SEATTLE, WA—December 5, 2005—David Stiefel, MBA, ChFC, CPA/PFS, has been awarded the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Currently, less than one percent of CPAs have earned this credential.

 

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.” 

 

Stiefel is a CPA/PFS and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) in the Accounting and Business Advisory Services practice of Seattle-based Bader Martin, P.S. His work combines accounting and tax services with wealth planning and business consulting for family offices, high net worth individuals/families, and privately-owned companies. He is experienced in goal setting and risk analysis, strategic planning and financial modeling.

 

Stiefel is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants. His professional affiliations include: Board of Directors, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle; and Finance Committee and Board of Trustees, Seattle Academy.