How to Ride Out the Recession

The economic recession that washed over the world like a hurricane in September 2008 reshaped what the global financial markets will look like for the coming decade.

But for one financial advisor the risks were higher, as she deftly maneuvered to ensure that her client’s portfolios were positioned to see the least amount of negative impact from the drop in the stock market.

Dina Artzt, Belmont resident and mother of two, is a Senior Vice President of Investments at UBS. She was recognized by Worth Magazine as one of their top 250 financial advisors nationwide in 2008, which proved to be the most challenging year of Dina’s life due to the economic crisis, and in 2010 was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as a top Wealth Advisor in the Bay Area.

“The awards are nice, but the greatest satisfaction for me is to see my clients grow older, taking money of out their accounts to satisfy their living needs and know that I have helped them,” said Artzt. “Their kind words and appreciation make me very happy.  Yes I earn an income, but the meaning comes from helping people enjoy their lives.”

Dina began working as a financial advisor after getting her masters in psychology from Columbia University. She originally intended to be a psychologist, and did not plan on working in the investment community.

“It wasn’t my original intention to counsel people on their money, but I had the opportunity offered to me 24 years ago,” said Artzt.

In retrospect it makes sense, because now she have the opportunity to provide support and assistance to people regarding their financial lives, which is an extremely important part of anyone’s day to day life, she added.

More than two decades later, Artzt still has many of the same clients she had when she first started and knew very little about the investment world.  “It still surprises me that a poor girl from Brooklyn knows something about money,” Artzt said.

When accepting new clients, Artzt looks for those who are really looking for advice and help with their investments.

“Over time I’ve developed a sense of what is right for each person, and although I will take input from clients, I appreciate when clients take my final recommendation,” she said.

She advises investors to diversify, and not to be greedy. Overconcentration in one stock is a very high risk, and although it can make people a lot of money, Artzt has seen people lose it all. Patience is a key to successful investing, she added.

Born in Brooklyn, Artzt was raised by her grandmother.  She dreamed of moving to sunny California after seeing the Rose Bowl Parade on TV and noticing that no one was wearing a coat.  Now a resident of Belmont, she loves the close knit community, where everyone knows one another and there are so many neighborhood activities and restaurants within a short distance.

“As an ex-New Yorker, I like that this town has slowed me down to a more comfortable speed,” said Artzt.

Despite her self-proclaimed “comfortable speed” Artzt is busy with her work, volunteering and family. With her son and daughter in school, she has been involved in local PTAs and was instrumental in starting the write a check campaign at .  She regularly helps out with the Second Harvest Food Bank, and as her family is avid fans of the San Jose Sharks, she goes to hockey games with her family as often as possible.

For readers who have questions for Artzt, she can be reached at dina.artzt@ubs.com or 650-496-7494.

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