FERRO FINANCIAL - Key Persons
For over 15 years, Ms. Givens has worked with families and small businesses to assist them with their tax preparation and accounting needs. Ms. Givens has worked for large accounting and tax firms as well as run her own business. She is known for attention to detail as she works with clients to navigate a complicated tax system. Ms. Givens graduated Cum Laude from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
Job Titles:
- President and Managing Principal of the Tax Advantage
Ms. West is the President and Managing Principal of The Tax Advantage, LLC. Kim started the firm out of a desire to help those under-served by typical accounting and tax firms. She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a degree in Business Management and Accounting. Kim has been an Enrolled Agent for 25 years. She has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and information in the area of taxation.
Job Titles:
- Adviser
- Certified Money Coach
- Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
As a leader in the financial planning field, Ms. Ferro has been quoted in some of the leading publications in finance. Listed below are some of the magazines that have interviewed, quoted, or profiled Ms. Ferro or Ferro Financial, LLC, as well as come article links.
Ms. Ferro is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans where she majored in finance and received a bachelor of business degree.
Ms. Ferro holds several professional credentials. Ms. Ferro earned the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and believes in using a comprehensive financial planning module in working with her clients. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER'® are required to take 60 hours of continuing education credit every two years. Ms. Ferro has held this credential for over 15 years.
Ms. Ferro holds the ENROLLED AGENT designation which is issued by the Department of Treasury. Enrolled agents, Tax attorneys, and CPAs are the only professionals that can represent clients in issues before the US tax courts. Enrolled agents must take 24 hours of continuing education credit every year.
Ms. Ferro is a Certified Money Coach® This designation is issued by the Money Coach Institute. This program uncovers clients' beliefs about money to encourage productive lifetime money skills and behavior.
Ms. Ferro is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. (NAPFA) NAPFA is the premiere association for Fee-Only, Fiduciary Advisors and upholds the highest standards for membership of any other planning association. NAPFA requires the following of its members:
Member must be a Fee-only financial advisor
Member must have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from an accredited institution.
Member must have a CFP® certification.
Member must sign the NAPFA Fiduciary Oath.
Member must earn 60 continuing education credits every two years.
Member must demonstrate the ability to take a comprehensive approach to financial planning by either submitting a sample comprehensive financial plan or participating in a peer review dialogue with a third party Plan/Peer Reviewer.
Ms. Ferro has been in the financial service profession for over 25 years. Ms. Ferro has provided financial planning and investment advisory services to families and individuals interested in working with an objective, credentialed advisor.
Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Ferro worked for some of the largest financial firms in the industry. Ms. Ferro worked with Charles Schwab and Smith Barney as a financial advisor. She worked with clients to set up proper asset allocations in their portfolios and developed financial plans for her clients. As a Senior Consultant with Mutual of America, Ms. Ferro advised corporate clients on retirement plan solutions for their employees, and worked with individual employees to develop asset allocations inside their employer's retirement plan.
Ms. Ferro has served in numerous leadership positions both in and outside the financial services industry.
In 2008 Ms. Ferro was appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation and encourage job growth in the state of Louisiana Ms. Ferro served a 4-year board term.
Ms. Ferro is the Past-President of the Greater New Orleans Financial Planning Association, and the local chapter of The National Association of Women Business Owners.
Ms. Ferro has been an active volunteer and has a history of giving back to the community. She has served on the board of several non-profits organizations and is a past board member and officer of Rotary Club of Metairie. Ms. Ferro served on the investment committee for Girl Scouts Louisianan East.
Ms. Ferro is a past member of the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge. Rotary International has volunteers in over 200 countries and is committed to making a difference in their local communities.
As a present member of the Rotary Band, she volunteers her time playing music in retirement homes.
HOBBIES:
Ms. Ferro enjoys an active lifestyle of travel, healthy living and playing music. She is an advocate of rescue animals and her two rescues Oreo (dog) and Emmy (cat) are treated like royalty.
Job Titles:
- Certified Financial Planner
Susan Burns has been a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional since 1994. She is a graduate of the Boston University Program for Financial Planners and holds a B.A. from Boston University. Susan's experience in the financial services field is vast. She has worked in the mutual fund industry as a transfer agent as well as running her own independent RIA firm.