Jim Vanek
Retirement Planning Specialist
James Vanek is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor's of Economics Degree. Intent on making a meaningful contribution, he left a successful career in the Information Technology sector to join his father, Tony Vanek, as a financial advisor. He has FINRA Licenses: Series 7, 66 and he earned a Certificate in Retirement Planning from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and has been awarded Equitable Advisors' Retirement Planning Specialist title for completing the Equitable At Retirement® education program. Only a select group of financial professionals nationwide complete this elite program. In 2021, Jim and Tony launched Vanek Capital Management to represent, by name, their shared efforts to build something they can pass on, to exemplify and continue their wealth-building financial services. Jim lives in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Melissa, and their children, Alexander, Anthony, Alessia, Eliana, and Isabella. He enjoys coaching their soccer teams, Michigan Football games, and giving back by volunteering for his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi.
CA Insurance License #: OM81569
Jim Vanek
offers support to our registered representatives and is not licensed to offer securities, investment advisory services or insurance in any state.
Alana Simpson
Office Manager
Perhaps the best endorsement of all, Alana has worked for Tony Vanek since 1997. She knows every client by name and handles all your service requests. An avid traveler, Alana enjoys kickboxing, making wine, and nurturing neglected orchids to bloom. She and her husband, Dave, split their time between their Sterling Heights and Northern Michigan homes, and have two grown sons, Connor and Ryan.
Lisa Zitzmann
Client Experience
Our support staff is at your service. Lisa has been Jim’s assistant since 2016. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a BA in Journalism and Communications. Outside of the office, she coaches figure skating and enjoys gardening and all things outdoors.
What We Do
- Financial Planning for Individuals & Families
“My wife and I earn a good living, but we’re still paying off our student loans, and now we have a mortgage. We need a plan for paying off our debt, and begin saving for retirement. We don’t know where to start.”
The important thing is TO start, and we’ll give you the advice and direction to move forward. It’s never too early or too late to begin saving, for retirement and your children’s college education.
- Customized Investment Strategies
“I want to invest in the stock market, but I feel like I missed my chance to get in before Netflix and Amazon took off. I have my eye on a few stocks but I don’t have time to research trends and I’m just not sure what to do. What if the market crashes?”
We’ll figure out your level of tolerance for risk, and help you avoid emotional investment decisions. We won’t predict the next hot stock pick, or promise shortcuts- we believe in the power of the markets and time. And we can help you employ strategies like Dollar-Cost-Averaging to reduce the impact of volatility, and build wealth over time with automatic monthly contributions in an amount you are comfortable with. An actively managed portfolio begins with a $10,000 minimum investment.
- Insurance & Estate Preservation
For Your Business: We can tailor a Buy/Sell Insurance Policy to protect your partnership and plan for succession. We’ll shop around for the best quote, and guide you through underwriting, every step of the way.
For Your Legacy: Protect what matters most to you. Life insurance with optional long-term-care benefits, and annuities to meet your lifetime income needs./p>
- Retirees and Estate Planning
“We’ve been working with your dad for 25 years, and he’s done well by us. We’re ready to enjoy the fruits of our labor, and pass some of it on to our children."
Tax-reduction strategies. Estate Preservation, Legacy Planning, Charitable Giving, Joint Life Income and Death Benefits.
Community Involvements
Like many of our clients, we are small business owners, with valued employees and business partnerships and connections in our community.
Cornerstone Benefits Plans, Inc
Leaders in Employer Sponsored Benefit Plan Management and Compliance Solutions for Michigan-based companies.
Equitable Advisors
Vanek Capital Management offers investment management services, model portfolios, and direct investments with over 50 mutual fund companies and college savings plans, through our broker-dealer, Equitable Advisors, clearing through LPL Financial, and insurance and annuity products with Equitable Life Insurance Company and the Equitable Network, LLC.
Articles
We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.
Calculators
How much retirement income will you need? How much life insurance is enough? What type of IRA is right for you?
