My Story
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin
When it comes to real estate, the most important factor is said to be “location, location, location.” With financial planning, we believe the critical factor is “knowledge, knowledge, knowledge.” That’s why honest education is the foundation of our firm.
Bernard Martin, CFP®, CPA, PFS founded Straightforward Wealth Management LLC in 2002 with one goal in mind: to provide the highest level of honesty and objectivity so clients feel well-informed and educated regarding the decisions they make. His unwavering commitment to honesty, objectivity, and clarity is the very reason the name Straightforward Wealth Management was chosen. He looks forward each day to educating individuals about the intricacies of investing and financial planning, while continuously looking for innovative strategies and solutions to challenge conventional wisdom.
The following is an example of one such strategy that challenged the conventional wisdom of the time. In the mid-late 1990s, Bernie met with numerous individuals from the Mehoopany plant of Procter and Gamble. They were only presented with the strategy of rolling their ESOP distributions into either single or multiple IRAs, which was the common wisdom of the time. Of all the individuals he met in the mid-late 1990s, none had ever heard of a little known strategy to take advantage of the low cost basis in their employer stock. Over the years, Bernie has worked with many Procter & Gamble retirees, developing unique financial strategies for them.
To start investing in all potential opportunities, investors need two things: an understanding of which investment products and strategies are most appropriate for their situation and a relationship with a trustworthy representative who has a clear understanding of their needs. Bernie takes pride in helping his clients understand their financial plan and investments so they can pursue their goals. He seeks to build long-lasting relationships with his clients and help them plan for the many financial milestones throughout life.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individual tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.