Latest ACP Blogs

ACP Member Troy Von Haefen featured in Barron's Advisor on advisors that joined the industry after interesting first careers

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ACP Certified Troy Von Haefen was featured in this article from Barron's Advisor covering successful financial advisors that joined the industry after interesting or surprising first careers. Troy shares his backstory and career journey, detailing his first career as a professional musician and how he got into the financial services industry: "I was a professional guitarist and played and toured with Lee Ann Womack. How does one go from being a guitarist to a financial advisor? For me it was actually quite logical. It was something I always had an affinity for, and it came quite naturally to me." https://www.barrons.com/ advisor/articles/financial- advisor-as-second-career- ...
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ACP Member Cordi Powell wins Wealth Solutions Report Pathfinder Award for Black History Month, featuring Top Black Industry Leaders Of 2025

By #ACP ACP
ACP Certified Member Cordi Powell won a Pathfinder Award from Wealth Solutions Report, an awards program that honors excellence in underserved communities and underrepresented communities within the wealth management industry. The Pathfinder Awards celebrating Black History Month feature the Top Black Industry Leaders Of 2025, where Cordi was recognized as the Black Financial Planner of the Year, highlighting her holistic financial planning firm, her professional background, her volunteer efforts in her community, and her involvement in ACP on the Board of Directors and as a committee chair. https://wealthsolutionsreport. com/2025/02/25/wsr-pathfinder- ...
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ACP Member Cordi Powell shares thoughts on 'Empowering the Black Community' in the wealth management industry in Wealth Solutions Report

By #ACP ACP
ACP Certified Member Cordi Powell discussed what steps the wealth management industry can take to empower the black community in this article in Wealth Solutions Report. Cordi was featured alongside two other winners of Wealth Solutions Report's Pathfinder Awards for Black History Month, which highlighted Top Black Industry Leaders Of 2025 and honored Cordi as Black Financial Planner of the Year. "These proactive steps not only build generational wealth but also foster lasting trust and inclusivity in the industry, contributing to a brighter financial future for the Black community and leading to significant and systemic change." https://wealthsolutionsreport. ...
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ACP Member Ken Robinson featured in MarketWatch on roth conversions and how to manage retirement funds

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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled '‘I’m not worried about a legacy.’ I’m 63 with no kids and $600K. I also get Social Security and a pension. What’s next for me?', highlighting Roth conversions and how they may not be right for everyone: "Roth conversions are more about timing when you’ll pay the tax on your traditional IRA, not avoiding tax." https://www.marketwatch.com/ picks/im-not-worried-about-a- legacy-im-63-with-no-kids-and- 600k-i-also-get-social- security-and-a-pension-whats- next-for-me-e40ebdf3
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ACP Member Ken Robinson quoted in GOBankingRates on how you might be wasting money

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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled 'Dave Ramsey: How You Might Easily Be Wasting $5K a Year', weighing in on Dave Ramsey's thoughts on how many people are wasting $5k or more a year: "When we’re getting ready to buy something we haven’t planned for, we’ll tell ourselves, ‘It’s only fifteen dollars,’ as if that’s too small to matter. Any time you think, ‘It’s only…’, stop and think about it for a moment to be sure you really want to make that purchase." https://www.gobankingrates. com/saving-money/savings- advice/dave-ramsey-how-you- might-be-wasting-5k-year/
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ACP Member Elizabeth Buffardi featured in Salon.com on how to manage a large payout

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ACP Certified Member Elizabeth Buffardi was quoted in Salon.com in an article titled 'So you hit the jackpot? Here's what to do with a large payout', highlighting the importance of properly managing an unexpected financial windfall: "What is the goal of this money? Sometimes, clients know exactly what they want to do and sometimes they are overwhelmed by all the choices that they don't know where to start. If they don't have specific goals, I like to go step by step to figure out where they are and how we use this new money to make things better." https://www.salon.com/2025/02/ 02/so-you-hit-the-jackpot- heres-what-to-do-with-a-large- payout/
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ACP Member Susan Einberger featured in GOBankingRates on saving stimulus checks for your kids

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ACP Certified Member Susan Einberger was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled 'Saving Future Stimulus Checks for Your Kids? 3 Ways To Ensure Correct Usage'. Susan discusses tax credits and stimulus money that the federal government may provide to parents claiming children on their tax returns and shares the best ways to use it for savings: “The benefits compound if the savings can be directed to a tax advantage account for your child, like a 529 Plan for college or a Roth IRA for retirement. What a savvy way to save for your children: use free government money as a source to contribute to tax advantaged accounts.” https://www.gobankingrates. ...
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ACP Member Elizabeth Buffardi featured in GOBankingRates on financial habits to break for retirement

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ACP Certified Member Elizabeth Buffardi was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled '4 Financial Habits To Break After Age 50 If You Want To Retire on Time', highlighting the importance of preparing and planning early, handling unexpected expenses, and more: “When you are young, you feel like you have all the time in the world to prepare for something that is 30-40 years down the road. And then all of a sudden, you are 50 and realize that you have a lot of ground to make up and not a lot of time to do it.” https://www.gobankingrates. com/retirement/planning/ financial-habits-break-after- age-50-retire-on-time/
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ACP Mentioned in Los Angeles Times on Finding Fee-Only Planners

By #ACP ACP
ACP was mentioned in Liz Weston's column in the Los Angeles Times, in an article titled 'A husband handles the investing. What happens when he’s gone?'. ACP was mentioned alongside XYPN as good organizations and resources to find fee-only, fiduciary planners that can help. https://www.latimes.com/ business/story/2024-12-15/ money-talk-20241215
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ACP Member Fran Goldman featured in news release on Yahoo! Finance after acquisition by Mercer Advisors

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ACP Certified Member Fran Goldman featured in this news release published in Yahoo! Finance after her firm's acquisition by Mercer Advisors. The news release details Frango Financial LLC joining Mercer, as well as Fran being named the recipient of the 2024 Bert Whitehead Visionary Award at the 2024 ACP Annual Conference, in recognition of her dedication to helping clients achieve their financial goals and her leadership in the financial planning industry. https://finance.yahoo.com/ news/mercer-advisors-welcomes- woman-advisory-140000892.html
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ACP Member Ken Robinson quoted in GOBankingRates on quick money moves to make

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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled "The 5-Minute Money Move Experts Recommend", discussing how to assess debt: "If you have credit card debt, decide which one you’re going to pay off first, and save five dollars more this week than you have up to now. It’s the most fundamental thing you can do to improve your finances: owe less and save more. But don’t think of it as this big thing. Just make one small step in the right direction." https://www.gobankingrates. com/saving-money/budgeting/5- minute-money-move-experts- recommend/
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ACP Member Ken Robinson interviewed for Fiduciary Voices FinLit Video on Finding Serenity in Retirement

By #ACP ACP
ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was interviewed by Bob Veres for the Fiduciary Voices FinLit video series, discussing "Finding Serenity in Retirement". Together, they delve into the intersection of financial security and personal well-being, unpacking the keys to a joyful and fulfilling retirement. https://www.fiduciaryvoices. com/videos/finding-serenity- in-retirement-with-ken- robinson-fiduciary-voices- finlit-series
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ACP Member Thomas Cook included in InvestmentNews Rising Stars List

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ACP Certified Member Thomas Cook, Financial Planner and Founder of Retire to Tellico, was included in InvestmentNews' 2024 list of Rising Stars, featuring the Best Wealth Managers & Advisors Under 40 in the USA. "InvestmentNews’ Rising Stars of 2024 have coped admirably, earned the industry’s respect, and been named to the prestigious list by an independent panel of industry leaders." https://www.investmentnews. com/best-in-wealth/best- wealth-managers-advisors- under-40-in-the-usa-rising- stars/258176
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ACP Member Keith Spencer featured in CBS News on how to tackle credit card debt before the holidays

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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in CBS News in an article titled "5 ways to tackle your credit card debt before the holidays", sharing how you can start dealing with your lingering credit card debt issues: "The first thing I would look at is to see whether you can consolidate debt to a lower interest rate. If you struggle with debt, then rather than trying to benefit from using credit cards, it would be better to stay away from them completely after paying them down." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ how-to-tackle-your-credit- card-debt-before-the-holidays/
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ACP Member Ken Robinson featured in Barron's on crypto in client portfolios

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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in this article in Barron's Advisor titled '‘Bitcoin Just Hit a Record High. What Financial Advisors Think of Crypto Now.", looking at the recent surge in the crypto market, how financial advisors view crypto, and if they recommend it for client portfolios: "Accepting that cryptocurrency is a kind of currency means that investing in it depends on whether it makes sense to invest in currencies at all." https://www.barrons.com/ advisor/articles/bitcoin- record-financial-advisors- 233ac51f
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ACP Mentioned in Los Angeles Times on Finding Fee-Only Planners

By #ACP ACP
ACP was mentioned in Liz Weston's column in the Los Angeles Times, in a section about long-term care insurance and commissions. ACP was mentioned alongside NAPFA, XYPN, and Garrett Planning Network as good organizations and resources to find planners who are fee only, adhere to the fiduciary standard, and can offer broader financial advice. https://www.latimes.com/ business/story/2024-11-17/ money-talk-20241117
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ACP Member Ken Robinson featured in MarketWatch on investment advice from financial advisors

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ACP Certified Member Ken Robinson was quoted in MarketWatch in an article titled '‘Should I expect more?’ My adviser keeps saying ‘let it ride’ but I’ve had big swings – ’a $300,000 loss hurts’ – as I near retirement. So now what?', looking at what kind of advice investors should expect from financial advisors, working with different types of advisors, investment strategies, and more. Ken says you can’t expect a legitimate advisor to be able to outguess the financial markets: "Honest financial professionals will admit that they cannot predict the future. If you’re going to treat equities as a long-term investment, it means holding on through the downturns." ...
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ACP Member Susan Einberger featured in Comparison Advisor on education planning

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ACP Certified Member Susan Einberger was quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'Education Planning: How It Works and What to Consider'. Susan explains her thoughts on what to consider as you begin saving for education: "The most effective way to save for higher education is to start when the child is born and to automate direct deposits from your paycheck, in addition to using the Child Tax Credit strategy." https://comparisonadviser.com/ financial-advisors/education- planning/
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ACP Member Keith Spencer featured in Comparison Advisor on avoiding retirement planning mistakes

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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in Comparison Adviser in an article titled 'Avoid These 5 Costly Mistakes When Planning for Retirement', examining top mistakes that pre-retirees make during the planning process. Keith weighs in on 'Failing to Anticipate Post-Retirement Lifestyle', 'Using the Wrong Investing Approach', 'Not Planning for Decumulation of Your Assets', and more. https://comparisonadviser.com/ news-and-studies/top- retirement-planning-mistakes/
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ACP Member Keith Spencer featured in GOBankingRates on paying off debt on a fixed income

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ACP Certified Member Keith Spencer was quoted in GOBankingRates in an article titled '4 Tips for Paying Off Debt on a Fixed Income', sharing how consolidating your debt, figuring out which debts to target, and prioritizing your spending can help those on a fixed income pay off their debt faster. https://www.gobankingrates. com/net-worth/debt/tips-for- paying-off-debt-on-fixed- income/
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