Our P&A team continues to grow, and our dedication to providing high-quality client service remains unchanged. In fact, much of our growth has enabled us to continue serving our clients with a high level of care and engagement.
Almost two and a half years ago, we highlighted some of the behind-the-scenes work done by our Service Advisors. As our team has expanded, we thought it was worth revisiting the topic and introducing you to a few of our newest Service Advisors.
The Service Advisors at P&A are a critical cog in the engine that keeps our day-to-day operations moving. They work side-by-side with an Advisor on each client relationship and possess a breadth of knowledge that is invaluable—from navigating the necessary paperwork and processes at Schwab to a variety of financial planning and investment topics. Their impact on P&A’s operations can’t be understated. It is difficult to describe all the work they do day in and day out, but here are a few highlights:
1) Client Onboarding
The Service Advisors make sure that new client accounts are set up correctly at Schwab and track account transfers and funding all the way through. If securities are transferring into an account, they reconcile the positions to outside custodian statements to make sure everything has transferred correctly and is in good order. They have also embraced online tools such as DocuSign, which have helped make the process easier and quicker for our clients.
2) Technology
If you are a new client, the Service Advisors will set you up with a P&A Online Portal and assist you in getting set up for Schwab online access. Having trouble getting logged into your P&A Portal or Schwab Alliance as an existing client? Our Service Advisors are experts at navigating the various hoops required to get you logged back in.
3) Money Movements
On a daily basis, our clients have cash needs—whether it is for day-to-day living expenses, paying tax bills, or spending on something fun. Our Service Advisors are key to making sure there is cash ready to go in the account by communicating with our Trading Team. Once the cash is ready, they will work with the client to facilitate the money movement.
4) Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
For clients who must take RMDs from their retirement accounts or inherited IRA accounts, our Service Advisor team is front and center in tracking these amounts and helping communicate them to clients. They keep close tabs on the completion of these requirements to make sure they are completed by the end of the calendar year. They are also well-versed in the rules surrounding RMDs and can be a valuable resource for questions.
New P&A Team Members
As P&A has grown, our Service Advisor team has been anchored by Elizabeth Sydizyk, our Lead Service Advisor, and Kristin Kliewer, a P&A team member with more than 10 years of experience and our Chief Compliance Officer. Elizabeth and Kristin have helped welcome and train three new Service Advisors who have joined our team over the last two years:
Julie Sellers: Julie has been with P&A for almost two years after joining us from a local bank, where she had extensive experience in the retirement plan services area. Julie has quickly become a trusted Service Advisor, ready to tackle any request. In addition to her Service Advisor duties, Julie has also obtained her SHIP certification and will be working with Diane and Elizabeth to help our clients navigate the complexities of Medicare sign-ups.
Zabrina Roussan: Zabrina joined P&A in early 2026 and comes from a background working with 401(k) plans and onboarding clients. She has been eager to learn and has quickly ramped up on all aspects of the Service Advisor role. There hasn’t been a task that she isn’t willing to take on or find a way to help with around the office.
Clay Finck: Clay is the newest addition to our P&A team, coming on board this April. His educational background is actuarial science, but he spent the last few years prior to joining P&A as a podcaster covering a variety of investors and investment topics. He has been eager to learn all things P&A and, in addition to his Service Advisor duties, Clay helps with our marketing efforts.
We are lucky to have such a wonderful team of Service Advisors. The quote below from Elizabeth helps capture what makes this team so great:
“Our team is made up of individuals who are genuinely dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to our clients. Each team member brings three qualities that are essential to the role: critical thinking, attention to detail, and dependability.
Our clients know they can count on their Service Advisor to advocate for their best interests, follow through on every task (big or small!), and ensure that every detail is handled accurately and efficiently. It is that commitment to our clients and to one another that makes this team so special.”
You will often hear us say that when you hire P&A, you hire our entire team and become a client of the firm. Our Service Advisors are a critical part of that team and of fulfilling our mission of being an unwavering advocate in our clients’ financial lives.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Clicking on the links above may result in you leaving the Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. website. The opinions and ideas expressed on these external websites are those of third-party vendors and Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. has not approved or endorsed any of this third-party content. For the full Terms & Conditions of using the Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. website, click on this link.
Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. makes no representation, and it should not be assumed, that past investment performance is an indication of future results. Moreover, wherever there is the potential for profit there is also the possibility of loss.
Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. Additionally, the information presented here is not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security. To learn more about our firm and investment approach, check out our Form ADV.
To view this article and others like it online, visit the P&A blog at https://pittand.com/blog/.
Click here to download the PDF version of this article.
