Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Stefan Contorno, Shauna Barrier, Samantha Galindo, and Esteja Harrigan who have recently joined VVP.

Stefan brings over 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Partner with Touchstone Wealth Partners at UBS, where he guided clients through multiple market cycles and consistently ranked among the firm’s top Financial Advisors.

Born and raised in New York City, Stefan earned his B.B.A. in Economics from Baruch College. He is actively involved in his community and mentors students at FGCU. Stefan will be based in our Bonita Springs office as a Private Wealth Manager.

Shauna brings more than 26 years of experience in banking and financial services, with deep expertise in the Client Service Associate role. She began her career at Bank Plus in Mississippi and most recently served as a Registered Client Associate at UBS Financial Services.

Shauna holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses and is committed to delivering exceptional, client-first service. She will join Stefan’s team in Bonita Springs as a Relationship Manager.

Samantha brings over 7 years of experience in banking and financial services. She began her financial career as a mortgage lender and later worked as a personal banker at a community bank. Most recently, she served as a Registered Client Associate at UBS.

Samantha earned her bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from Florida Gulf Coast University, where she contributed to research on nesting sea turtles and Florida fisheries. She later transitioned into financial services and currently holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses. Samantha will also join Stefan’s team in Bonita Springs as a Relationship Manager.

Esteja brings a wealth of experience to our team. She spent over eight years at Sorenson Communications, most recently serving as an Assessments Coordinator. Prior to that, she worked for two years at Thomson Reuters as a Technical Support Specialist.

Esteja earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Toledo, majoring in Information Systems and minoring in Marketing and Psychology, where she was recognized on the Dean’s List and as a Rocket Scholar. She will be joining our Rob Loeb and Jim Porea’s team in Ohio as a Client Services Associate.

Welcome Stefan, Shauna, Samantha, and Esteja!

Griffin Oehlers was presented the Distinguished Young Professional Award at the annual Chamber Champion Awards Luncheon presented by the Sylvania Area Chamber Of Commerce.

We are proud of Griffin to have received this local recognition through this award while contributing to the chamber’s mission and representing Venture Visionary Partners in the Sylvania area business community.

Venture Visionary Partners recently sponsored a heartwarming dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, bringing comfort and joy to families in need. A dedicated group of employees volunteered their time, cooking and serving a delicious dinner to families staying at the house.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a supportive environment for families with seriously ill children, offering them a place to stay while their children receive medical treatment. By sponsoring the lunch, Venture Visionary Partners aimed to give back to the community and provide a sense of relief to families during a challenging time.

It was a meaningful evening that highlighted the importance of teamwork, kindness, and giving back to the community.

The Ins and Outs of Capital Gains

Understanding capital gains taxes is an important part of successful investing. A capital gain occurs when you sell an investment — such as stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate, or other assets — for more than you originally paid for it. The difference between your purchase price and sale price is considered your gain, and it may be taxable.

There are two primary types of capital gains taxes: short-term and long-term.

Short-term capital gains apply to investments held for one year or less before being sold. These gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, which can be significantly higher depending on your income level. For active traders or investors frequently buying and selling investments, short-term taxes can meaningfully reduce after-tax returns.

Long-term capital gains apply to investments held for more than one year. These gains receive preferential tax treatment, with federal tax rates generally ranging from 0% to 20%, depending on taxable income. Many investors focus on long-term investing strategies not only for growth potential, but also for the tax advantages associated with lower long-term capital gains rates.

It is also important to remember that capital losses can help offset capital gains. Investors may use losses strategically to reduce taxable gains through a process often called tax-loss harvesting.

Taxes should never be the sole driver of investment decisions, but understanding how capital gains work can help investors make more informed and tax-efficient financial choices over time.