We are thrilled to have Merissa Perkins as a valued member of the CAISSA team. She is a Senior Wealth Planner who assists with financial planning and is a crucial contact for financial planning questions and information.

To get to know her better, we put together a list of questions and had her answer them:

• What is your specialization at CAISSA?
  • Merissa: Working with clients to help educate them on financial concepts as well as identify, understand, and prioritize their goals and help develop a plan to achieve those goals, providing them clarity and comfort knowing they are in control of their financial future.

• Can you share a valuable lesson you’ve learned during your career in wealth management?
  • Merissa: I’ve learned that wealth management is much more than just analyzing numbers. It’s personal and unique and illustrating emotional intelligence (EQ) is just as important as illustrating what we know (IQ).

• How do you stay updated with industry trends and news?
  • Merissa: I listen to market podcasts for economic and market news.  I subscribe to several financial organizations that provide constant information and updates on the ever-changing financial industry trends, news, and changes.  I attend webinars and read a lot to try to stay abreast of anything that impacts me as a Wealth Planner, the company, or my clients and colleagues.

• What do you think sets our wealth management company apart from others?
  • Merissa: Everyone at CAISSA leads with the utmost integrity and respect for each other and our clients. We don’t just do what we say we are going to do; we go beyond the expectations in our services.  We truly care about the people we work with (colleagues and clients).

• What hobby or interest (outside of work) are you passionate about?
  • Merissa: In the past, I’ve spent most of my free time watching my kids’ activities.  But as I’m getting closer to the “empty nest” stage of life, I enjoy working out, spending time with friends and family, playing games, trying new places/activities, and spending as much time outdoors as possible during the warmer months.

• Who would it be if you could have dinner with any historical figure, celebrity, political figure, etc.?
  • Merissa: I think if I could choose anyone to have dinner with, it wouldn’t be anyone famous, it would be my grandfather. He’s passed and he was such an interesting person and I would love to have a conversation with him and ask all the questions I never go to ask.

• What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy workday?
  • Merissa: I enjoy working out after a busy day. I rotate between cardio, interval weight training, Pilates and trying new workouts. I recently started doing reverse lazy river walking. If I can get a friend to workout with – even better!

• What is the best piece of advice you have received?
  • Merissa: After high school, I enrolled in a business program. My dad told me I should do my very best to be one of top of my class because everyone that graduates will be competing for the same jobs and many times employers will connect with the school and ask for resumes only for the top of the class students, who I ended up being one of.

• Share a skill or talent that you have that people may not know.
  • Merissa: I worked as a photographer and new photographer trainer from the age of 16 – 28, taking pictures of kids, families and doing HS Senior photo sessions.