Have you ever looked at the letters after an advisor’s name and wondered what they stand for? These credentials actually offer significant insight into the expertise and commitment of an advisor.
In this episode, Nick Roth, CFP®, of Foster & Motley breaks down why these credentials are important and demystifies the common professional designations in financial services. Tune in to understand how paying attention to these credentials can help you choose the right advisor – as they’re often one of the first things you see on an advisor’s profile.
Nick shares more about:
The distinction between investment management and financial planning designations
The training and ongoing education involved in CFP®, CFA®, and CPA
Examples of other specialized designations with niche expertise areas
Foster & Motley’s commitment to advisor learning and fiduciary standards
Are you worried about the safety of your sensitive information online? By cultivating good security habits, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of fraud so you can sleep better at night.
In this episode, Joe Patterson, CFP®, of Foster & Motley empowers you with the knowledge and awareness to protect your financial well-being in an increasingly digital world. You will learn preventative measures and best practices to minimize the risk of cyber fraud. Joe’s recommendations take little time to put into practice, while getting scammed can be costly, time-consuming, and mentally draining.
Joe shares more about:
The importance of freezing your credit to prevent unauthorized access
The ease of using password managers for unique and complex passwords across various sites
Best practices while making online purchases
How to recognize scam emails, suspicious links, and fraudulent phone calls
While tax savings may not be a primary driver for your charitable contributions, being aware of opportunities can help you amplify your impact.
In this episode, Emily K. Diaz, MAcc, CPA, CFP®, of Foster & Motley shares valuable insights on year-end charitable giving, the benefits of planning ahead, and its connection to tax planning. Whether you wish to give to your family, directly to an organization, or through a charitable foundation, you will learn actionable ideas to improve tax efficiency and leave a lasting impact.
Emily also sheds light on an Ohio-specific gifting strategy, where you can capitalize on available tax credits through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
Emily shares more about:
The tax implications of different types of gifts (e.g., cash vs. appreciated stocks)
Simplified explanation of commonly used strategies, such as donor-advised funds
The benefits of planning out larger gifts over multiple years
We’ve all heard that diversification in our investment portfolio is important, but it’s bigger than diversifying among US stocks only.
In this episode, Zach Horn, MBA, CFP®, CMFC®, discusses the importance of diversifying portfolios with international investments. He explores the differences between established and emerging markets, the historical performance of US stocks versus international stocks, and the recommended ratio of US to international stocks.
Zach shares more about:
Use of mutual funds for international exposure
Currency risk in international investing and ways to hedge it
Importance of gaining international exposure and diversifying investments
Historical data supporting international stocks outperforming US stocks in certain scenarios
Zach Horn knows that a plan communicated in a language people can understand, no matter how complex it might actually be, is possible in every situation and serves everyone involved in the best way possible. Zach has built many client relationships that are more like friendships and go beyond the normal aspects of planning and management. And that’s just the way he wants it.
Zach has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Ohio University and an MBA degree in Finance from Xavier University. Before joining Foster & Motley, Zach worked for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. as a financial advisor in Columbus, Ohio. He joined the firm in 2007 as the Securities Trader and a member of the investment team. Zach obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC®) designations in 2012. He is now an Investment Manager and shareholder.
In addition to his duties as an Investment Manager, Zach is also the Managing Partner and President of the Board. In this role, Zach focuses on the long-term vision of Foster & Motley and how the day-to-day operations support that vision. His communication skills and initiative help keep our team focused, open-minded to change, and collaborative.
Zach lives with his family in Mason, Ohio. He enjoys sports of all kinds, but especially coaching his sons in baseball and basketball. In 2020, Zach was included in Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 class which recognizes the next generation of leaders and innovators in Greater Cincinnati. He recently joined the board of directors for the Ohio Valley Goodwill. Zach was impressed with the scale of the organization and their mission of helping those with disabilities and other challenges gain employment in the community and wanted to be part of their success.
