As the founder and managing principal of Stronghold Advisory Services, LLC, Paul brings the benefits of his fifteen years of experience to serving the unique needs of individuals and small business owners age fifty and better.
Paul's passion for assisting those in and near retirement began with witnessing first-hand, the consequences of poor retirement planning for his grandparents. One grandfather retired as a United Auto Workers (UAW) member and the other a small business owner; different paths, but the same fate. They both saw their retirement savings dwindle due to improper portfolio design and eventually wiped out by the cost of long term care. However, proper planning could have saved both of their financial futures.
The foundation of Paul's practice is built upon Independence. Recognizing the inherent difficulty of serving the best interests of the client while subject to the designs of a particular insurance company or investment firm, he maintains a practice free of restrictive agreements and the proprietary product offerings of any outside company or firm.
Paul has studied extensively throughout his career so that he can offer his clients the kind of expertise necessary to achieve their financial goals. His professional credentials include Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Registered Financial Consultant (RFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Qualified Financial Planner (QFP®), as well as a Bachelor of Science in both Accounting and Finance. Actively involved in improving his profession, he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants as well as the International Association of Qualified Financial Planners, of which he is a past board member.
As an author and lecturer, Paul has written several consumer publications including "Understanding Your Life Insurance" and "What Happens When the Paychecks Stop?...Understanding Your Retirement Income". In addition to conducting educational seminars for the public, he has taught continuing education coursework for accountants, attorneys and financial advisors and served as a guest lecturer at the University of Missouri - Saint Louis. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in various publications including St. Louis Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.
Paul's efforts on behalf of his clients have recently earned him recognition as one of St. Louis's Five Star Wealth Managers for Best in Client Satisfaction" for the second year in a row; a list comprising less than 4% of all wealth managers in the Saint Louis community. He was further recognized as one of "America's Top Financial Planners" (2009), as compiled by the Washington D.C. based Consumer Research Council of America.
Paul and his wife have been married for 15 years and live in Maryland Heights with their daughter and three sons. In his spare time, Paul is actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America; where he serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Counselor.