Bob Chitrathorn
CFO / VP of Wealth PlanningWealth Planning By Bob Chitrathorn of Simplified Wealth Management
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About
Suthipong Robert Chitrathorn (or Bob for short) came from humble beginnings. Born to parents Puttachart and Sakul Chitrathorn, Bob was raised in a mobile home park in Colton, CA. His parents migrated to Michigan from Bangkok, Thailand in 1974, before settling in Southern California. As a child, Bob didn’t realize how good others had it until he ventured out of the ghetto and went over to friends’ birthday parties. There he’d witness the luxuries of living the American dream and of the possibilities that lay ahead. To the Chitrathorns, life in America was a gift and they were proud owners of property in America. They worked hard to put food on the table and to put Bob and his younger sister, Crystal, through school. Bob ate sandwiches with nothing but cheese on them, but he was blessed nonetheless. He learned that perspective made all the difference in life. In his mother’s words, “education is money in the bank.” She teaches nurses still to this day, but she and Sakul, a factory worker, sacrificed to make a better life for Bob and Crystal. They paid for both kids to go through private high school and then helped pay for college. Their dedication and sacrifice didn’t go to waste. Bob received a full ride scholarship for his first year at La Sierra University, before transferring to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He received his B.S. in Finance, as well as a B.S. in Real Estate, while minoring in business administration. Despite the rigorous course load, Bob graduated magna cum laude and was named part of the Golden Key Honor Society. In 2004, Bob became a financial advisor, which was an opportunity to make a good living, while helping others make the most informed decisions for their own financial lives. He had a short stint at H&R Block and also considered real estate, but he found his passion in personal finance. While Bob was attending CSUSB, his parents were working with an agent at New York Life. Bob always sat in on their meetings. He found that by listening to his parents’ goals and conveying the pros and cons of their decisions, that they would listen to him more often than their own advisor. When Bob became an advisor, it was a no brainer that Puttachart and Sakul would work with their son, who always listened to their needs. With over 19 years of industry experience, he now has many clients beyond his parents to guide and influence. In 2016, Bob contributed a chapter to best selling author and esteemed motivational speaker, Brian Tracy’s book. The book, “Success Manifesto: The World’s Leading Entrepreneurs & Professionals Reveal Their Secrets to Mastering Health, Wealth & Lifestyle,” was an opportunity for Bob to share his love for planning and for his clients. He holds the Series 6, Series 7, Series 63 registrations with LPL Financial, and Series 65 registration with Mariner Independent Advisor Network. Additionally he has life, health and long-term care insurance licenses. Bob has been married to the love of his life, Brittany, for ten years. They live in their Riverside, CA home with their rescue dog, Mazy, a pool, putting green, and a Pittsburgh Steelers themed bar that’s perfect for Sunday Night Football. If you’re looking for Bob at 6:30 or 7 pm on a weeknight, more often than not, he’s prepping for a case or making phone calls still. His parents’ work habits weren’t lost on him and he’s usually the one at the end of the night setting the alarm and turning off the lights. Bob Chitrathorn is a registered representative with, and Securities and Retirement Plan Consulting Program advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. Other advisory services offered through Mariner Independent Advisor Network (MIAN). MIAN, and Wealth Planning by Bob Chitrathorn are separate entities from LPL Financial.
Bob Chitrathorn
Published content
expert panel
Budgeting is only effective if you’re able to make it work for you long term. Getting on a budget can be one of the most effective ways to start taking control of your finances. Whether you take a detailed spreadsheet approach, let an app do the work for you or leverage simple pen and paper, there’s no one correct way to do a budget as long as your system works well for you. However, many people who try tackling their first budget may quickly give up or find it too difficult to keep up with long term — but this doesn’t mean budgeting in general doesn’t work for them. According to the financial advisers and experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, you may just be going about it with the wrong plan or mindset. If you’re struggling to budget or find that you’re not hitting your goals as quickly as you thought you could, consider the following six signs that your budget or financial plan may not be working for you — and what you should do to fix it.
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Here’s a closer look at some of the most common financial drains and practical strategies to mitigate them.
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You don’t have to give up everything in order to succeed with money. Whether it's having to decline dinners out, take cheaper or fewer vacations, or simply shop less, trying to save money to achieve a financial goal can often be difficult socially. It’s not easy having to choose between spending time with friends and family and paying off a debt or hitting a savings goal — not to mention struggling to handle the judgement from those who don’t understand what you’re doing or why you’re doing it. These common social obstacles can often prevent well-intentioned people from making much progress in terms of their goals, and some others may even give up trying to improve their finances at all. Thankfully, being successful with money doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing game. You can still achieve what you’ve set out to do while enjoying life at the same time. According to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, it’s all about balance and intentionality. Consider their top tips below for maintaining a healthy social life while working hard toward achieving your financial goals.
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Taking these steps now can help ensure your family isn’t overwhelmed with uncertainty later on. The passing of a loved one is an emotional time, and family members are often dealing with their grief in different ways. If left undecided, the many legal and financial choices families have to make after the death of a loved one can be an additional emotional drain on their already overwhelmed minds. Larger families can often suffer an even greater burden as they must make decisions that involve many parties — choices that can sometimes lead to arguments or even major fights. Making end-of-life plans ahead of time can help prevent much of the stress that comes with the financial and legal aftermath of a loved one’s death. Taking the following six steps now, as recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, can help ensure your family is taken care of in the event of your passing and are allowed to grieve without any additional burdens.
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Building customer relationships is easier when you start from a place of trust and empathy. Whether someone is a financial adviser, planner or financial business owner, being new to the industry comes with its own set of challenges — especially when it comes to finding that first client. While you may have the right credentials and the passion for helping others with their money, you must also work to convince potential clients that you’re the right person for the job. But unlike entrepreneurs who have a particular product to sell, you won’t be able to rely on your product's features and benefits to help persuade them. You’ll instead need to focus on what you can offer that no one else can. To help get you started, the financial leaders of Kiplinger Advisor Collective offer their best advice for securing your first client — and what worked best for them — no matter the niche you serve.
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Trust, like in any relationship, takes time to develop. There are few topics more personal than someone’s finances. Money determines the way someone is able to live their life, and the various experiences, issues and successes they have with it can impact not only what they do but also who they are. Accepting guidance and advice on how to best handle money can be a big ask, so building trust as an adviser and/or financial services expert is essential if you want to succeed in this career path. But building this type of deep trust doesn’t happen right away; it must be earned, and the best advisers know what it takes to do so. Here, nine members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective share their best advice for building a trusting relationship with a client and how doing so will enhance your credibility and success in the financial industry.
