Atlas Office Updates:

Atlas continues to maintain seamless office operations with staff working on-site and remotely. However, for the safety of our clients and associates we are not currently allowing walk-in visitors to our office.  As a follow up to Atlas’ precautionary stance on this topic, we wanted to highlight two new options for our clients.

• New Atlas Drop Box – Atlas is pleased to provide a new secure drop box outside of our main entrance for clients that prefer an alternate way to deliver their personal documents.  We believe this new box will continue to serve our clients well, even after these more challenging times become a distant memory.

• In-Person Meetings by Appointment – Until our office formally reopens for walk-in visitors, our advisors continue to embrace the use of technology and are delivering meetings seamlessly via telephone or video conference technology.  We continue to encourage virtual meetings as the recommended meeting method.  However, for clients that feel an in-person meeting is important to them, we have converted our new Bullard, McLeod Community Room into a closely monitored space for client meetings. The community room offers a separate office entrance and strict protocols for the protection of all meeting attendees.  Please contact your advisor, if you are interested in exploring this as a meeting option.

Atlas Book Club: Atlas readers, we are still looking for you!

Atlas’ avid literature lover, Sunday Frost, continues to look for new book club members that want to share her joy of reading.  If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to sfrost@atlaspwm.com for more information.  During this time of social distancing, all discussions will be virtual.

A “New Normal” Client Experience

One of the challenges faced during this time has been continuing with day-to-day activities, milestone moments, and annual events.  As many large-scale events have morphed into more virtual ones, it has been incredible to hear clients and friends share their experiences.  One of our clients, Cindy, walked the Freihofer’s 5K Run for Women on May 27, 2020.  She had her support team, including her husband, walk with her to continue her commitment to participating every year since 1979. The Freihofer’s Run was managed virtually this year, giving participants the ability to choose their own route and participation date.  Cindy’s 5K route passed right in front of the home of her Atlas advisor, Lissa McNaughton.  Lissa and one of her children were outside to cheer her on as she traveled the last ½ mile, completing her first virtual Freihofer’s Run for Women.  Congratulations Cindy!

Do you have any experiences you would like to share about how you have managed to maintain a sense of normalcy in your annual events during quarantine? If you would like to share, please contact your advisor or send your story to inquiries@atlaspwm.com

Regional Foodbank of Northeastern NY 

This past May, amid the rising concerns in the world, Atlas’ team members launched an internal campaign, See Good, Do Good, to support the local community. We had taken notice of the varied efforts to spread positivity in this uncertain time, both globally and locally, and wanted to make an impact while respecting the safety guidance provided by the state and federal governments. We were, and continue to be, inspired by the efforts of so many community members in our region and around the country.  We admired as others supported local business through personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, gift card purchases, and local restaurant support by using take-out services.  The Atlas team mobilized virtually and collectively opted to support the efforts of the Regional Foodbank of Northeastern New York. The Regional Foodbank supports 23 counties by collecting and distributing food donations to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.  For more information on their mission and efforts please visit, https://regionalfoodbank.net/.

ATLAS TEAM MEMBER UPDATE

Robert Palmer, CFP®, RICP®

We would like to congratulate Atlas’ Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Planning, Robert Palmer on earning his Retirement Income Certified Professional®.

Using the most current retirement portfolio management techniques, the RICP^® advisor helps to identify income needs and objectives relative to the client’s lifestyle goals in retirement. Individuals who earn an RICP^® designation can provide knowledgeable advice on a broad range of retirement topics including the proper use of annuities, mitigation of risks to retirement income planning, estate issues, Social Security, health insurance, housing decisions, and income taxation.

Candidates for the RICP^® designation must complete a minimum of three college-level courses and are required to pass a series of two-hour proctored exams. They must also have three years of professional experience, meet stringent ethics requirements, and participate in continuing education to maintain professional recertification. The RICP^®, educational curricula, is one of the most complete and comprehensive programs available to financial advisors whose goal is to help their clients create sustainable retirement income. The rigorous three-course credential helps advisors master the retirement income planning area, a topic that is not fully covered in other professional designation programs.