NAPFA 2024奖获得者

NAPFA is thrilled to honor a distinguished group of professionals and firms with its prestigious 2024 awards. These individuals and organizations exemplify the standards of excellence and commitment that NAPFA promotes in the field of Fee-Only financial planning.

罗伯特J. Underwood Distinguished Service Award

Janet Briaud, CFP®

Janet has been a pioneering force in the fee-only financial planning community since launching her career in 1986. She came to the US from Canada in 1978 and as one of the few women in the industry in 1986, she established her practice with a commitment to the fee-only model right from the start. Janet quickly distinguished herself and her firm, 位于大学城, 德州, by serving a niche clientele of university professionals—well before having a niche became a widespread strategy in financial planning.

Her influence expanded significantly when she served on the board of directors and then as President and Chair of NAPFA. Through the years she has been invited to lecture to NAPFA members on a wide range of topics including The Economics of Fee-Only Planning, 在利基市场工作, 遗产规划, 和目标设定.

除了她的宣传工作, Janet was instrumental in founding the 20/20 group, a consortium of thought-leading firms known for their size and influence within NAPFA and beyond. This initiative not only fostered collaboration among firms but also enhanced access to alternative assets and private markets, meeting a growing need among sophisticated investors.

Janet's commitment to the advancement of the financial planning profession extended to academia. She tirelessly advocated for financial education at 德州 A&米大学, her local institution, serving on advisory boards within the finance program. Encouraging others in her firm to get involved with 德州 A&米大学, especially after the introduction of a financial planning minor (now major as of 2024), her efforts have ensured that the next generation of financial professionals are well-educated and ethically grounded.

Throughout her nearly four decades in the industry, Janet has maintained her maverick streak, continuously exploring new opportunities to enhance her clients' financial well-being. Her dedication and visionary leadership have not only shaped her firm's success but also profoundly influenced the broader landscape of financial planning.

今天, Briaud Financial Advisors is a nationally recognized firm serving a diverse client base and is known for its innovative and forward-thinking approach to personal finance.

激励领袖奖

Sunit Bhalla, CFP®

Sunit is the founder of OakTree Financial Planning, a fee-only firm based in Fort Collins, 科罗拉多州, that provides financial planning and investment management to engineers and other technology professionals.

Sunit received a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning, a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University. 他之前的工作是R&D manager and software developer at Hewlett Packard and Agilent Technologies.

Sunit’s volunteer experience includes serving on the NAPFA National Board, co-leading the NAPFA Solo 谈话圈, leading the NAPFA Northern 科罗拉多州 Study Group; serving on several NAPFA committees, including the Leadership Development Committee, 教育委员会, and the Audit committee; and speaking at more than fifteen conferences.

He currently is on the Board of Directors at the Food Bank of Larimer County, and he volunteered more than 600 hours in his kids’ classrooms when they were younger.

Sunit and his wife are avid runners and have run three marathons. They also love traveling the world with their kids.

新专业奖项

Franklin Gay, CFP®，EA

富兰克林·盖伊, CFP®, EA joined 托比亚斯金融顾问公司 in 2020 and serves as a Wealth Advisor. He earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification as well as completed the testing requirements to become an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service giving him the privilege to represent clients before the IRS. These credentials create a strong foundation in financial planning and taxation that allow Franko to help clients across various planning areas.

Franko takes great pleasure in working with a diverse range of clients, 包括企业主, 高管, 飞行员, 房地产专业人士. With a passion for understanding their unique needs and goals, Franko strives to provide tailored financial strategies and solutions that align with their specific circumstances to help them achieve long-term success.

Born and raised in Central Florida, Franko is a proud alumnus of the University of Central Florida from which he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance. 在攻读学位期间, Franklin also concurrently attended Bryant University’s financial planning certificate program. 成为一个积极的学习者, he is currently working toward earning his MBA in Process Improvement at Nova Southeastern University, as he is passionate about business operations and optimization of daily procedures.

Before joining 托比亚斯金融顾问公司, Franko worked in a boutique wealth management and financial planning firm in which he assisted the principal of the firm in developing financial plans for over 120 clients in 14 states.

Franko is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), where he also serves as the President of the South Region Board of Directors. Franko often attends their conferences, creating connections with like-minded financial professionals as well as offering mentorship for the young generation of financial planners. Franko is also passionate about business operations and process improvement. He serves as a Chair of the South Florida Student Chapter for the American Society of Quality. 在这个角色中, he works on engaging current students, alumni and prospective students on the substantial contribution that an education in process improvement can make in people’s professional lives through the organization of educational and social events.

在业余时间, 你会发现弗兰科在钓鱼, 皮划艇, 享受美丽, sunny South Florida weather with his loved ones.

引用Franko的话: “There is so much more to money than just numbers, there is real sacrifice behind each and every dollar saved. To be entrusted by clients to act as their guide through markets, 税收立法, and overwhelming emotion is a real privilege that I keep at the forefront of my mind while building these lifelong relationships.”

激励领袖奖

妮基·帕鲁奇，CAE

妮基·帕鲁奇，CAE, is a seasoned association executive professional with over 17 years of experience. She spent the first ten years of her career at SmithBucklin, working primarily with leadership and volunteer programs in technology user groups. In 2015, she moved to the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), where her focus was primarily on membership engagement and recruitment, 一些努力, 志愿者管理. 在NAPFA工作期间, 会员增长超过75%, but she's most proud of the programming she created for diverse groups within the association. As of December of 2023, Nikki is the Director of 成员hip & Customer Engagement at the Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) where she’s focused on creating a connected and positive member experience for the food science community.

Nikki's passion is for creating inclusive, 协作的社区, 为了达到这个目的, she has been an active Association Forum volunteer for several years. She currently serves as their Chair for the Member Engagement Committee. Nikki also serves as the Vice President of the Board of her children's elementary school fundraising organization, and coaches youth soccer on the weekend. She lives in Chicago with her family, 业余时间用来跑步, 阅读, and cooking for her friends and family.

财务规划 曾获 Excellence in DEI Award – Solo Firm for its dedicated efforts to promote diversity, 股本, and inclusion within their operations and the broader community.

压载点财务规划 曾获 Excellence in DEI Award – Mid-Sized Firm, awarded for their effective initiatives in fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity at every level of their organization.

托比亚斯金融顾问公司 曾获 Excellence in DEI Award – Large Firm for their substantial and effective DEI initiatives, significantly enhancing inclusivity within the firm and setting a benchmark in the industry.

NAPFA基金会 Pro Bono Service Award

Lisa Neira，注册会计师

Lisa is a Wealth Advisor in our Morristown, NJ, office. Lisa joined legacy firm RegentAtlantic in 2021, bringing over 15 years of experience in wealth management and providing financial advice to high-net-worth individuals and families. She advises clients on financial planning, tax planning and investment management to help them achieve their financial goals leading up to and through retirement. Lisa specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ clients and their families, and understands the unique financial challenges this community generally faces. She also serves as a LGBTQIA+ planning resource to other advisors across the firm. She is a featured speaker and has been quoted in financial news media, 包括资产电视, Barron’s Advisor and InvestmentNews. Lisa holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. She graduated from Richard Stockton School of New Jersey, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies with a concentration in finance and economics. Prior to joining RegentAtlantic, Lisa was a VP, Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments. Lisa resides in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, with her wife, Mindy Neira and their daughter Jackson. 她喜欢旅行。, 为她的家人做饭, 带着小狗到处跑, 艾弗里, and watching her favorite sports teams. She is an avid fan of the Nets, Jets and Yankees.