Eric is joined by two fellow BFG financial advisors, Lena Nebel and Zack Scott, to discuss a major trend they’ve seen throughout their careers: people tend to do exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time.
- How fear and greed affect investors’ decision making
- Why people make the worst decisions at the worst time
- How biases like loss aversion and anchoring can control our decisions
Guest Bio
Zachary Scott:
Zachary Scott is an Advisor at BFG Financial Advisors. He joined the firm as an intern in 2014 and accepted a full-time position in the Investment Operations department upon graduating from college. Since then, he has moved up in the company, spending four years as an Associate Advisor before being promoted to Lead Advisor in 2019.
Mr. Scott works with both his clients and his team to develop unique plans for each client that encompass all aspects of their finances.
A graduate of the Honors College of Loyola University Maryland, Mr. Scott holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance. Throughout his college career he became engrossed in learning about the financial world, but it was not until he joined BFG Financial Advisors that he discovered a special connection to personal finance and started to develop his passion for advising.
Mr. Scott holds his FINRA Series Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination) and 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination) licenses through Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and obtained his Maryland Life & Health Insurance license in August of 2016. He also earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) designation in 2017 and completed Dale Carnegie®’s Skills for Success communication course in 2019.
When it comes to clients’ finances, it is Mr. Scott’s philosophy that planning should be a team effort. While he values the personal relationships he has cultivated with his clients, he is certain that the collaborative nature of the firm and the support of a strong team are what enable him—and his clients—to succeed.
As an Advisor, it is Mr. Scott’s goal to break down the barriers—such as fear, overconfidence, or lack of understanding—that keep people from seeking professional advisement. He encourages everyone, regardless of age, gender, or financial status, to consider working with a financial advisor to develop a plan for the future.
When not at work, Mr. Scott spends time planning his upcoming wedding with his fiancée, cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals, and playing softball in social sports leagues. He also enjoys volunteering with local organizations, including the Maryland Food Bank, and is looking forward to getting more involved with charities in his community.
Lena Nebel:
Lena M. Nebel, CFP®, MSFS is a Principal and the Director of Financial Planning at BFG Financial Advisors. Ms. Nebel joined BFG in 2018, bringing with her nearly two decades of financial advisory experience.
Never shying from a challenge, Ms. Nebel has found herself working primarily with engineers and corporate executives—two audiences requiring very high levels of attention to detail and patience. In her mind, being a successful and trustworthy financial planner means taking the time to listen and fully understand each client’s financial situation and having a deep bench of team members to collaborate with—like she has at BFG.
Ms. Nebel discovered her passion for finances at a young age, from setting up lemonade stands as a child to witnessing the financial struggles of her parents as she grew older. After focusing on business in college and interning with different companies in the financial field, she found a calling in financial planning. The variety of clients with unique stories and situations posed a challenge of continuously staying apprised of changing strategies and techniques—a challenge she was excited to tackle.
In 2007 she became the first female president of the Financial Planning Association of Maryland, where she was also presented with a Leadership Award for her board service. Today, her passion for the financial planning process and community is demonstrated through her commitment to various industry organizations and her work as a mentor for up-and-coming advisors at BFG. When she’s not working with clients or other financial advisors, she volunteers her time with her children’s activities and local charities.
Ms. Nebel received a Bachelor of Science in 1999 from York College of Pennsylvania where she helped establish the college’s first Investment Club. After graduation, she received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Certification at the American College and her Master of Science in Financial Services through the Institute of Business and Finance.
