Jennifer Harper is not the typical ACP member. She came to ACP with an established firm, but longed for a community of like-minded professionals to support her in her quest to provide her clients independent, fee-only professional advice.
You might say Jennifer started at the bottom. “My first job in our broad field of work was working as a file clerk in a trust and investment department of a bank while I worked on my MBA in 2000,” she said. “From there, I moved into being the department's securities trader.” It wasn’t long before Jennifer saw that financial planning could be so much more than selling products clients might not need.
In 2006 Jennifer earned her CFP designation followed by her CEPA enabling her to effectively engage more business owners. Today she is living her ideal practice! “I never had a dream to build a large firm, but practically, I think there is a lot of value in having a second planner and a client service associate,” she said. “This structure has allowed our clients to have good coverage from our team at all times and has afforded me the opportunity to travel more over the last year and a half. We're small, but mighty!”
By imagining what financial planning would look like for herself and her family if she were on the other side of the desk, Jennifer has built a client focused-practice that serves young professionals, entrepreneurs, and retirees attain their financial goals. “When we focus on the fundamentals of good financial planning, we help our clients bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be,” she said.
Jennifer finds the can-do attitude of ACP’s leadership and staff refreshing. She appreciates being part of a group of professionals who also enjoy taking the path less travelled. “It's rewarding professionally, personally, and to our clients. I want to be a part of the conversations and organizations that keep moving the profession forward in a positive way for clients. I think I've found that culture!
Welcome, Jennifer Harper!"