Briefly describe your financial planning work history/experience or attach your resume.
My career in financial services began when I decided to enter a CFP® Board registered program as an undergraduate student at California State University Fullerton. Upon earning my Bachelor's Degree in 2002 I was offered an associate position with Wise Steward Corporation, an independent broker/dealer affiliated firm of National Planning Corporation in Southern California. During this time, I earned the NASD Series 6, 63, 7, and 65 securities licenses, as well as an insurance license. In 2003, I was promoted to Jr. Partner with management, recruiting, and training responsibilities. In 2004, I began the process of becoming independent as an outside Sr. Advisor of Wise Steward. In 2005, I established Portnoff Financial LLC as a completely independent Fee-for-Service comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory practice
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What are your Educational qualifications? What financial planning designation(s) or certifications do you currently hold?
I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California State University Fullerton with a concentration in finance (CFP® Board registered Personal Financial Planning study program). Courses of study included: Financial Accounting; Business & It's Legal Environment; Business/Professional Ethics; Business Finance; The International Economy; Business Microeconomics; Theory of Corporate Finance; Introduction to Investments; Options & Futures; Capital and Money Markets; Personal Financial Planning; Retirement & Estate Planning; Principles of Taxation; Real Estate Investment Analysis; and Principles of Insurance.
I have earned the following professional designations: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™, CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANS SPECIALIST™. CERTIFIED ESTATE and TRUST SPECIALIST For Financial Advisors™, and CERTIFIED FUND SPECIALIST®. In addition, I am a NAPFA Registered Fee-Only Advisor, Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisor, HS Dent Network Advisor, and I have been given a five-star quality rating by the Paladin Registry.
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Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your professional career?
No.
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Have you ever been cited by a professional or regulatory governing body for disciplinary reasons? If yes, please explain.
No.
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How many years of experience do you have in the following: Retirement Planning; Investment Planning; Tax Planning; Estate Planning; Insurance Planning; Integrated Planning; Other;
I have been providing comprehensive financial advice including the above examples since 2002.
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What are your areas of specialization? What qualifies you in this field?
I specialize in retirement accumulation and distribution planning with individuals, families and business retirement plans. I help clients not only figure out how to effectively accumulate assets, but also how to protect those assets from confiscatory taxation. The AIF® and CRPS® designations have given me specialized training for company sponsored retirement plans and my continuous study as an Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisor qualifies me to help individuals with specific retirement account distribution issues. Also my association with HS Dent Advisors Network has given me the tools I need to help my clients better understand the direction and trend of the economy to make better investment, financial, business, and career decisions.
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What licenses do you hold?
When I was a registered representative of National Planning Corporation, a broker/dealer, I held the NASD (now FINRA) Series 6, 63, 7, and 65 securities licenses. These licenses are required by registered representatives of broker/dealers to sell commission based financial products. As a Registered Investment Advisor, I no longer need these licenses because I do not sell commission based financial products. I currently have a life/health insurance license in order to continue to service clients with insurance products and to remain in compliance to provide insurance advice.
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Are you and/or your firm registered as an investment adviser? If not registered, why not?
Yes, Portnoff Financial LLC is registered as an Investment Adviser in New Jersey, New York, and California. I am an Investment Advisor Representative of Portnoff Financial LLC.
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Are you willing to provide full written disclosure for your credentials, ethics, business practices, and wealth management services?
Yes. All of these disclosures are in the Form ADV Brochure which can be found on the Forms page.
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Do you maintain an affiliation with a broker/dealer firm to sell financial products for commission?
No. Portnoff Financial LLC does not offer any financial products that pay sales commissions thus no broker/dealer affiliation is necessary.
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Do you have clients who might be willing to speak with me about your services?
Client privacy is of utmost importance; therefore, I do not release information of any kind about my clients unless specifically authorized to do so. Providing references forces me to impose upon my clients for my own benefit which I will not do.
In addition, Rule 206(4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 prohibits the use of testimonials. The intent of the rule is to prevent false and misleading advertisements. Testimonials are not permitted because they are inherently misleading, biased, and do not provide objective information that will help you make an informed decision.
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Will you provide me recommendations to other professionals?
I provide recommendations for certain professionals, or assist my clients in finding other professionals that they feel comfortable with such as CPA's, Attorneys, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, etc.
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Which professional associations or organizations are you affiliated with?
See Professional Associations.
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Are you currently engaged in any other business, as a sole proprietor, partner, officer, employee, trustee, agent or otherwise?If yes, please explain.
No.
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My career in financial services began when I decided to enter a CFP® Board registered program as an undergraduate student at California State University Fullerton. Upon earning my Bachelor's Degree in 2002 I was offered an associate position with Wise Steward Corporation, an independent broker/dealer affiliated firm of National Planning Corporation in Southern California. During this time, I earned the NASD Series 6, 63, 7, and 65 securities licenses, as well as an insurance license. In 2003, I was promoted to Jr. Partner with management, recruiting, and training responsibilities. In 2004, I began the process of becoming independent as an outside Sr. Advisor of Wise Steward. In 2005, I established Portnoff Financial LLC as a completely independent Fee-for-Service comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory practice
Back to top
What are your Educational qualifications? What financial planning designation(s) or certifications do you currently hold?
I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California State University Fullerton with a concentration in finance (CFP® Board registered Personal Financial Planning study program). Courses of study included: Financial Accounting; Business & It's Legal Environment; Business/Professional Ethics; Business Finance; The International Economy; Business Microeconomics; Theory of Corporate Finance; Introduction to Investments; Options & Futures; Capital and Money Markets; Personal Financial Planning; Retirement & Estate Planning; Principles of Taxation; Real Estate Investment Analysis; and Principles of Insurance.
I have earned the following professional designations: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™, CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANS SPECIALIST™. CERTIFIED ESTATE and TRUST SPECIALIST For Financial Advisors™, and CERTIFIED FUND SPECIALIST®. In addition, I am a NAPFA Registered Fee-Only Advisor, Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisor, HS Dent Network Advisor, and I have been given a five-star quality rating by the Paladin Registry.
Back to top
Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your professional career?
No.
Back to top
Have you ever been cited by a professional or regulatory governing body for disciplinary reasons? If yes, please explain.
No.
Back to top
How many years of experience do you have in the following: Retirement Planning; Investment Planning; Tax Planning; Estate Planning; Insurance Planning; Integrated Planning; Other;
I have been providing comprehensive financial advice including the above examples since 2002.
Back to top
What are your areas of specialization? What qualifies you in this field?
I specialize in retirement accumulation and distribution planning with individuals, families and business retirement plans. I help clients not only figure out how to effectively accumulate assets, but also how to protect those assets from confiscatory taxation. The AIF® and CRPS® designations have given me specialized training for company sponsored retirement plans and my continuous study as an Ed Slott Master Elite IRA Advisor qualifies me to help individuals with specific retirement account distribution issues. Also my association with HS Dent Advisors Network has given me the tools I need to help my clients better understand the direction and trend of the economy to make better investment, financial, business, and career decisions.
Back to top
What licenses do you hold?
When I was a registered representative of National Planning Corporation, a broker/dealer, I held the NASD (now FINRA) Series 6, 63, 7, and 65 securities licenses. These licenses are required by registered representatives of broker/dealers to sell commission based financial products. As a Registered Investment Advisor, I no longer need these licenses because I do not sell commission based financial products. I currently have a life/health insurance license in order to continue to service clients with insurance products and to remain in compliance to provide insurance advice.
Back to top
Are you and/or your firm registered as an investment adviser? If not registered, why not?
Yes, Portnoff Financial LLC is registered as an Investment Adviser in New Jersey, New York, and California. I am an Investment Advisor Representative of Portnoff Financial LLC.
Back to top
Are you willing to provide full written disclosure for your credentials, ethics, business practices, and wealth management services?
Yes. All of these disclosures are in the Form ADV Brochure which can be found on the Forms page.
Back to top
Do you maintain an affiliation with a broker/dealer firm to sell financial products for commission?
No. Portnoff Financial LLC does not offer any financial products that pay sales commissions thus no broker/dealer affiliation is necessary.
Back to top
Do you have clients who might be willing to speak with me about your services?
Client privacy is of utmost importance; therefore, I do not release information of any kind about my clients unless specifically authorized to do so. Providing references forces me to impose upon my clients for my own benefit which I will not do.
In addition, Rule 206(4)-1 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 prohibits the use of testimonials. The intent of the rule is to prevent false and misleading advertisements. Testimonials are not permitted because they are inherently misleading, biased, and do not provide objective information that will help you make an informed decision.
Back to top
Will you provide me recommendations to other professionals?
I provide recommendations for certain professionals, or assist my clients in finding other professionals that they feel comfortable with such as CPA's, Attorneys, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, etc.
Back to top
Which professional associations or organizations are you affiliated with?
See Professional Associations.
Back to top
Are you currently engaged in any other business, as a sole proprietor, partner, officer, employee, trustee, agent or otherwise?If yes, please explain.
No.
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