Swiss American Wealth Advisors welcomes new Associate Planner, Andrew Leeman.
Starting November of 2021, Andrew joined Swiss American Wealth Advisors to help us support the firm’s financial planning growth and operations.
Andrew has an academic background in Economics and brings five years of experience in financial services at a Fortune 100 company. Andrew is currently pursuing the enrolled agent tax credential and the CFP® designation.
Tell us about yourself and what drew you to Swiss American Wealth Advisors.
I grew up within a large family in a small town near the “Little Switzerland” area of Ohio. My grandfather, and his father who immigrated from Switzerland, founded what is now the largest Swiss cheese manufacturing company in the US, so from an early age I was always intrigued by business, money, and how to grow wealth. When I was in my early teens I was eager to start earning my own money and found a job working at my local YMCA operating the scoreboard and reffing for basketball leagues (when I wasn’t playing). I learned the value of a dollar and understood the blessing and opportunities that my grandfather’s hard work created for my family.
Pursuing my interests, I graduated cum laude with a BBA in Economics and became the first college graduate in my family. During my college years I took advantage of study abroad programs and spent a semester each in Florence, Italy and Geneva, Switzerland. While in Geneva, I interned at an NGO focused on international trade and sustainability to quench my curiosity in business and trade at the international level.
Realizing that success and wealth don’t happen on accident, I gained interest in the financial services profession. I spent the first 5 years of my career with a Fortune 100 company where I gained in-depth knowledge of risk management, investments, and financial planning. After listening to a podcast episode featuring Marina sharing her work at Swiss American, I developed a keen interest in working with globally mobile clients whose financial lives cross borders. It just so happened that my family background, interests, and professional career aligned at Swiss American Wealth Advisors.
What do you enjoy most about the financial planning profession?
When most people hear financial planning, they often limit their understanding to numbers and taxes, totally missing the human element. The real work of financial planning is aligning your dreams, goals, purpose, and values with your wealth to live a fulfilled life. It is the process of facilitating this alignment for clients and simplifying their financial lives that I believe is the most valuable and rewarding aspect of financial planning
What are some things you enjoy doing outside of the firm?
Outside of Swiss American, you can find me at the gym, traveling, learning new skills, and anywhere there’s great food! I fell in love with weightlifting while in college and train 5-6 times a week. I’ve been to 14 countries outside of the US and enjoy traveling with friends and family often. I live life by the motto “seek discomfort” which embodies the idea that life’s greatest moments and deepest connections exist outside of your comfort zone, pushing me towards new experiences, growth, and learning new skills – skydiving over the Swiss Alps is my favorite to date. I also enjoy volunteering at my church in various roles, most often operating the lighting systems for Sunday morning worship services.
Marina Hernandez is an Investment Advisor Representative with Dynamic Wealth Advisors dba Swiss American Wealth Advisors. All investment advisory services are offered through Dynamic Wealth Advisors. Marina Hernandez also offers tax preparation services under MHTax. This is considered an outside business activity from Dynamic Wealth Advisors and is separate from Ms. Hernandez’s activities as an investment advisor representative of Dynamic Wealth Advisors.
