Deanna Gephart (Dee) began her career in the financial services industry in 1983 and spent 9 years in Baltimore, MD before returning to her home state of Pennsylvania. With a total of 33 years working with both major wire houses (Alex. Brown & Sons, Kidder Peabody, Merrill Lynch) as well as a hybrid firm which then revealed the many benefits of the independent route. She and Joe formed Gephart Moyer Financial Advisors to offer objective advice, products and services to clients.
Dee is very passionate about the many benefits of financial planning. “Much like a map helps you reach your destination on a road trip; a financial plan helps you reach your goals during life.” She believes that a well-constructed financial plan is an important tool used to monitor client’s efforts as she works collaboratively on their unique goals. That plan becomes the framework through which many important financial decisions can be viewed allowing for a more informed decision on a myriad of topics.
Dee obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2006. The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification; no federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold CFP® certification. It is recognized in the United States and a number of other countries for its (1) high standard of professional education; (2) stringent code of conduct and standards of practice; and (3) ethical requirements that govern professional engagements with clients. Currently, more than 71,000 individuals have obtained CFP® certification in the United States.
To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual currently must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:
Education
Complete an advanced college-level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas that CFP Board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, and attain a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or its equivalent from a foreign university). CFP Board’s financial planning subject areas include insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning;
Examination
Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination, administered in 10 hours over a two-day period, includes case studies and client scenarios designed to test one’s ability to correctly diagnose financial planning issues and apply one’s knowledge of financial planning to real world circumstances;
Experience
Complete at least three years of full-time financial planning-related experience (or the equivalent, measured as 2,000 hours per year);
Ethics
Agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, a set of documents outlining the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.
Individuals who become certified must complete the following ongoing education and ethics requirements to maintain the right to continue to use the CFP® marks:
Continuing Education
Complete 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and other parts of the Standards of Professional Conduct, to maintain competence and keep up with developments in the financial planning field; and
CFP® professionals who fail to comply with the above standards and requirements may be subject to CFP Board’s enforcement process, which could result in suspension or permanent revocation of their CFP® certification.
Dee completed the American College of Financial Services® Retirement Income Certified Professional® courses in December 2016. Retirement income planning places the focus on transitioning from asset accumulation to creating a sustainable livelihood for clients during retirement. Dee feels this coursework will greatly benefit her clients as they plan for and enjoy retirement.
Dee is a registered representative of LPL Financial, an SEC registered and FINRA member broker-dealer. Clients may choose to engage Dee in her individual capacity as a registered representative of LPL Financial, to implement investment recommendations on a fee basis.
Dee, in her individual capacity, is a licensed insurance agent, and may recommend the purchase of certain insurance-related products on a commission basis. Clients can engage Ms. Gephart to purchase insurance products on a commission basis.
Dee and her husband, Tony, are avid golfers and reside in Montoursville, PA.
