By Paula Maxwell
INDIANHILL@COMMUNITYPRESS.COM

Ed Haberer CEO - Haberer Registered Investment Advisors.

INDIAN HILL - After more than 30 years as an investment advisor, Indian Hill resident Ed Haberer believes he has the historical perspective to predict economic trends and a solid reputation to build on a loyal client base.
While others his age are settling into retirement, at 63, Haberer is solidly at the helm as CEO of Haberer Registered Investment Advisor, a Cincinnati brokerage business he saw grow from $3 million to $800 million in assets under management. Recently, the firm became an affiliate of Huntington Bancshares Inc., which he said, "let's us run independently."

Retirement is a word he calls a misnomer of sorts, particularly in the sense that for many it once signified the so-called "end" of one's income earning years.

"We can almost retire the word retirement," he said.

Planning for the future is a lot different today than when people stayed in a job they didn't like just to get the pension. The carrot has changed and so have the ways people are forced to look at their future earnings.
Haberer said there is a reason his clients prefer his firm as money managers to that of traditional stockbrokers and others in the field.

"They hire us to handle their assets on a fully discretional basis and we have built our relationship on trust and good service."
Haberer's firm handles portfolios with of a minimum $300,000. He said his staff is "high touch" in that they maintain a very personal communication with clients, whom he jokes, "won't let me retire."

"We deal with quality stocks and bonds with an eye to three to five years out. However each client has a different set of needs. We build a whole portfolio around each individual."

Long time client Robert Seitz of Indian Hill, a Procter and Gamble retiree, said of Haberer, "My wife, Maxine and I couldn't ask for anything more professional and personal that the financial management provided by Ed Haberer."
Haberer is somewhat amused that it seems everyone today is a so-called investment advisor.

"When we first started we had little competition. Now everybody is in the business - even CPAs. What it comes down to is reputation and results."

After graduating from University of Cincinnati, Haberer started with Merrill Lynch where he worked for four years before venturing out on his own in partnership with a friend.

He and his wife, Marsha, a graduate of University of Miami, are Hawk Ridge residents who have two grown children. Amanda is a newlywed and naturopathic physican living in in Kansas and Barrett is a property management consultant living in Scottsdale, Ariz., with his wife and the Haberer's 1-year-old granddaughter, Piper.

Marsha Haberer, who has a retail and fashion background, has long been involved with the Cincinnati Flower Show, said Haberer who is himself active in the community.

He has been very involved with the Arthritis Foundation, Leadership Cincinnati, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Joy Outdoor Education Center, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and Ursuline Academy. He is also affiliated with the Rotary Club of Greater Cincinnati.

Haberer takes great pride in his downtown based office staff of more than 20 employees, whom he says all have similar values and a strong work ethic.

"The success of our firm is based on the values we all support. All are clients are friends. We are committed to growing their investments and building their trust."

Among his observations for the future he sees the economic challenge of longevity for young people starting out financially," he said. "They will have to reinvent themselves three or four times to be able to survive financially over the long term."
The influx of baby boomers into the so-called senior citizen bracket will have a significant impact, he said.

"People today are living longer, well into their '90s. Baby boomers want to enjoy today. Saving after tax dollars is a new challenge which requires creative strategies," he said.

Haberer said that since 1987 the world has gotten much smaller with an international economy becoming a driving force to be reckoned with influencing the marketplace.

Trends such as the presidential election cycles and tax agendas are factors that affect investment decisions.

"There's something basically very strong going on in the economy despite the Iraq War," said Haberer who pointed to low unemployment and other stabilizing factors.

Three main themes he sees for good performance investment in the future are related to healthcare, energy and the consumerism.

Haberer said he feels strongly about the importance of sound financial planning advising that people need to be armed with experience to avoid pitfalls and pursue opportunities. His firm is ready to oblige.

Reprinted from Indian Hill Living ©2007