Calvin Lo, CFA, CFP®

Why you are passionate about financial planning?

My grandfather was a top movie producer in Hong Kong in the 1970 & 80’s. He brought Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li to the movie industry. With a talent for making movies, he created great wealth for himself. However, he neglected to manage his finances, leaving him unable to pass down the legacy he wished for. Having a trusted advisor at my grandfather’s side could have helped him achieve the legacy he wanted to leave behind. It’s too late to change my grandfather’s story, but I am glad I now help other families avoid the same mistakes and achieve their goals. It’s not about the money you make, it’s about the money you keep and the impact you make with it.

What are your day-to-day duties?

I am responsible for portfolio management and operations. On the portfolio management side, this includes maintaining our outlook on the markets, continued diligence on existing client portfolio investments and researching new investment opportunities and managers. On the operations side, I oversee our finance, compliance and client planning and service operations.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working at Keystone Global Partners?

I would be interested in a law career or advancing global clean technology by working in a firm that focuses on something like solar power or clean water.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

Building a deep level of trust over time with our clients and becoming their trusted advisor. Every relationship takes an incredible amount of custom work, uncompromising level of integrity, willingness to be frank, and personal compassion.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, professionally or personally?

I’m lucky to have received so much good advice throughout my life, making it hard to choose one as “the best.” I definitely appreciate that early in my career, I was told to forget the money, go where I could learn the most and be exposed to the best in the industry. I also found another concept interesting, the idea that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with people you respect.

What makes you qualified to do what you do?

A willingness to give the tough answers when clients need to hear it. I believe we always have to do what is best for the client, not just say yes to everything they want to do. It’s our job to give constructive feedback, correct the current path and make them aware of any blind spots.

Are you affiliated with any organizations, either professionally or personally?

I volunteer for and support PATH, an organization that helps people find permanent housing and provide case management services. Having grown up with a single mother, I specifically help single mothers find a roof they can put over their heads and create some stability for their families.

I also support Smiley Tails, an organization that rehomes dogs of all ages and breeds from high-kill shelters and high-risk situations. They rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and give them the proper medical attention and training then match them with a wonderful family.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love being outdoors, that is my meditation. You can find me skiing during the winters, hiking and backpacking on weekends and running at the local high school track. I’ve hiked Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, and done the Grand Canyon North Rim to South Rim hike. I feel that the Yosemite Half Dome hike is one that every able-bodied person should experience at least once in their life.

Education, Accreditation, and Career

• CFA® charterholder
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
• Royal Oak Capital Management, Principal and Portfolio Manager
• Merrill Lynch Equity Research, Equity Analyst
• Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group, Investment Analyst
• B.S. in Management Science Highest Honors, University of California-San Diego
• London School of Economics

But Enough About Me,
I’d Love to Learn More About You

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