Our Team
Geoff Owen, CFP®, CDFA®, RLP®
Geoff’s desire to become a financial planner came about after the unexpected loss of his father when he was in his early 20s. “Beyond the sadness of the loss of the man I loved and considered my best friend, it was difficult to watch my mother’s plans pivot so severely. Her occupation as a teacher suddenly morphed from second income in the family to her sole source of income. As planners, we are afforded opportunities to help our clients recognize risks they may not otherwise see. We can also help them accumulate wealth to insulate against such risks and allow their dreams to flourish.”
Owen has earned designations as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Registered Life Planner® professional, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional. He is industry licensed and has North Carolina Life, Accident, and Health and also Long-term Care licenses. Geoff is a graduate of Miami University (OH) where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business where he attained an MBA.
Professionally, Geoff is past-President of the Charlotte chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Front Porch Financial Advisory is a 2024 Silver Sponsor of the Charlotte FPA.
On a personal level he is active on committees at St. Peter Catholic Church and volunteers at his kids’ schools and in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte. He has served on the Board of Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council, the Dilworth Community Association, the Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals, and other civic, community, and industry organizations.
Geoff and his wife Missy live in Charlotte with their two teenage daughters, the oldest of whom is having a blast as a Tarheel.
Penny
Penny is one of those co-workers you have a real love-hate relationship with.
On one hand, she radiates warmth and personality and unconditional love. On the other, she rarely bathes, wears the same outfit everyday, is interruptive, doesn’t respect other people’s food, never has money when it is time to pay for lunch, and constantly lets everyone know she would rather be hiking or at the beach.
Thankfully for Penny, she is a real charm type.
Designations and Licenses
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM)
In order to be licensed to use the CFP® mark, an individual must meet the following qualifications, as specified by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.:
Examination: An individual must successfully complete the CFP Board’s comprehensive certification examination, which tests the individual’s knowledge on a multitude of key financial planning topics.
Experience: Depending on the level of degree work completed in a collegiate setting, an individual must acquire three to five years of financial planning-related experience prior to receiving the right to use the CFP® mark.
Ethics: An individual must voluntarily ascribe to the CFP Board’s code of ethics and additional requirements as mandated. This voluntary decision empowers the CFP Board to take action if a CFP® professional should violate the code of ethics. Such violations could lead to disciplinary action, including the permanent revocation of the right to use the CFP® mark.
Education: A CFP® professional must obtain 30 hours of continuing education every two years in the body of knowledge pertaining to financial planning areas such as estate planning, retirement planning, investment management, tax planning, employee benefits and insurance.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST (TM)
CDFA® Divorce Financial Practice Standards
The Divorce Financial Advisor Practice Standards establish the level of professionalism that is expected of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (TM) (CDFA®) practitioners. These principles-based Standards have been developed to provide guidance to those involved in divorce financial analyst services.
The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst certification process conveys to the public that those individuals who have been authorized to use the CDFA® designation have met stringent professional standards and have agreed to adhere to the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Experience. CDFA® practitioners must have a minimum of 3 years work experience in a financial or legal capacity prior to earning the right to use the CDFA® certification mark.
Education. CDFA® candidates must also develop their theoretical and practical understanding and knowledge of the financial aspects of divorce by completing a comprehensive course of study approved by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts™ (IDFA™).
Divorce Financial Analyst Examination. CDFA® candidates must complete a four-part Educational Curriculum and Certification Exam that tests their understanding and knowledge of the financial aspects of divorce. The candidate must also demonstrate the practical application of this knowledge in the divorce process by completing a comprehensive case study.
Ethics. CDFA® practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct known as the IDFA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, which sets forth their ethical responsibilities to the public, clients, employers and other professionals. The IDFA may perform a background check during this process and each CDFA® candidate must disclose any investigations or legal proceedings relating to his or her professional or business conduct.
Ongoing CDFA® Certification Requirements. CDFA® practitioners are required to maintain technical competence and to fulfill ethical obligations. Practitioners must pay an annual reinstatement fee. Every two years, they must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of continuing education specifically related to the field of divorce.
In addition to the biennial continuing education requirement, all CDFA® practitioners must voluntarily disclose any public, civil, criminal, or disciplinary actions that may have been taken against them during the past two years as part of the renewal process.
REGISTERED LIFE PLANNER ®
The Comprehensive RLP® has earned the Registered Life Planner® designation by completing the Seven Stages of Money Maturity Workshop, EVOKE® Life Planning Training, and RLP® Mentorship Program.
FINRA BROKER CHECK
https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/2573385
Form ADV’s
INSURANCE CERTIFICATIONS
https://www.ncdoi.gov/licensees/agent-and-adjuster-licensing