• What is a T-CRUT?
• Why did you decide to form a T-CRUT?
• How can clients form a T-CRUT?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of forming T-CRUT?
• Why should a client consider forming a T-CRUT?
• What requirements need to be met before the T-CRUT can be formed and avoid trouble with regulators?
• What are some taxes or tax deductions the owner and beneficiary have regarding the assets placed in a T-CRUT?

Assist Clients to “Give It Twice with a T-CRUT with Dr. Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D, CFP®, CeFT® Part 1

Assist Clients to “Give It Twice with a T-CRUT with Dr. Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D, CFP®, CeFT® Part 2

After serving his country, Scott was unsure which career path to pursue. Although he studied biology, he knew that this career path was not his calling. While Scott was paying down debt, he participated in a financial course for families that he discovered that financial planning was his true calling. However, he was unsure how to begin his journey, so he decided to talk to a financial advisor who worked in the Marine Corp. The financial advisor provided industry knowledge, the career aspect, and which paths were available to pursue financial planning. Therefore, he decided to research which programs were accredited and counted as the education portion for the CFP requirement. Scott shared that “California Lutheran University was one of the best programs out there because CLU was the only program that had the CFP courses embedded into the MBA.” 

While studying for this MBA, Brian mentioned that the behavioral finance course was the most impactful for his career. Although Brian did not appreciate that relationships came first before math and planning, this course was eye-opening to change his perspective. He realized that “building a relationship with a client is important because it helps construct trust and discuss the biases that influence human emotion, leading to financial decision-making.” When taking behavioral finance or any course from the Financial Planning Program, Scott’s advice is to “make sure to engage with the faculty since they are a wonderful resource.”

Although the MBA Financial Planning Program was challenging at times, Scott learned immensely from each course. The real value was seeing every puzzle piece come together for each class. Scott shares that “the pace was very tough especially when balancing work and family. There were times I spent the weekends studying and completing coursework. Also, I spoke with my administration person to schedule my meetings Monday – Thursday to give myself more time to study.”

While serving in the Marine Corps, there were many skills any recruit could learn while serving their country. Some of the skills he learned from the Marine Corp that will help him with his career in financial planning are planning and building flexibility. Scott shares that “the Marine Corp gave me several assignments that involved writing detailed plans that my team and I would share with our general.” Writing detailed plans for clients will come in handy because financial advisors must prepare clear deliverables when presenting to clients. Creating flexibility was another skill he learned in the Marine Corp that came in handy when balancing his life between school, work, and his family. 

The final piece of advice Scott offers to students is “to network and ask lots of questions about financial planning, and specifically ask questions about the difference between RIA, Broker-Dealer, and Independent Firms.” 

About Brian Scott: 

Brian Scott is a student who will soon graduate from California Lutheran University with his MBA in Financial Planning. He plans to start his independent firm or partner with an RIA after graduation. Before deciding his career path, he served as a pilot for the Marine Corps and studied biology.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

Her financial planning career journey began in the early stages because she loves numbers and working with people. However, she was unsure if her clients would take her seriously because her clients would be working with a young financial advisor. Furthermore, while studying for her undergraduate degree, she knew that she loved people, numbers, and establishing a relationship with clients. She chose the MBA Financial Planning Program at California Lutheran University because the program will advance her knowledge. Also, “during my undergraduate, I did not have real-world experience. With the advancement of technology and the rise of fintech companies, I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. I love education and learning too because we never stop learning.” Several reasons to attend CLU are “the flexibility the program offers, the advancement of the courses, and the price of the program.” The most impactful course for her was the small business planning course because it was a learning experience, and the course was eye-opening when working with small businesses clients. Also, the applied research in financial planning because the course is eye-opening. She is writing a research paper on financial literacy in children and the available tools for children to learn financial topics. Finally, she advises students to “be ready to roll up their sleeves and do not think about it too much. Taking one course at a time allowed me to focus on that particular topic.” 

To prepare for the CFP®, she mentions that she completed her course work at UC Berkeley and purchased a “robust crash course from Kaplan.” After studying through the course, she felt more prepared to take the six-hour exam. Also, she advises that “you do not need to learn everything in the tax code; only the conceptual basis will be enough to help you answer the questions in the exam.”

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management. A typical week at Empirical Wealth Management begins with scheduling quarterly client meetings and client reviews to meet with clients to stay up to date with their current situations. If some of her clients went through life-changing events, she would map out how it would change their overall financial situation. Also, she spends a third of her time prospecting for new clients, and some of her clients are referred directly from Charles Schwab. 

In the next 5 to 10 years, she wants to continue working at her firm and someday become a partner. The final pieces of advice that Campbell offers to students are, “It does not happen overnight; incremental changes make a huge impact over the course of your lifetime. What I learned is that adding small amounts over time adds value.” Also, “it is important not to get stressed out about the little things. Focus on the big picture, work hard, and be kind to people.” 

About Cristina Campbell, CFP®: 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a student at California Lutheran University studying for her MBA in Financial Planning. She is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management, who assists clients reach their financial goals, creating and implementing their financial plans, and developing effective investment strategies. With over 13 years of experience, she specializes in retirement planning and strategies.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. In February 2020, he created a personal finance blog called Financial Crumbs. 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is passionate about assisting her clients in reaching their financial goals by creating effective financial plans and investment strategies. She has over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry and specializes in retirement planning. While studying for her MBA in Financial Planning, Campbell had the opportunity to work at Empirical Wealth Management. Campbell has worked for several companies, including Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments. Her previous experience and the CLU program have prepared her to continue servicing her clients. 

Her financial planning career journey began in the early stages because she loves numbers and working with people. However, she was unsure if her clients would take her seriously because her clients would be working with a young financial advisor. Furthermore, while studying for her undergraduate degree, she knew that she loved people, numbers, and establishing a relationship with clients. She chose the MBA Financial Planning Program at California Lutheran University because the program will advance her knowledge. Also, “during my undergraduate, I did not have real-world experience. With the advancement of technology and the rise of fintech companies, I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. I love education and learning too because we never stop learning.” Several reasons to attend CLU are “the flexibility the program offers, the advancement of the courses, and the price of the program.” The most impactful course for her was the small business planning course because it was a learning experience, and the course was eye-opening when working with small businesses clients. Also, the applied research in financial planning because the course is eye-opening. She is writing a research paper on financial literacy in children and the available tools for children to learn financial topics. Finally, she advises students to “be ready to roll up their sleeves and do not think about it too much. Taking one course at a time allowed me to focus on that particular topic.” 

To prepare for the CFP®, she mentions that she completed her course work at UC Berkeley and purchased a “robust crash course from Kaplan.” After studying through the course, she felt more prepared to take the six-hour exam. Also, she advises that “you do not need to learn everything in the tax code; only the conceptual basis will be enough to help you answer the questions in the exam.”

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management. A typical week at Empirical Wealth Management begins with scheduling quarterly client meetings and client reviews to meet with clients to stay up to date with their current situations. If some of her clients went through life-changing events, she would map out how it would change their overall financial situation. Also, she spends a third of her time prospecting for new clients, and some of her clients are referred directly from Charles Schwab. 

In the next 5 to 10 years, she wants to continue working at her firm and someday become a partner. The final pieces of advice that Campbell offers to students are, “It does not happen overnight; incremental changes make a huge impact over the course of your lifetime. What I learned is that adding small amounts over time adds value.” Also, “it is important not to get stressed out about the little things. Focus on the big picture, work hard, and be kind to people.” 

About Cristina Campbell, CFP®: 

Cristina Campbell, CFP®, is a student at California Lutheran University studying for her MBA in Financial Planning. She is a Lead Advisor at Empirical Wealth Management, who assists clients reach their financial goals, creating and implementing their financial plans, and developing effective investment strategies. With over 13 years of experience, she specializes in retirement planning and strategies.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

• What is a retirement style? 
• What types of retirement style options do clients have during retirement? 
• How does RISA™ help clients meet their financial goals?
• What should clients do before retirement? 
• How can clients find their retirement style that best fits their needs? 
• Why should financial professionals begin to incorporate retirement styles in their practice? 
• What are some of the tax issues that may arise for a retiree during their retirement? 
• What are several important decisions retirees or soon-to-be retirees make before they officially retire? 

References:

• Murguia, Alejandro and Pfau, Wade D., Retirement Income Beliefs and Financial Advice Seeking Behaviors (February 1, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3788425 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3788425
• Get your free RISA Assessment here.

Guest 

Wade D. Pfau, Ph.D., CFA, RICP®, is the program director of the Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation and a Professor of Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, PA, as well as a co-director of the college’s Center for Retirement Income. As well, he is a Principal and Director for McLean Asset Management. He holds a doctorate in economics from Princeton University and has published more than sixty peer-reviewed research articles in a wide variety of academic and practitioner journals. He hosts the Retirement Researcher website and is a contributor to Forbes, Advisor Perspectives, Journal of Financial Planning, and an Expert Panelist for the Wall Street Journal.  Wade’s newest book is Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating the Important Decisions for Retirement Success. 

Host: 

Chia-Li Chien, Ph.D., CFP®, PMP®, CPBC, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program of California Lutheran University. Before her academic role, she held several senior management positions in Fortune 500 companies, including Diageo, ABB, CIGNA, and RSA Insurance Group. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession planning at national conferences and has published three books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” She publishes research on succession topics in a variety of academic and practitioner research journals. Dr. Chien serves on the boards of various national financial service associations. She holds a doctorate in financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) as well as Project Management Professional (PMP®). Chia-Li Chien is pronounced Jolly Jan.

• How does anyone begin to find their personal intention in the financial service industry?
• Where does your passion come from? 
• What advice would you have for anyone who feels lost in their journey?
• How can financial planners deal with imposter syndrome? 
• How can financial professionals face their challenges and cope with failures? 
• What are some steps anyone can take to find their “Tribe”? 
• How does DEI play a crucial role in the financial services industry?
• How does a company go about inclusion of diverse professionals to be welcomed into the firm?  

Guest:

Angie Ribuffo was born in Augusta Georgia, the child of a military family and lived in Germany and Thailand.In 2008 she decided to move into the world of financial planning by becoming a financial advisor and in 2019 opened her own firm Raion Financial Strategies LLC. She holds 6 designations CFP®; RICP®; ChFC®; CDFA®; CLTC® and WMC®. In 2018, Angie was recognized by InvestmentNews ,Women to Watch and inducted into the Anchorage Athena Society. 2017-2018 , the National President of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS). In 2012, she was awarded the Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) ANGEL award recipient. From 2012- 2021 she has been recognized as a WIFS Circle of Excellence recipient. Angie is married to her husband of 40 years, Steve, has 2 adult sons, Stephen and Daniel, a 8 year old granddaughter, Tahli and 4 year old grandson, Malcolm and her golden retriever, Abby.

Host: 

Chia-Li Chien, Ph.D., CFP®, PMP®, CPBC, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program of California Lutheran University. Before her academic role, she held several senior management positions in Fortune 500 companies, including Diageo, ABB, CIGNA, and RSA Insurance Group. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession planning at national conferences and has published three books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” She publishes research on succession topics in a variety of academic and practitioner research journals. Dr. Chien serves on the boards of various national financial service associations. She holds a doctorate in financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) as well as Project Management Professional (PMP®). Chia-Li Chien is pronounced Jolly Jan.

Dominique J. Henderson Sr. comes from a family that has a military background. Also, he grew up not having many friends because he was often moving, and most friendships weren’t as long. Due to his upbringing, he gained a broader perspective in working with clients because he met new people every few years.

He wants to be remembered as a thinker that Henderson Sr. created the acronym R.E.A.L. which stands for relatable, empathetic, attentive, and listening. After leaving his former firm to start his practice, he thought about “how to move the needle.” Also, “what mindset do I need to bring when having meetings with clients?”

The launch of The Jumpstart Coaching Lab began when he noticed that many advisors were not doing videos to help advisors learn more about financial planning. He wanted to create something different and an impact for everyone interested in the career of financial planning. During the coaching sessions, Henderson Sr. noticed that individuals would fall into one of the three categories. He mentioned that “individuals would fall into the following categories; find out more about the career and existing financial professionals but are unhappy with their position.” Some of the issues that arose in the coaching lab are “obtain CFP or not, career changers deciding to pursue the career, and when it is the right time to leave and start their firm.”

Henderson Sr. describes several methods to attract the right clients by having a system in place. He begins by asking, “what does everyone have in common.” He mentions that “everyone has an ethos, where they have specific goals that they want to accomplish.” The specific people he caters to are people who value time over money because he believes that money can always be replaceable, but time is irreplaceable. Furthermore, he wants to help clients that want “to create an impact and seek a particular perspective.” For clients that do not have much time to look over which investments to purchase for retirement, Henderson Sr. mentions that he offers solutions that save clients time. Also, he recommends actively listening to what clients have to say and utilizing the skills you have to assist them with their needs.

Henderson Sr. discusses some of the most effective ways to get your message across to clients. For example, he mentions that active listening and utilizing your skills are the first steps to getting your message across. Using social media to your advantage when setting your message is important because many clients listen to what you have to say. Furthermore, he explains that clients come to him for advice because of the videos and content online. “Mastering the skill of video is a worthwhile investment because most clients today are meeting online and tend to trust you more when they view your content.” Also, having content online gives the client a perspective and allows them to know you before the call.

Before students can begin their journey in financial planning, Henderson explains some ways the next generation of financial professionals can prepare in the financial services industry. Financial planners need to understand that clients want you to manage their money. Also, he mentions that “you do not have to be a financial planner from start to finish, and you can start as a financial coach for several years and then a financial practitioner.” There are many options today for anyone who wants to pursue a career in the financial services industry.

The final piece of advice Henderson Sr. offers to students pursuing a career in financial planning is to “find your why which will lead you to your who. Which inevitably leads you to your how.”

Dominique J. Henderson Sr. CFP®

Dominique J. Henderson, Sr. CFP® began serving the financial industry in 1998. Ever since elementary school, he knew he had a mission to help people “win with their money”. Professionally, Dominique has spent over two decades in financial services building a diverse skill set in strategy, data analysis, investment research, portfolio management, financial planning, and business coaching. Prior to founding his registered investment advisory firm, DJH Capital Management in 2016, he spent years in institutional fixed-income trading circles, real estate, and the back office of one of Dallas’ premier hedge fund managers. Now as 2x founder, Dominique spends his time helping both consumers and providers of financial services. DJH Capital Management focuses on helping clients make the “bigger, better” decision with their money while The Jumpstart Coaching Lab educates and coaches the next generation of financial professionals to serve the growing group of individuals seeking financial advice. Dominique has been featured on various media platforms such as US News & World Report, Yahoo, GoBankingRates.com, and Investopedia’s Advisor Insights. He was named as one of Investopedia’s 100 Top Financial Advisors in 2021. He’s the host of the Conversations for Financial Professionals podcast dedicated to helping both consumers and providers of financial services by shaping the next generation of financial advice. Dominique holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s in Securities Analysis and Portfolio Management from Creighton University, and the Certified Financial PlannerTM designation.

About the Host:

Dr. Chia-Li Chien is a succession program director at Value Growth Institute, a succession consulting practice dedicated to helping business owners increase their firms’ equity value. Before her private consulting practice, she held several senior management positions in Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Chien is a director of the financial planning program at the School of Management at California Lutheran University. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession and retirement planning at national conferences and has published three award-winning books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” Dr. Chien serves on the boards of various national financial service associations. She holds a doctorate in financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) as well as Project Management Professional (PMP®).

About the Author:

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

• What is a T-CRUT?
• Why did you decide to form a T-CRUT? 
• How can clients form a T-CRUT?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of forming T-CRUT?
• Why should a client consider forming a T-CRUT? 
• What are the requirements that need to be met before the T-CRUT can be formed and avoid trouble with regulators? 
• What are some of the taxes or tax deductions both the owner and beneficiary have regarding the assets that are placed in a T-CRUT? 

References:

• IRS T-CRUT special provisions
• The recommended Verrill Law Office
• Top religious foundations:
  • ELCA Foundation – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • Presbyterian Church in America Foundation
• Giving Twice, by Kathleen M. Rehl  on Sep 22, 2021, at HumbleDollar
• I’m “Giving It Twice,” Helping My Son & Leaving a Lasting Legacy By Kathleen Rehl
  November 17, 2021, by Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT® at Agebuzz.com
• Philanthropic Planning credentials
  • Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE)
  • Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG) by American Institute for Philanthropic Studies
  • The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) by The American College of Financial Services
• Additional resources:
  • Charitable Giving Resource Center
  • PG Calc
  • Charitable Solutions, LLC

Guest: 

Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT® wrote the award-winning book, Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows after the death of her late husband. More than 75,000 copies of this book are in circulation. She owned Rehl Financial Advisors for almost 18 years before retiring to a six-year encore career empowering widows and their advisors through her speaking, writing, and doing research about widows. Her work has been featured in articles published by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, CNBC, USA Today, and many others. She happily “reFired” on her 73rd birthday in 2020. Kathleen and her new husband, Charlie, concentrate on family, fun, focused-purpose, friends, and fitness. She enjoys writing legacy poetry and stories plus assisting nonprofits. Her website is at https://KathleenRehl.com.

Host: 

Chia-Li Chien, Ph.D., CFP®, PMP®, CPBC, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program of California Lutheran University. Before her academic role, she held several senior management positions in Fortune 500 companies, including Diageo, ABB, CIGNA, and RSA Insurance Group. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession planning at national conferences and has published three books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” She publishes research on succession topics in a variety of academic and practitioner research journals. Dr. Chien serves on the boards of various national financial service associations. She holds a doctorate in financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) as well as Project Management Professional (PMP®). Chia-Li Chien is pronounced Jolly Jan.

The Carson Group partnered with BlackRock to develop a program for undergraduates interested in joining the financial planning services industry. Participants will gain both a broad and deep understanding of the financial services profession, as well as access to a coach, a mentor, and the resources that will set them up for a successful career.

The FinServ Foundation’s goal is to help create better and stronger next-generation, financial planning professionals, by addressing the issues of barriers to entry, support, and mentorship. Furthermore, the program wants to give Americans better access to financial planning, a more diverse, inclusive, and driven group of young professionals to the profession of financial planning.

The event will provide detailed information about the eligibility requirements, the application process, and the deadline to apply.

The event held on Tuesday, November 9th at 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT on Campus at Lundring Room.

This event was the first Diversitas regional event hosted by California Lutheran University Financial Planning and California State University Northridge Financial Planning. Diversitas is an event where financial planners and wealth managers come together with career influencers to discuss financial planning with young people and career changers.

The event allows our attendees to network with professionals in the industry, learn more about their career journey, receive insight information about the industry along with career advice, and the event is free.

Three incredibly successful financial planners will be sharing their career journeys with their perspectives in the financial services industry. We will also cover the importance of financial planning along with the impact financial planning brings to our communities.

The Moderators that will host the event

Dr. Inga Timmerman

Dr. Inga Timmerman, Ph.D., CFP® joined the faculty at CSUN in 2015 and is the Dr. Mary Jean Scheuer Professor of Finance. She has a Ph.D. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). Her research is mostly concentrated around two fields: corporate finance and financial planning. Dr. Timmerman’s current projects explore the use and perceptions individuals have about the financial planning profession and the drivers that motivate people to save. One of her main goals at CSUN is to increase student interest in the financial planning profession.

Dr. Chia-Li Chien

Dr. Chia-Li Chien, Ph.D., CFP®, PMP®, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program at California Lutheran University and a Succession Program Director at the Value Growth Institute. Dr. Chia-Li Chien has published three award-winning books, Show Me the Money (2010), and Work Toward Rewards (2012). Her latest peer-reviewed research book, Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States: Leverage Reverse Mortgages, Delaying Social Security, and Exploring Continuous Work, was published in 2020. She has appeared in many speaker engagement events at both the local and national levels. Also, she hosts the succession blog at valuegrowthinstitute.com, leads pro bono projects, and is a national board director of Women in Insurance & Financial Services Association (WIFS). Dr. Chien was the Chair and President of FPA Charlotte from 2013 to 2014. Chia-Li served as Chair of the Pro Bono Advisory Committee for the FPA on the national level from 2011 to 2012.

The Panelist that will be in the Diversitas Event

Leighann Miko

Leighann Miko, CFP® is the founder of Equalis Financial, a California & Oregon-based independent fee-only firm specializing in financial planning, investment management, and tax & business management services.

With a passion to empower and equip underserved communities, Leighann works with thoughtfully ambitious progressives, especially LGBTQ+ creatives in the entertainment industry. Her goal is to help them stay in their right brain by acting as a stand-in for their left brain.
With a commitment to human-centered financial planning, Leighann devotes time to understand the whole person before addressing their finances. This intentional approach was born from a desire to help others create the financially secure life she never thought she’d have. Having grown up in a household faced with constant financial volatility, Leighann recognizes the value of financial stability. Knowing what it’s like to be underestimated herself, her mission became clear: to balance the financial playing field for all.

John Eing

John Eing is a partner and relationship manager at Abacus Wealth Partners.  As a financial advisor, John is passionate about helping his clients gain peace of mind by listening deeply to his clients and creating sound financial strategies so that they can do what they love most. He also serves on the firm’s M&A team and investment committee.  He holds an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley, is a Certified Public Accountant, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

In his free time, John and his wife, Andrea, enjoy spending time with their two children Nathan (9) and Mia (5).  In his free, free time John is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johneinglosangelesusa/
Website: https://abacuswealth.com/team/john-eing/

Luis Rosa

Luis is the founder of Build a Better Financial Future LLC. He came to the U.S. at age 11 from the Dominican Republic. Growing up in New York City and now living in California, Luis noticed the lack of financial literacy in his community and was inspired by his parents to work hard and pursue an education.

From participating as an FPA NexGen ambassador and host to speaking at the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning’s Diversity Summit and being a CFP Board Ambassador, Luis uses his platform to help spread financial literacy via media outreach as well as encourage younger and diverse planners to join and thrive in the industry.

He is the host of the “On My Way to Wealth” podcast, co-founder of the BlatinX (BLX) Internship Program and LatinXcellence – an initiative that seeks to bring awareness to and help close the wealth gap in the LatinX community.  Luis was named one of InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 in 2019 and Financial Advisor Magazine’s 10 Young Advisors to Watch, as well as Investopedia Top 100 Financial Advisors in 2020 and 2021 and named one of 8 Hispanic Personal Finance Influencers to Follow for Money Advice by The Penny Hoarder.

Register now, and you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

When Andrew Martz was an undergraduate at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, he was also an athlete swimmer. Any time he wasn’t swimming or training, he was studying for his degree in Business and Technology. Swimming is an individual sport, Martz explained, but it is scored as a team. Martz said it is similar to working in financial services as you have individual clients, but you are a part of a bigger team. Over the years, he has taken these principles of dedication to a craft and he continues to live by them today. 

Finding His Career Path

In 2017, Martz founded WIS Advisors Inc. a boutique wealth management financial planning firm that is associated with a larger broker-dealer RIA International Securities. He has offices located in LA, Denver, and Dallas. When searching for a CFP® program, Martz found California Lutheran University who meets the CFP® education requirements and students can earn an MBA at the same time. “I started this journey in pursuit of a CFP® and looked at all the certificate programs. I knew somebody who went through the program and had a lot of good things to say about it,” he said.

Born and raised in New York, Martz started his career in investment banking on Wall Street. After working there for three years, he discovered he didn’t enjoy the high-pressure sales environment so in 2008, the year of the financial crisis, he joined JP Morgan.  Taking the opportunity to become an advisor at their private client group, he moved to Los Angeles. During the time, Martz said he was 24 years old and one of the youngest advisors with JP Morgan in California.

In a matter of “right time, right place” Martz found himself working in Hollywood and attracted a pretty big client demographic in the sports and entertainment world. In 2017, after a shift in the industry, Martz left his job and partnered with Western International to create his own firm. Working on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles, Martz fulfills his passion for working with people every day. “We like to say that we are the nexus of finance and lifestyle in the sports and entertainment industry,” he said. “Understanding that money is not the most important thing to most people, money just fuels power, people, places and things which are the most important to most people.”

The Importance of a CFP®

Another reason Martz pursued earning a CFP® certification was that he wanted the firm to be the best it could be. “I knew by having both real-world experience and an academic background to understand all the nuts and bolts are critically important,” he said. “If you have the vision of being an independent practitioner or building your own business, California Lutheran University MBA program in financial planning is an absolutely essential part of that journey to have the education, the background, and the network of people who are like-minded,” he said. 

As the financial planning industry evolves, Martz believes that the standards and expectations of those working in the industry are evolving too. “I believe the CFP® is quickly becoming the gold standard in the financial planning industry. In my opinion, the financial services industry is demanding more professionalism and the CFP® is a basic requirement for entrance into that profession,” he said. California Lutheran University allowed him to gain both academic and real-life experience. “California Lutheran University is a place where I can get practical experience for what I need for a CFP® but also insight into launching a firm, management experience, marketing, and operational pieces I’m going to need,” Martz said. 

Learning From Real-Life Examples

One of Martz’s most valuable experiences in the program was the relationships and collaborations with his peers and the faculty. “One of the things I love about the program that I didn’t necessarily anticipate is that so much of the faculty are currently in the industry in different areas,” he said. As a result, the faculty brings everyday experiences to the classroom, which allowed him to implement them with his clients, he explained.  

“Dr. Chien is incredible. I took two courses with her, my capstone course was an eye-opening experience and the other class I took with her was financial planning for small businesses. Our industry is so interesting because there are so many different business models. That course really gave me a lot of clarity of what the next five to ten years are going to look like. Those courses by far had the biggest impact on my career and my life and translating how to deal with people,” Martz said.

The Future of Financial Planning 

In five to ten years’ time, Martz wants to see a lot of growth within his firm providing advice to as many people as they can. “We want to be a small part in a big movement of trying to educate America’s next generation on how to manage money well,” he said. One of Martz’s biggest influences is Josh Brown, a CEO of a wealth-management firm in New York. He is an inspirational leader in retail wealth management working to further the conversation of personal finance to consumers and encouraging more people to build a great understanding of wealth management and create financial independence. Martz wants to be a part of the professionals that are changing and shifting the conversation of personal financial management and what it means.  

Martz’s advice to others thinking of pursuing a career in financial planning is to practice patience. After 15 years of education and experience, he believes that he now truly has developed an understanding of where his path is heading. He advises others “to fall in love with learning because there’s so much to learn in this industry. You will get exposure to so many opportunities in financial planning,” he said. 

Spending Time Away From Finance 

When Martz isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children. He also enjoys fitness and being active outdoors including competing in 5K’s, triathlons, and bike events. 

About Andrew Martz: 

Andrew Martz is a Los Angeles-based independent financial planner. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey earning a B.S. degree in Business and Technology. He started his career working on Wall Street before joining JP Morgan as a Private Client Advisor in Los Angeles. In 2017, he founded WIS Advisors Inc. working with professionals in the sports and entertainment industries. Martz has earned his MBA in Financial Planning at California Lutheran University as well as working toward his CFP®.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.