3 QUALITIES THAT MAKE A PARAPLANNER ELITE:
Financial Planning Acumen | Client Communication Skills | Technology Proficiency
I have been in the personal finance industry since 2016. I have a finance degree from Cal State Fullerton, and I hold Series 7 and 66 securities registrations as well as a state of Hawaii Life/Health insurance license. In 2020, I obtained the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional Designation (FPQP®) through the College for Financial Planning as the foundation for launching my paraplanning services practice.
For complex analyses and deep-dive topical knowledge, I am mentored by financial planning industry thought leader, John (J.R.) Robinson. J.R. is the owner/founder of Financial Planning Hawaii and is co-founder of software-maker, Nest Egg Guru. He has twice been included on Investopedia’s list of the top 100 most influential financial advisors in the U.S., he has published numerous papers on a broad range of planning topics in peer-reviewed journals (including three award-winning papers on retirement income sustainability), and he is a regular contributor to industry publications including Advisor Perspectives, Wealth Management.com, Financial Planning, and more.
I have a Masters in Elementary Education and for the decade prior to entering the personal finance industry, I was a school teacher at Helemano Elementary School in Honolulu, Hawaii where I received Teacher of Excellence award honors. As you will see, the communication skills I developed from teaching young children to interacting with faculty members and parents translates perfectly to making your clients feel at ease and to making you stand apart for your good judgment in retaining my services. My passion for financial planning and client education shine through.
My technology skills include proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace, and Mac OSX (Numbers, Pages, Keynote). With respect to industry-specific software, I have experience with financial planning software including eMoney, MoneyGuide Pro, Envestnet, Right Capital, Nest Egg Guru, Asset Map, Holistiplan and Income Lab. For budgeting, I have used Simpli (by Quicken), YNAB, and eMoney. For CRM applications, I have worked with Redtail, Smart Office (Ebix), Salesforce, and Constant Contact. I have also worked on the advisor wealth management platforms for Raymond James, Pershing (NetX 360), NFS (Wealthscape), and TD Ameritrade Institutional (VeoOne). I am constantly testing and learning new software.