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Our Background

Our Standard of Excellence

In an increasingly complex world, our goal is to add value to our client's financial and emotional well-being. We have determined that the best way we can help our clients is by providing them with specialized knowledge and assisting them as they navigate complex issues.  

This is why we believe it is important that the financial advisors at Schmerling Financial Group are Certified Public Accountants and hold a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and a Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®):

For more than 30 years, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification has been the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements and commit to ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first.

CFP® professionals take a holistic, personalized approach to bring all the pieces of your financial life together. As part of the CFP® certification, CFP® professionals also act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice. This means we put your best interests first and provide you with specialized advice for your special situations.

The CFP certification focuses on 8 principal knowledge domains:

  • Professional Conduct and Regulation
  • General Principles of Financial Planning
  • Risk Management and Insurance Planning
  • Investment Planning
  • Tax Planning
  • Retirement Savings and Income Planning
  • Estate Planning
  • Psychology of Financial Planning

Certified Public Accountant (CPA):

The work of a Certified Public Accountant is not just limited to filing tax returns for clients in a timely manner. We put ourselves in your shoes and use the right asset allocation, tax-efficient investment products and tax-conscious planning solutions to help you keep more of what you earn.

Taxes have the ability to erode the net result of all your hard work. That’s why true comprehensive advice means we focus on what you take home — not just how your portfolio performs. We’re dedicated to providing comprehensive planning advice through a tax-focused lens.

To become a licensed CPA, you must meet the education, examination, and experience requirements. All candidates must pass an exam that comprises four sections: Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation. 

Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®):

Holding a RICP® designation means that someone is qualified to assist with planning and executing retirement strategies. The RICP delves much more deeply into the specific area of retirement income planning. The program looks at a variety of withdrawal planning approaches and includes detailed training about claiming Social Security, addressing long-term care and health-care needs, securing housing, and planning for income taxes and legacies.