Joel Bird, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Bismarck, North Dakota, has built a successful career helping clients achieve their financial goals, with a focus on retirement planning. Growing up on a farm near the Canadian border, Bird graduated with an accounting degree from the University of North Dakota in 1999 before joining Ameriprise in 2000. After working out of the Bismarck office for over a decade, Bird founded Legacy Financial Partners in 2013, which has since grown to a team of 112 employees across 29 locations in six states, serving over 15,000 clients.
Bird emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients and providing high-quality service. With no minimums for new clients, Bird often takes referrals from existing clients and focuses on staying in touch through marketing events and local activities. He believes in underpromising and overdelivering, ensuring that client service remains a top priority and adding staff as needed to avoid coverage gaps. By hosting events such as zoo outings, wine tastings, and river cruises, Bird and his team aim to connect with clients on a personal level.
Drawing on his experience as a former bartender, Bird looks for employees with a background in the service industry who can effectively communicate and interact with clients in various emotional states. He believes that this background helps his team navigate challenging situations when markets fluctuate or clients express concerns. Bird takes a comprehensive planning approach, understanding each client’s risk tolerance and time frame, and uses a bucketing strategy to allocate assets into short, medium, and long-term segments. He also incorporates alternative investments, including natural resources, to diversify portfolios.
When it comes to investment philosophy and strategy, Bird remains positive on the market, noting that stocks generally go up 75% of the time. While some clients are cautious due to concerns about inflation, the Federal Reserve, or election years, Bird remains optimistic about a potential soft landing in the future. Looking ahead to 2024, Bird believes that the Fed may start cutting rates later in the year, but he remains focused on helping clients navigate market fluctuations and achieve their long-term financial goals. With a strong commitment to client service and a focus on building relationships, Joel Bird and his team at Legacy Financial Partners are well-positioned to continue guiding clients toward financial success.
