Disclosure

Grunden Financial Advisory, Inc. is a SEC registered investment adviser whose principal office is located in Texas.  The adviser may not transact business in states where it is not appropriately registered, excluded or exempted from registration. Individualized responses to persons that involve either the effecting of transaction in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made without registration or exemption. Information on this website is directed toward U.S. residents only.

All clients are advised that it remains their responsibility to advise their financial advisor or Grunden Financial Advisory, Inc. of any changes in their investment objectives and/or financial situation.

This website is a publication of Grunden Financial Advisory, Inc.  Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy, and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of any subjects discussed. A professional advisor should be consulted before any investment decisions are made.

Past performance does not guarantee future success. Information on this website is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein.

Information on this website does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but is limited to the dissemination of general information on products and services. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change.

Hyperlinks on this website point are provided as a convenience only, and we disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy of information on any other website linked hereto.

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Certified Financial Planner ® (CFP®) Designation Defined

The CFP® certification process, administered by CFP Board, identifies to the public that those individuals who have been authorized to use the CFP® certification marks in the U.S. have met rigorous professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients. 

To become a CFP® , you are required to meet the following initial certification requirements:

1. Education (approved Board-Registered programs)
2. Examination (comprehensive exam covering 72 topics)
3. Experience (two to three-year minimum experience of full time, relevant experience)
4. Ethics (must meet the Fitness Standards for Candidates and Registrants set by the Board)

Once you earn the CFP® marks (by meeting the four criteria listed above), you must then meet the CFP Board’s renewal standards to continue using them.  The CFP ® certification must be renewed every two years at the end of your renewal month and you are required to:

1. Complete the certification application (must continue to meet the Fitness Standards for Candidates and Registrants)
2. Pay a $355 certification fee
3. Complete 30 hours of approved continuing education (2 hours must focus on Ethics)

For additional information, please visit: http://www.cfp.net/become/certification.asp

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Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation

Administered by fi360, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) professional designation is the industry's first and only designation that demonstrates knowledge and competency in the area of fiduciary responsibility and communicates a commitment to standards of investment fiduciary excellence. Holders of the AIF® mark have successfully completed a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination.

AIF designees have a reputation in the industry as being the best positioned to implement a prudent process into their own investment practices, as well as being able to assist others in implementing proper policies and procedures.

To become an AIF® , you are required to meet the following initial certification requirements:

1. Successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care
2. Pass a comprehensive exam on best practices of investment fiduciaries

Once you earn the AIF® marks (by meeting the criteria listed above), you must then meet the annual standards to continue using them.  The AIF ® certification must be renewed every year and you are required to:

1. Accrue six hours of continuing professional education with at least four coming from fi360 produced sources (outlined in the section below)
2. Attest to a code of ethics
3. Maintain current contact information in fi360's designee database
4. Remit $325 in annual dues

For additional information, please visit: http://www.fi360.com/main/designations_aif.jsp

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Financial Planning Association®

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal professional organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) professionals, educators, financial services professionals and students who seek advancement in a growing, dynamic profession. Through a collaborative effort to provide more than 22,000 members with tools and resources for professional development, business success, advocacy and community, FPA is the indispensable force in the advancement of today’s CFP® professional. Learn more about FPA at JoinFPA.org.

To join the FPA, you are required to:

1. Submit an application
2. Pay annual membership fees

For more information, please visit: https://www.plannersearch.org/

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Best of D Magazine

Top Financial Planner

D Magazine asked every Certified Financial Planner in the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Financial Planning Association to cast an online ballot. They were asked to name peers, both inside and outside their firms, whom they considered to be the most skilled and experienced financial planners in the industry. Outside-firm votes counted more than inside-firm votes. Self-nominations were tossed out. A panel of esteemed local financial planners reviewed the list. Only CFPs made the list. In 2018, 750 votes were cast, and a total of 235 individuals were nominated. Of these, 91 were selected.

Top Wealth Manager

D Magazine asked every wealth management firm and team in the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Financial Planning Association, Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, and the Investments and Wealth Institute to tell us about their practices. The final list was selected based on these criteria: top firms or teams must have total assets under management for individual clients of at least $100 million; average assets under management per client of at least $1 million; a 95 percent client-retention rate over the last two years; and no current disciplinary actions. Additionally, all firms (or teams, should the team apply as an entity separate from its parent company) must have been in existence for at least five years as of the application deadline (June 6, 2022). They must also hold themselves out as fiduciaries for their clients and provide them with a written disclosure. A panel of esteemed local wealth managers reviewed the final list. All numbers are current as of the application deadline. Out of the 54 that applied, 40 firms and teams were selected.

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Investment News 40 under 40

InvestmentNews is a national publication and each year, since 2014, they highlight what they consider 40 of the top financial advisors under the age of 40. This 40 Under 40 project aims to reveal the tremendous potential in the financial advice industry by finding often unrecognized young talent doing remarkable things. Key attributes they look for among the approximately 1,000 advisers and associated professionals nominated each year are: accomplishment to date, contribution to the industry, leadership and promise. Award winners do not pay to win or to be considered for the award.