The Planning Center - An independent, fee-only financial planning firm located in Moline, IL

“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.”

– Christopher Columbus

AFFILIATIONS

The advisors at The Planning Center are all members of the Financial Planning Association™(FPA), a membership organization for the financial planning community. In addition, Marty Kurtz is currently the Chariman of the Board for the FPA. FPA is the largest association of professionals dedicated to championing the financial planning process. FPA members are committed to supporting the financial planning process and to helping people make smarter decisions to acheive their goals and dreams. FPA believes that everyone needs professional, objective advice to make smart financial decisions. Learn more at www.fpanet.org.

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is the largest professional association of comprehensive, Fee-Only financial planners in the United States. With over 800 members and affiliates, in 45 states, the members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) subscribe to a strict fiduciary oath. In addition, NAPFA members are required to fulfill significant continuing education requirements. Learn more at www.napfa.org.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is a professional regulatory organization that promotes ethics, integrity and professional standards in personal financial planning. This gives the public an opportunity to have access to -- and benefit from -- competent, ethical financial planning. Individuals who meet rigorous certification requirements are certified by CFP Board to use its certification trademark. The advisors at The Planning Center are all CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ candidates which means that they have completed the educational requirements and passed the rigorous 10-hour CFP® exam. Learn more at www.cfp.net.

All of the advisors at The Planning Center are members of NAPFA, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. NAPFA members practice Fee-Onlyfinancial planning which is client-centered, objective and ethical. As a Fee-Only advisory firm, recommendations are untainted by any type of fee received by the vendors of financial products, including investment funds, money managers and insurance companies. Fee-Only advisors provide consumers and institutions with comprehensive and objective financial advice on a Fee-Only basis, keeping only the best interests of the client in mind - with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product. Learn more at www.focusonfiduciary.com.

Dimensional is a new kind of investment firm. Over the years, they have translated financial science into real world investment solution, and through their revolutionary approach, investors may seek to capture what the market offers in all its dimensions. Rather than trying to take advantage of the ways markets are mistaken, they take advantage of the ways markets are right. The firm designs portfolios to help investors capture what the market offers in all its dimensions. Learn more at www.dfaus.com.

MD Preferred Services is for the busy physician, the MD Preferred Service Network brings together a diverse group of carefully screened professional service providers in a single, easy to use online resource center. Each service provider has earned their MD Preferred Medallion of Excellence by meeting stringent service standards geared to the special needs of the medical community. Learn more at www.mdpreferredservices.com.

Established in 1993, American Endowment Foundation is a leading, national, independent sponsor of Donor Advised Funds. AEF is distinguished from most other sponsors of Donor Advised Funds by the fact that they are wholly independent. They offer a neutral platform for investment flexibility and grantmaking, as well as administrative expertise geared to personalized charitable management. Learn more at www.aefonline.org.

An independent trust company that is an alternative to bank trust departments and trust companies that restrict the assets held in trust to proprietary or pre-selected investments. Santa Fe Trust is not a subsidiary of a bank, broker/dealer, or insurance company and therefore answers to its clients. They offer investment flexibility and custodian choice. Learn more at www.santafetrust.com.

Money Quotient (M.Q.) develops Financial Life Planning® tools and training for professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of their clients. As a non-profit501(c)(3) organization focused on education and research, they provide a life-centered approach that engages, enlightens, and empowers the clients we serve. They have developed a process for building solid client relationships, conducting effective one-on-one meetings, and delivering value-added services. In addition, their practical, life-centered materials help our advisors at The Planning Center get to the heart of client's values and priorities, and create a framework to align a financial plan with their life goals. Learn more at www.moneyquotient.org.

Sudden change in your financial situation - can be a life-altering event. Some of these events are planned for, such as retirement, the sale of a business or an anticipated inheritance. Other types of events may come out of the blue - like winning the lottery, divorce or the death of a spouse. These life transition events vary widely, some joyous and others deeply regrettable. Whatever the reason for the event, you are faced with a major change in your life. Successfully managing financial transitions is more challenging and complex than you may realized. It's not just a matter of managing the financial situation - It's managing the change. At the Sudden Money® Institute, we help individuals and financial advisors to focus on the integration of the personal experience with the facts and figures. Learn more at www.suddenmoney.com.

Paladin Registry has been providing information services to investors who use the services of financial planners and financial advisors since 2003. Their services include advisor background checks, advisor quality ratings, online documentation for advisors, and a service that matches investors to local financial professionals with five star quality ratings. All Paladin Registry services are free to investors except the Financial Advisor Due Diligence (Background Checks) service for advisors who are not current members of the Registry. The Planning Center is a member of the registry. Financial professionals must meet seven requirements and acheive a five star quality rating to be profiled in the Registy. Learn more at www.paladinregistry.com.