New NAIFA member, Alexander Flecker, CFP, CIMA, Head of Distribution at Measured Risk Portfolios, shares insights into his journey in the financial services industry and the firm's rapid growth since joining in mid-2023. During his tenure, Measured Risk Portfolios has seen a significant rise in assets under management, from $260 million to over $345 million, and has led a complete rebranding of the firm’s flagship SMA offering, now called SynthEquity™. This expansion has been fueled by increased visibility in the marketplace, which has led to new external partnerships and increased advisor allocations. However, when asked, Flecker humbly attributes the strategy’s exceptional performance to his ability to execute a successful business development effort.

The Firm’s Growth Trajectory

Flecker’s role at Measured Risk Portfolios is as varied as it is critical. Beyond covering the country in an external wholesaling and national accounts capacity, he leads the creation and execution of the firm’s marketing strategy, which includes investor relations, working with various custodians and investment platforms, driving media attention, and curating a tech stack to drive consistent and repeatable process. He is passionate about their flagship product, SynthEquity™—a strategy that provides investors with S&P 500-like growth potential while defining downside risks through short-duration U.S. Treasuries, which has been critical to these efforts.

"Our strategy has been outperforming the S&P 500 on a total return basis over since 2016, as of August of 2024, and that strong performance certainly turns a lot of heads," Flecker shares. With such strong performance, SynthEquity™ has become increasingly attractive to financial advisors seeking innovative solutions that provide growth potential and left-tail risk protection in an increasingly uncertain market as we head closer to this upcoming election.

A Personal Journey in Financial Services

Family ties influenced Flecker’s path to the financial services industry. Flecker’s Father, Paul, despite his blue-collar career, encouraged Flecker to pursue finance as he had come to appreciate the success of his own Father, personally and professionally. Paul was convinced that Finance was Alexander's best career path, which has thus far been proven right.

Flecker quickly embraced the world of investments, obtaining his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) certification from the Investments and Wealth Institute early in his career and later the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification. While reflecting on his educational journey, he recalls, " So many people are misinformed on such important financial concepts. It almost feels like a superpower, having all this knowledge I could share with others." Flecker currently engages in pro-bono financial planning for a select group of individuals, but one day in the distant future, he can see making retail wealth management a more central focus of his career.

Over the years, Flecker has developed a reputation for developing relationships with prominent wealth managers nationwide by bringing forth compelling investment solutions and helping advisors discover unique investment ideas that can differentiate their business in a highly competitive marketplace. His commitment to understanding the industry landscape, developing his network, and applying his experience and higher education have been the key catalysts to his career growth.

Overcoming Adversity and Shaping a Risk Philosophy

A turning point in Flecker’s career occurred in 2020 when he moved to Los Angeles from NYC to take a significant career risk just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He was promoting a fixed-income strategy focusing on opportunities in consumer credit, which had some of the best risk-adjusted metrics in the Morningstar taxable fixed-income category and a track record of nearly a decade supporting the investment thesis. However, the pandemic caused the strategy to lose over 67% of its value in weeks.

"It was a visceral experience that redefined how I view risk," Flecker reflects. Despite the turmoil, he and his team persevered, quickly raising hundreds of millions of dollars in new assets. “That experience was humbling, and successfully handling tremendous adversity was rewarding, although it is not an experience I’d like to relive in the future,” Flecker notes. This experience has shaped Flecker’s enthusiasm for the SynthEquity™ strategy, which he sees as offering clients stability and peace of mind in the most volatile and unpredictable markets.

SynthEquity™ and a New Paradigm in Portfolio Management

Measured Risk Portfolios was founded in 2007 by Larry Kriesmer, CLU, ChFC, loyal NAIFA member since 1987, and Bernard Surovsky, CFS, two independent wealth advisors who sought to protect their clients from market downturns after the dot-com crash. Their solution, SynthEquity™, which combines equity-like upside through call options and downside protection through the security of short-duration US Treasuries, was immediately tested during the Great Financial Crisis. Due to the firm’s success over this period, they sought to share the SynthEquity™ story with other advisors so they could hopefully enjoy a similar experience.

Flecker notes that SynthEquity™ has become particularly popular among independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and wealth managers, who have found traditional diversification strategies lacking in their ability to overcome the most common behavioral basis’s volatile markets.

“SynthEquity™ can help all investors stay invested over the long term to take full advantage of the compounding potential of the equity markets. Conversely, the downside risk is determined proactively, ahead of a potential market decline, which helps ease the mind of SynthEquity™ investors in even the most challenging economic environments,” he explains, positioning SynthEquity™ as a game-changer in the wealth management industry.

Expanding Influence and Education

Flecker’s dedication to education and networking is evident in his involvement with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). As a member of NAIFA, Flecker has benefited from the organization's vast network of financial professionals and the opportunities it provides for fresh insights into many less glamorized aspects of the industry. His participation in NAIFA has enabled him to connect with professionals across various sectors, enhancing his ability to promote SynthEquity™ and broaden the firm’s influence.

One highlight of Flecker’s outreach was a recent event in Chicago, where Measured Risk Portfolios was invited to ring the closing bell at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). The event celebrated the firm’s success and featured educational sessions for independent advisors and family offices. The event included product presentations, valuable networking opportunities, CE credits, and opportunities for investment advisors to create marketing material from the floor of the exchange to promote their own business endeavors. Flecker emphasized the importance of such events, noting that they provide an excellent platform for educating advisors on the advantages of SynthEquity™.

The Role of NAIFA in Building Connections

Flecker’s decision to join NAIFA was strategic, as the organization provides unparalleled networking opportunities. "NAIFA’s membership is incredibly diverse, and being a part of it is helping me build lasting relationships with professionals from all corners of the financial services industry," he says. NAIFA has allowed Flecker to deepen his industry ties and expand his outreach.

Flecker encourages other professionals to consider organizations like NAIFA to further their career prospects. "It’s not just about the financial rewards; it’s about the intellectual growth and the relationships you can build with other successful professionals in the business," he explains.

Alexander Flecker’s journey at Measured Risk Portfolios exemplifies the dynamic nature of the financial services industry and the critical role that innovation plays in investment strategies. As he looks to the future, Flecker remains committed to expanding the firm’s influence, building relationships within the financial advisor community, and leveraging his connections within NAIFA. Through education, collaboration, and a unique approach to risk management, Flecker is poised to lead Measured Risk Portfolios into a future of continued success.