Professional Groups

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
Robin Sherwood is a member of NAPFA, a non-profit, member organization dedicated to the practice of fee-Only financial planning. Membership in NAPFA is limited to financial advisors who are paid directly by their clients, adhere to strict ethical standards, and who submit a complete comprehensive financial plan for full-scale peer review. NAPFA members must meet the industry's most rigorous education and training requirements. Members must also sign and abide by the NAPFA Fiduciary Oath, thereby making a commitment to working solely in the client's interest at all times. NAPFA conducts high-quality conferences and educational events in furtherance of its commitment to enhancing the professional skills of its members. www.napfa.org

Financial Planning Association (FPA)
Robin Sherwood, Barbara Ollinger and Jennifer Nicasio are members of the Financial Planning Association. The FPA connects those who need, support and deliver financial planning services. As such, its members consist of CFPs, accountants, attorneys, bankers, charitable giving specialists, insurance agents, money managers, investment consultants, and others who champion the financial planning process. The FPA offers networking, marketing and learning opportunities to its members. To learn more about the FPA and to view Robin's and Barbara's planner listings, go to the FPA website at www.fpanet.org

Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) New York City Study Group
Tom Gnuse is a founding member of the DFA NYC Study Group. This is an informal group comprised of principals of about a dozen independent investment advisory firms in the greater New York area that have qualified to invest in funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA).

The mission of DFA is to deliver the performance of capital markets and increase returns through state-of-the-art portfolio design and trading. DFA's model of investing is based not on speculation but on the science of capital markets, as established by decades of research.

Goals of the study group are to obtain and share information regarding the optimal use of DFA products and resources, effective portfolio design, practice management, and client communications.

The Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County
Robin Sherwood is a member of The Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County, which was founded more than thirty years ago to promote the exchange of ideas among estate planning and wealth management professionals. The Council includes accountants, bankers and trust officers, insurance professionals, and financial planners.

Aegis Group
Tom Gnuse is a member of the Aegis Group. Aegis is an informal network of principals of thirteen independent fee-only investment management and financial planning firms from around the U.S. Aegis members strive to be on the technical and intellectual forefront of professional financial advisors in order to provide excellent service to the members' clients and to advance the knowledge and the overall quality of the profession. The group's synergy enhances its members' effectiveness, without compromising independence or objectivity.

Aegis was the "Shield of Jupiter" in Roman mythology. It symbolizes the role Aegis members perform in shielding clients from investment perils, as well as the strength gained through collective wisdom.
The other members of the Aegis Group are:

Nancy Blunck, CFP: www.blunckfinancial.com

Rick Clarke, MBA, CPA: www.zrccpas.com

Bill Dix: www.fortunemanagement.com. Fee Only Investment Advisor - Fiduciary -FPA Member - Chartered Financial Consultant Advisor in Raleigh, NC

Mike Durant, CFP: www.belmontfinancial.com

John Eckel, MBA, CFP, CFA: www.pinnacle-investment.com. Fee only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Chartered Financial Analyst - Financial Advisor in Hartford, CT area

Susan John, CFP, AIF: www.yourfinancialfocus.com

Kathleen Kee, CFP: www.pia-invest.com

Marty Kurtz, CFP: www.theplanningcenter.com

Ben Tobias, CFP, CPA: www.tobiasfinancial.com