Tony Novak, accountant, adviser

 

I am exited about the re-launch of my professional accounting/advisory practice in 2012. My 25 years of work as an accountant and financial adviser to small businesses and individuals was followed by a forced five year leave of absence for medical recovery. Now the new practice presents me with an opportunity to elevate adviser/client relationships to a higher level of trust, service, performance and efficiency than ever before.

Perhaps the single most exciting aspect of rebuilding a professional advisory practice today is that we can deliver solid fact-based financial planning services in modular format to make these service more accessible and affordability that we  previously thought was possible.

Changing Professional Designations

The professional designations that I used to provide service in the past are no longer active. This category includes Registered Financial Adviser (RFP), Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), Certified QuickBooks ProAdviser. I have not maintained the dues and ongoing education required to continue to use these designations and so these prior designations are now inactive.

I made new arrangements to license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in non-public accounting practice through a professional Certificate issued by Delaware expected early this summer and the CPA Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation issued by the AICPA later in 2012. Since much of my work revolves around health care finance, I added the NAHU's Certified Consumer Driven Health Care Consultant (CDHCS) certificate and am a program candidate for a Chartered Health Care Consultant (ChHC) with The American College.
We anticipate that substantive federal legislation affecting the regulation of financial advisers will be addressed shortly after the November 2012 election so it does not make sense to make regulatory plans past 2012 at this point.

Cloud based technology

Technology changed the world dramatically over the past five years. I'm not using a 100% cloud-based technology platform combined with flexible green office space arrangements that allow meeting on demand in more than a dozen locations around Philadelphia or anytime on demand through interactive video with Skype and other platforms.

Overhaul of personal financial planning

My work in the field of financial planning focuses on the goal of keeping more of what you earn protected from the effects of taxes, liabilities and over-spending. By simply helping clients focus on avoiding major financial mistakes, most are able to achieve significantly better lifetime results. I've been fortunate to have served clients including two top executives from public companies. More typically my clients are self-employed business owners or professionals who expect to achieve financial independence during their working careers.

The specialized field of compensation planning overlaps the fundamentals of personal financial planning and so I've been thrilled to have the opportunity to cover many of these topics in publications, personal presentations, through public media and in the classroom.

Cutting costs / improving results

By embracing new approaches to old challenges, we can be more effective than ever before in improving overall financial results. I've been on the front line of health care reform at a grass roots level for almost three full decades promoting the power of individual responsibility in transforming the system. Gaining control over health care remains a core issue to our long term financial success both as individuals and as a nation.

The current consumer advocacy approach emphasizes improved utilization and to save money and improve efficiency. Over these years I've written literally thousands of Q + As, op-ed bits, advisory articles and newspaper columns on health care topics and made hundreds of personal and electronic media presentations to groups and clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. I am pleased to now be a an individual member of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), an industry association that shares similar objectives and values.

Leadership

Leadership development is a lifelong process that takes place within ourselves, our families, our community and work environment. It should be an integral part of the management strategy of every organization because it has tremendous power to transform the world. I've studied the topic of leadership from the perspective of a coach, a parent an organizational manager and a financial adviser and am always eager to learn more on effective leadership techniques. My hope is that this process of sharing stories, articles, examples and inspirations will encourage others to consider the possibilities that deliberate study of leadership may have in their own lives.

Ask about personal professional and affordable help with

• reviewing tax returns with lingering questions
• improving personal and small business accounting
• tax planning strategies
• managing health care expenses and insurance
• special needs planning
• revamping stalled retirement plans
• providing benefits to employees
• negotiating executive benefits

Find my business articles online at these Web sites:

• Universal health insurance blog
• Freedom Benefits
• FB benefit plans
• Financial-planning
• OnlineAdviser
• OnlineNavigator
• Wealthmanagement
• Celticenrollment
• UHCenrollment
• Corehealthinsurance
• HealthSavingsAccount
• BaySave
• Money Island News