Robert J. Schaefer, CFP®, CTFA, MBA
Advisor
As an Advisor, Robby brings a wealth of experience to SJS, where he works with both individual and institutional clients. Since starting his career in the investment services industry in 2011, Robby has experience in various roles, including advisor, trust officer, and entrepreneur. Most recently, he founded and operated his own advisory practice before joining SJS. Prior to that, he served private wealth clients at U.S. Bank and Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional and a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), Robby has expertise in guiding clients through their financial journeys. He holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business and a bachelor's degree in finance from the Miami University Farmer School of Business.
Robby is actively involved in his community. He is an alumnus of the Rocky River Citizen Police Academy, and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland and Rocky River Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteers teaching financial literacy with Build the Bridge and coaches his daughter’s YMCA basketball team.
Originally from Sylvania, Robby now calls Rocky River, OH home, where he lives with his wife Kelcie and their three young children. His deep roots in Northern Ohio enable him to serve clients across the region and beyond effectively.
Outside of work, Robby enjoys starting his day with pickup basketball or cycling and cherishes evenings spent with his family and friends.
SJS Investment Services creates a weekly market update to summarize performance characteristics for major stock and bond indices.
Every January, Wall Street releases its newest flurry of S&P 500 year‑end predictions. And inevitably, we’re asked where we think the market is headed. At SJS, we certainly have opinions, but we don’t publish short-term market forecasts or build client portfolios around them. Because, quite simply, no one knows where markets will land. Not us, not the loudest voices on TV, and not even the banks that publish those targets with great confidence.
Are valuations excessively high? Do record earnings justify selling? Headlines that stir fear are not new. Investors often get caught up in market noise, but recognizing that news headlines are often written to prioritize clicks over nuanced truth can reduce stress.
Do you remember when AOL was the internet? When hearing “You’ve got mail” felt like a small event, and logging on meant you were connected to the future?
The beginning of 2026 is a natural checkpoint to make sure your saving, gifting, and protection strategies still match the life you are living today. Your financial planning can benefit from a fresh look at the start of each year and we have a some actionable ideas to start the new year on the right foot, financially.
2025 closed out with global stock markets delivering another remarkable year, capping one of the strongest three-year stretches in stock market history. The April correction now feels like a distant memory as tariff shocks came and went.
As we excitedly look forward to the year ahead, we remain deeply committed to empowering you to build a better life and providing the peace of mind you deserve.
Each quarter, we create an outlook that covers topics including general investment market conditions, financial planning considerations, and SJS news.
This fall, we had the pleasure of working with Isaac Saffold, an intern from Georgetown University. Isaac joined us through a meaningful connection — he was referred by the Georgetown football coach, as SJS Senior Advisor Andrew Schaetzke also played on the team. It’s a great example of how strong relationships open doors and create opportunities.
As you look ahead to 2026, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the new financial and tax updates. To make things simpler, we want to highlight the key numbers to keep on your radar this year.