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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – May/June 2017
By Symone C. Skrzycki
Cash. Capital. Currency. These words characterize the powerful resource of money.
Compassion. Caring. Commitment. These are among the attributes demonstrated by Best Places to Work
organizations.
At these four financial services companies – WestPoint Financial Group, Capital Group, Ambassador
Enterprises and Oak Street Funding – the two are successfully combined.
Best Places to Work in Indiana
Financial Firms Invest in Their Own
PAYING DIVIDENDS
WestPoint Financial Group
|
Indianapolis office
BizVoice®
:
Fun is front and center at WestPoint. What’s an
example?
Josh Plank (one of the partners):
“Our Annual Awards Gala. We
always reveal where our firm incentive trip will be. This year, I busted out
and surprised everyone in a hula skirt and flowered leis (destination:
Hawaii for top producers and a guest).”
BV:
What types of wellness activities are offered?
Lauren Fox (marketing director):
“We have access to a gym
membership at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club (courtesy of a
corporate discount) that people take advantage of. It’s right across the
street from the office, which is located near the Monon Trail.”
BV:
Describe one of your most popular excursions.
Plank:
“A client appreciation event at The Children’s Museum of
Indianapolis. It’s a haunted house. They let us bring in 1,000 people – and
we get 1,000 people every year! They’ll do the first part with the lights on
for the younger kids and later they’ll do the (Frightening Hours).
Everyone can have dinner. They absolutely love it.”
Capital Group
| Carmel campus
BizVoice
:
How does Capital promote diversity and inclusion?
Chris Trede (general manager):
“The thing we’re probably most
proud of is the Indianapolis Diversity and Inclusion Council. We’ve
got about a dozen folks from this site who are passionate about (those
topics). They’re charged with making sure people understand
cultural competency, different cultures and differences of opinion.”
BV:
Share a powerful benefit related to retirement planning.
Trede:
“We contribute 15% of an associate’s annual compensation
(salary, overtime and bonuses) into an individual retirement plan.
In addition to that, we have a 401(k) program. From a retirement
perspective, we put our money where our mouth is, so to speak.
It’s a really special thing.”
BV:
In what other ways does Capital carry out its mission
to improve people’s lives through successful investing?
Trede:
“It’s a company that controls its own destiny. Based on our
profitability, we have all associates share in a bonus at the end of
each fiscal year.”
Jim Toomey (general manager):
“Every Capital Group associate
in North America is an investor in American Funds (part of Capital
Group). You talk about what is the secret sauce of superior
service? Our associates are all owners of American Funds.”
RESOURCE:
Chris Trede and Jim Toomey, Capital Group, at
thecapitalgroup.comRESOURCE:
Josh Plank and Lauren Fox, WestPoint Financial Group, at
www.westpointfinancialgroup.comThe WestPoint band belts out a song.
Associates square off for the CapGroup 500. Winners receive a
donation to their charity of choice.