Palisades Hudson Financial Group went three for three in the recent Certified Financial Planner examinations, as our managers Jonathan Bergman, Gerard O’Donoghue and Shomari Hearn all earned that credential.
The CFP examination is a two-day test that covers a broad range of topics, including income taxes, estate planning, investments, insurance, retirement plans and the financial planning process. It is administered by the non-government, Denver-based Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, and has a national pass rate of about 56 percent.
Jonathan, 27, joined our firm in 1994 as a summer associate and became part of the full-time staff after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1997. He became our first client service manager, in 1999, and was responsible for organizing and managing day-to-day operations of Palisades Hudson Asset Management, Inc., our registered investment adviser affiliate.
Gerry, 33, joined us as a manager in our tax and financial planning practice in 2001. He began his career at a local accounting firm, and later moved to Arthur Andersen and U.S. Trust Company. Gerry, who also is a CPA, holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from Fordham University.
Shomari, 28, joined our organization in 1998 as an associate in the tax, investment and financial planning practices. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Duke University in 1997, and worked at Metropolitan Life before joining us. He became a client service manager this year.
