously with one another. Each person watches the conductor for their cues, and if anyone is off by a second or two, the whole thing is disrupted. The harmony is dependent on all parts working together in unison, and if you think about it, your financial health is much the same. There are so many moving parts, from salaries and investments to expenses and taxes, and every part affects every other part for good or for bad. As both a musician and financial adviser, I’ve always seen the similarities between music and finances, and my goal is to help every client I work with live in financial harmony now and for the rest of their lives.

When we first start working with a new client, they usually aren’t sure whether or not they’re on track to meet their financial objectives. They have a picture in their mind of what they’re trying to achieve, but they don’t know if they’re heading in the right direction. More often than not, they’re well-prepared for the best case scenario, but what happens when life throws them a curveball? Will they still be able to travel if they have an unexpected health issue in retirement? If their 401k loses value, will they still be able help their kids pay for college?

Here at Clark & Associates, we’re passionate about helping people align their finances with their goals so that they can live the life they desire. We take into account the best and worst case scenarios they may encounter along the way, and empower them with the information they need to make the wisest possible decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Our approach blends the precision of a left-brained financial planner with the creativity of a right-brained musician. The end result is helping our clients achieve financial harmony by coaching them into becoming confident conductors of their own financial lives.

Our Team

Debora D. Clark

Pragmatic and Results Oriented

Creative and Caring

Debora Clark founded Clark and Associates Wealth Strategies, LLC to be a partner and navigator—helping individuals, families, and businesses manage financial affairs. Her work allows Debora to combine her analytic skills and artistic sensibilities to deliver thoughtful guidance and support to her clients. Debora’s professional life adeptly balances the pragmatic world of finance with the beautifully complex realm of classical music.

By the numbers

In tune with your needs

Rachel M. McMaster, LSA

Service Coordinator

Rachel is a licensed service assistant and the service coordinator for the firm, assisting with scheduling, client management, operations and customer service. She received her Life and Health insurance licenses in 2018 and has been with the firm for six years. Rachel and her fiancé Brandon enjoy spending time with their family and are involved in a non-profit dog rescue in their free time.

Our Strategic Resources

Through Eagle Strategies, Debora D. Clark provides fee-based financial planning, investment advisory services, and access to investment management programs. Eagle Strategies LLC is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an "Investment Adviser" and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company.

Debora D. Clark and her fellow financial professionals are proud to be affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company. New York Life and its wholly owned subsidiaries provide life insurance, fixed annuities, and long-term care insurance. A mutual insurance company, New York Life is one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the United States.

Holistic Process

One thing our clients appreciate about working with us is that we don’t believe in cookie-cutter services or a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we follow a meticulous process designed to help get to know each client’s situation, goals, and level of risk tolerance so that we can make appropriate recommendations to meet their needs. Everyone is different and we may amend our approach to suit a specific client, but in general, we utilize the following process to help those we’re privileged to serve.

Step 1:

Review

Every family's financial situation is unique. That's why it's so important to find out as much as we can about you and your financial goals. The more we know about you, the more precise recommendations we can make and the more we can help you. As a result, we may take some time to discuss your hopes, dreams, and objectives, and the things that really matter to you. This is the basis for the first meeting with anyone we sit down with.

Step 2:

Analyze

As needed, we will work with you to identify and prioritize your objectives, and then help establish benchmark goals. This is important because we live in a world of unlimited choices. People often fail to achieve objectives because they try to accomplish too much at once, or they don't attach specific deadlines to their goals. By breaking down your goals to specific objectives, you can look at available resources and decide which goals are realistic, and which should be adjusted and scaled down.

Step 3:

Develop

Based on our conversation and analysis, we can recommend the steps that it will take to help you achieve your financial goals.

Step 4:

Coordinate

As necessary during the creation and delivery of your financial plan, we can coordinate with other professionals you work with, such as your attorney or tax professional. We can also provide information after the delivery of a plan to these same individuals for any insurance policies or investment accounts you implement with us.

Step 5:

Implement

We'll implement your strategy, and work closely with you and your other third party professionals to ensure its success. We'll monitor progress and provide ongoing service as your needs and situation change over time.

Step 6:

Monitor

This is not a one-shot deal. Strategies need to be adjusted periodically as your life and the economy changes. We will work with you over the years to help keep your strategy on track with your changing needs.