From The President About The College Financial Planning Tax Planning Insights
Newest Professor of Practice Jeffrey Levine
Who is Jeff Levine?
Jeffrey Levine, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS®, AIF®, BFA™, is the quintessential lifelong learner—an alumnus of The American College of Financial Services who holds several designations and professional credentials, and who has spent much of his career obtaining and sharing knowledge that can help fellow practitioners and clients alike.
He got his start in the profession by learning IRA and retirement planning from one of the best – and another professor of practice at The College – Ed Slott, CPA. Jeff went on to become chief retirement strategist at training firm Ed Slott and Company, LLC. (Incidentally, he’ll be a great addition to our epic retirement experience next year.)
As impressive as his academic acumen is, Jeff’s success as a practitioner also speaks for itself. He’s excelled in several leadership roles within financial services firms and is presently chief planning officer at Buckingham Wealth Partners.
Like Liam Neeson’s character in the blockbuster “Taken,” Jeff has “a very particular set of skills” – primary of which is the uncanny ability to translate the nuances of tax regulation into practical to-dos (and don’ts) for financial advisors. He has killer instincts when it comes to helping professionals understand this very complex topic.
Why tax planning?
Only two things in life are certain. And taxation is one of them. It’s no secret today’s clients are interested in tax-informed financial planning. Yet what has been taboo until now is offering it—or what’s more, specializing in it. I believe this stems from a misunderstanding and conflation of “tax planning” versus “tax advice” (the latter of which is left to CPAs). But make no mistake: Tax planning is an essential part of financial planning.
The College’s recently released 2024 Advisory Services Study revealed some interesting facts about this nuanced area: first, (whether they realize it or not) most advisors are offering some services we would define as tax planning; and second, that nearly all of them are missing opportunities by not offering other tax-planning services. For example, small business owner tax planning is clients’ most frequently requested service that investment advisor representatives (IARs) are not currently providing.
Why do unmet client needs matter so much more in today’s market than they did even five years ago? Because driving revenue is so much harder as services become more commoditized – and it’s past time to take a new approach. We believe applied knowledge will be the key to a breakthrough for future-thinking financial professionals who seek to specialize in an area some are uncomfortable addressing. One of the best ways advisors can grow business organically will be by offering additional services, in turn, increasing client satisfaction, client retention, and client lifetime value.
What makes this program different?
One of the things I love about The College is that we don’t do anything without first “studying up” on the subject. It’s not often we see such a clear need for specialized, applied knowledge – nor do we hasten to develop solutions that are not fully researched or thoughtfully built. The TPCP™ will be the first new designation program The College has offered in over seven years and the first since I joined.
Presiding over the research, development, and launch of the TPCP™ excites me not simply because it’s new to The College, but broadly speaking, because it’s new to the world of financial services. There is no other professional educational program that’s fully focused on tax-informed financial planning to support clients – including business owners – throughout their life. And at present, there’s no designation program that signifies a financial advisor is well-versed in tax planning, except in the relatively rare case (Jeff is one) of a practitioner who is credentialed as both a CPA and a CFP® professional. And even then, the CFP® only trains on income taxation, and the CPA is broadly a compliance credential for someone licensed to practice public accounting.
On one hand, the TPCP™ can help financial advisors build tax-smart strategies as a valued (and value-add) service to their clients who want more than investment management. On the other hand, it can help CPAs incorporate financial planning for their clients who want more than public accounting services. We believe this credential will be a big differentiator for the professionals who earn it, giving early adopters a first-mover advantage with the clients and prospects who have been expecting a broader spectrum of services.
I know the individuals who are drawn to the TPCP™, including thousands already on our waitlist, have this in common with Jeff Levine: they dare to be different. With his string of credentials, his sharp wardrobe of signature vests, and his unmatched ability to simplify complicated subject matter, Jeff has always been a standout professional. And I couldn’t be happier to congratulate him on becoming a professor of practice and welcome him to our team of outstanding academics as we usher in our newest program.
More From The College
- Join the waitlist for the Tax Planning Certified ProfessionalTM (TPCPTM) Program
- Meet Levine at the new, epic retirement planning conference: Horizons
- Learn more about Ed Slott and Company’s IRA Success
- Watch the Webinar on How to Integrate Tax Planning Into Your Practice
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcasts
How Diversity Enhances Financial Services
In this episode of our Shares podcast, Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® welcomes the creators of the SER Latin@ Summit – Anna N’Jie-Konte and Vanessa Martinez – for a conversation about how their event brings financial professionals from the Latino community together, and how cultural mores and understanding can be used to bridge divides between advisors and clients.
Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is the CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors. She helps women entrepreneurs and those who inherit wealth to create an aligned life where their wealth, legacy, and philanthropic plans are rooted in their values. She is also the founder of Financial Powerhouse: The Club, an innovative community to teach women the skills they need to grow, enjoy and preserve their wealth. Having spent her childhood watching the strong women around her live lives dictated by their bank balances, she’s on a mission to rewrite the money stories of women of color. A proud first-generation American with roots in Puerto Rico and the Gambia, N’Jie-Konte is a 3x winner of Investopedia’s “Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors” and has been named “10 Young Advisors to Watch” by Financial Advisor Magazine. She has been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg, CNBC, VICE News, The New York Times, Financial Planning, RIA Intel, Think Advisor, and Next Advisor.
Vanessa Martinez is a managing partner at Expressive Wealth. With 15+ years of wealth management expertise, she is dedicated to aligning your financial goals with holistic well-being. She traveled abroad for her undergrad and earned her BBA in Guatemala, C.A. Returning to Chicago, she received her MBA in finance at North Park University while gaining insights from her time at JPMorgan Chase. Her commitment to comprehensive client wealth advisory led her to earn FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 certifications. In 2020, she co-authored her first book, Family Value at Risk: Inclusive Communication to Pass on Your Family’s Wealth and Legacy. As a female advisor, Vanessa has been recognized by both Barron’s and Forbes and has been a guest on CNBC Power Lunch, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, and many industry podcasts.
Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are the hosts’ and guests' own and do not necessarily represent those of The American College of Financial Services.
More From The College
Learn About Our Conference of African American Financial Professionals CAAFP
Visit Our Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality
See More From Our Center for Women in Financial Services
More on Our Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® Program
About The College Financial Planning Tax Planning Press
Welcome Jeffrey Levine Professor of Practice
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – October 14, 2024 - Levine, who serves as chief planning officer at Buckingham Wealth Partners, is spearheading the launch of The College's Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program. This first-of-its-kind designation program is designed to equip learners with the skills to identify, evaluate, and implement comprehensive tax strategies for individuals and business owners, while ensuring compliance with current legislation.
"I am thrilled to expand my relationship with The American College of Financial Services and lead the launch of the Tax Planning Certified Professional™ Program," said Levine. "I’m eager to collaborate with The College's renowned faculty and incredibly talented team of producers, instructional designers, and other academic support teams to help advisors and tax professionals close the significant knowledge gap in this specialized area so that they can more effectively deliver the number one service requested most by clients. Tax planning is financial planning, and this is the first comprehensive tax planning education program in the profession."
Levine is sought-after for his ability to distill complex financial legislation, regulations and policy into clear, actionable insights. His career spans a broad range of leadership roles, including his work as the “lead financial planning nerd” for Kitces.com and the creator of several other tax and retirement-focused educational programs for advisors. Levine started his professional career with IRA and retirement planning training firm Ed Slott and Company, LLC, where he served as chief retirement strategist.
“Jeff is one of the most respected voices in financial planning today, and we are excited to have him join our faculty," said George Nichols III, CAP®, president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. "His combination of deep expertise and a forward-thinking approach to tax-informed planning elevates the Tax Planning Certified Professional™ Program and widens our suite of offerings designed to advance financial professionals as specialists in their craft.”
Levine’s commitment to education is reflected in his ongoing role as a speaker, presenting to thousands of financial advisors, accountants, attorneys, and consumers across the country each year.
“If you’re one of our students, you’ve likely heard Jeff speak, educate, help turn the theoretical into the applicable,” said Gwen Hall, PhD, EVP and provost. “I look forward to the TPCP™ showcasing The College’s track record of applied financial education that helps the profession better support society.”
He himself is a lifelong learner with a wide array of certifications and designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and those conferred by The College, including the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®).
Levine will continue to shape the TPCP™ Program while also supporting The College’s students and learners through just-in-time education and events. He is a featured speaker at The College’s retirement conference, Horizons, next March 3 to 5, 2025, in Coronado, CA.
About the Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program
The Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) program aims to equip financial professionals with the expertise needed to navigate tax complexities for clients, including business owners, throughout various stages of life and special circumstances. The program is ideal for financial advisors, agents, and CPAs looking to incorporate holistic, tax-informed planning into their client conversations while staying compliant with ever-changing tax regulations.
For more information, visit: TheAmericanCollege.edu/TPCP.
About The American College of Financial Services
Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College’s faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services profession.
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Contacts
Sarah Tremallo
908-967-0381 / Stremallo@jconnelly.com
Jared Trexler
610-526-1268 / Jared.Trexler@theamericancollege.edu
Elizabeth Pearsall
PhD