Seattle, WA—April 20 , 2009—Chris Strand, MST, CPA/PFS, has been awarded the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

 

The PFS credential, established by the AICPA in 1987, recognizes CPAs with substantial professional expertise and experience in financial planning. Requirements include passing a technical exam covering personal financial planning topics. In addition, candidates must have completed over 1,000 hours of related business experience during the past five years and over 75 hours of life-long learning activities. CPAs who have earned the PFS credential must be re-certified every three years to maintain the credential.

 

“Given their formal education and technical training in the areas of accountancy, taxation and general business, CPAs are the most qualified, knowledgeable and objective financial planning professionals,” says Laurence Foster, chairman of the AICPA’s Personal Financial Specialist Credential Committee and himself a PFS. “Supplementing this background with the PFS credential demonstrates a CPA’s commitment to providing clients the highest level of financial planning services.” 

 

Strand is a CPA/PFS in the Tax Services practice of Seattle-based Bader Martin, P.S and leads the firm's High Net Worth Services practice. His work integrates tax strategies, wealth planning, and business consulting for high net worth individuals and families and their closely held businesses. He is an expert in addressing the unique needs of public-company executives, including compensation planning, stock-option consulting, wealth management, and estate planning. He is also well versed in real estate matters, including tax-deferred 1031 exchanges.

 

Strand is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. His professional affiliations include: Chair, Seattle Tax Group; Executive Committee, Estate Planning Council of Seattle; Advisory Board, Golden Gate University; and Founder and Past Chair, Parents Council, University of Redlands.