A Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) is an educated, experienced and qualified specialist committed to your financial well-being and that of your family and business. A ChFC® can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial planning topics. With the help and knowledge of a ChFC® you can create a sound financial plan, minimize your income taxes, increase your nest egg for retirement, maximize your investments, and enhance the value of your estate. But most importantly of all, a ChFC® pledges to place your interests above all else when helping to establish financial goals and implement a financial plan.

In a world where people are more responsible than ever for their financial lives, it’s important that they understand the key things they need to do in each phase of their life. The Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) certification is recognized as the highest standard in personal financial planning. Although in practice CFP^®s and ChFC^®s are not all that different, the distinction really lies in what’s required to earn each certification. The important fact is that you want to work with advisors who have the education, experience, have passed comprehensive exams testing their abilities to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations, and are held to the highest standards of ethics and professional responsibility.

To varying degrees, we are hardwired to avoid pain, play it safe, and pursue pleasure. That means investment management that disregards your emotions and behaviors just won’t work. We provide coaching and reassurance so you can feel calm when the markets are not. We help you understand and put into perspective short-term market swings so you can stay focused on your long-term goals. Your investment portfolio will be tailored not only to your goals but also to your tolerance for risk—so you can stay the course for the returns you need to achieve your dreams.

That trust is grounded in our unwavering commitment to act solely in your best interest with undivided loyalty. As an investment fiduciary who has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies™, Rick continues to set Financial Independence apart and demonstrate his, and the firm’s, ongoing commitment to help every client achieve financial independence and live his or her best life. Continuing education and the pursuit of credentials that are meaningful to the value we provide are all part of why we do what we do.

To receive the Five Star Wealth Manager award, a wealth manager must satisfy 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria that are associated with wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients. Factors taken into account include assets under management and client retention rate. Candidates also undergo a thorough regulatory and complaint review.

Five Star Spotlight

The 2024 Practice Excellence Awards are issued by AssetMark and recognize financial advisory firms for embracing AssetMark technology to perform traditionally manual middle- and back-office functions. Award recipients were selected by a panel of senior leaders in AssetMark's Operations and Service organization. Nominees were evaluated based on usage of our digital tools, accuracy, and volume of work. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results.

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