Theodore Terzian (or Ted as he is known by friends and clients alike) founded Capitol Income Consultants in Lansing, Michigan, in 2010 as a fee-based financial advisory practice. He has more than 30 years of experience as a wealth and financial advisor, and holds Series 6, 65, 66 and 24 securities registrations as well as his insurance licenses in multiple states.
Specializing in retirement planning, income planning, risk management, and 401(k) strategies, Ted is also part of a separate firm, a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm called Blue Water Asset Management. He also has a relationship with Silver Oak Securities to round out the full scope of services he can offer to clients. Through referrals, Capitol Income Consultants has continued to grow steadily and now works with people throughout the United States.
Prior to founding Capitol Income Consultants, Ted worked for Capitol National Bank for 11 years where he ran the trust department, eventually becoming president of their investment arm. Before that, he also worked for five years as a captive insurance agent for Equitable, and several years as an independent agent, so he has a deep understanding of many sides of the financial services industry.
Ted decided to establish Capitol Income Consultants because he wanted to be completely independent, offer dozens of different strategies from multiple financial institutions, and be free to do what he thought best for clients. He says, “Being a fiduciary, meaning doing what is best for each client, is just the right thing to do.”
He noticed that most people he met with were not prepared for retirement. Just having a 401(k) account was not enough; people needed a retirement income plan that would help ensure they would have enough monthly income to support their lifestyle in retirement without running out of money someday. Ted wanted to concentrate on income planning, and that has been his forte ever since.
“No plan is cookie cutter here. We provide an analysis of the options that may work for you, based on your intentions, your goals, and your unique situation. I need to get as much information as I can, and give you a diagnosis much like a doctor would. There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to retirement, and success means different things to different people. For some people, they really just want me to take care of everything. For others, I try explain how things work so each client can decide for themselves. I want them to know what’s going on and how things work so they can build their knowledge base,” Ted says.
Relationships are the bedrock for Ted, and he often becomes friends with clients. “I am both an advisor and a friend; in fact, my closest and best friends were my clients first,” he says. Although he does have a succession plan in place, he jokes about his own retirement. “I enjoy talking to people and don’t ever plan to fully retire. I can work and hold meetings online from anywhere so that makes things easier. And I have a lot of help because our wonderful registered sales assistant, Karen Walker, enjoys staying on top of everything.”
Ted was born in Detroit and moved to Lansing in 1961. He got his first taste of his chosen career path in high school. “I had an uncle who was a stockbroker who worked three blocks away. After football practice, I’d walk over there and he’d give me little jobs like filing, or this or that. But mainly I would sit there and watch and listen to these guys on the phones smoking cigars and talking about stocks. That’s where I got the itch and first learned about investing,” he says.
Ted went on to attend Michigan State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, and began working in the financial services industry right after graduation. He loves being a financial advisor.
Outside of work, Ted is an avid sports fan and enjoys attending local high school sporting events and Michigan State games. Michigan has a lot of lakes, and he and his wife, Beth, enjoy being on the water and spending time at their lakeside cottage at Higgins Lake. They have grown twins, a son who is also in the financial services industry and lives in Nashville, and a daughter who is a paralegal for an immigration law firm in Chicago. “Our daughter is closer; she hops on a train and is here in just a few hours to visit,” Ted says.
In addition to his family and their lake lifestyle, another passion for Ted is cars. “Classic or new, I love my Corvette which I take around to various car shows. I don’t play golf, but you can ask me to take you out for a spin. Nothing makes me happier.”
Ted Spent His 30th Anniversary In New York City, and the Couple Was Featured On The “Today Show.”
