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| NEPC CEO Steven Ferrara |
Northeast Planning Corporation
1150 Raritan Road, Suite 201
Cranford, NJ 07016
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Release Date: Monday, January 27, 2014
Media Contact: Caryl Bixon-Gordon (201) 796-7788
Service Philosophy and ‘Orchestrated’ Wealth Management Approach are Hallmarks of Tri-State Company’s Growth
CRANFORD, N.J., Jan. 27, 2014 – 2014 marks a major milestone for Northeast Planning Corporation (NEPC): 50 years. The comprehensive financial services firm is committed to helping individuals, families and businesses improve their long-term financial stature, and that dedication, to people, is the reason for its longevity and success according to CEO Steven Ferrara, CLU.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating this milestone,” said Ferrara. “Our clients and our people form the foundation of our business, and our progress reflects their trust, loyalty and passion.”
One of the Tri-State area’s largest and oldest independently owned financial services firms, NEPC has more than 30,000 clients and 18 branch offices including its Cranford, N.J. headquarters. Backed by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Northeast Planning is one of the leading Insurance Brokerage firms in New Jersey, recognized by GAMA International as a Master Agency, a designation given only to the country’s top financial services firms. NEPC also was ranked in the top ten on NJBiz’s list of Top Insurance Brokerage Firms and Top Investment Brokerage Firms in the state.
Firm’s Roots Began in Ironbound, Newark
Ferrara’s father, Al, founded NEPC in 1964, primarily to serve neighbors in the Ironbound section of Newark, N.J. “He focused on delivering a deep level of personalized service with the knowledge and expertise to help clients grow, protect and conserve their wealth,” said Ferrara, who joined the firm in 1974. “My father’s vision has remained the driving force behind Northeast Planning’s growth; to put people first and guide them through change. It’s a philosophy that has served us and our clients for five decades.”
Northeast Planning practices an uncommon approach to financial decision making, utilizing the firm’s patented
Purpose Driven Wealth System©. “Our planners work with each client to organize and coordinate all facets of their financial world, including protection needs, taxes, investments and estate planning,” Ferrara explained. “Rather than focusing on one specific area, we take a ‘macro’ look at the financial picture to determine what is working best. This holistic approach allows us to develop a comprehensive plan to support immediate and longer-term goals.”
NEPC helps facilitate the collaboration between multiple consultants who are often involved in the execution of a client’s plan including financial and legal advisors. “We serve as ‘quarterback’ to ensure a client’s team plays together with a common goal and to be the go-to resource for everything impacting our clients’ financial lives,” said Ferrara.
The Big Picture Considers Tax Changes and Economic Volatility
Recent tax changes coupled with economic and political volatility in the United States and abroad have made it more crucial than ever for individuals, families and business owners to be actively engaged in financial decision making. NEPC’s relationship-driven, service philosophy, coupled with its focus on middle and upper-middle class individuals and families, uniquely position the company to meet growing demand.
“We are less about the ‘science’ and more about the ‘art’ of the business, which is communication and relationship building,” said Ferrara. “Our most important product is planning, and our clients value the focus on process and strategy as well as the broad knowledge and expertise of our advisors.”
Ferrara compares the NEPC planner to a conductor leading an orchestra. “Each performer can play solo, but to perform a symphony, they need the conductor for precision, dynamics and timing,” he said. “It’s the same with planning: many individual financial products are available, but it takes a planner and a strategy to ensure they are fully coordinated and achieve maximum potential.”
Recruiting the Right People is Key
Summarizing 2013 as one of the strongest years in the firm’s recent history, Ferrara is focused on the continued expansion of NEPC’s staff and resources. The company is known for its successful recruitment and retention records, a reflection of its well-structured training and mentoring program. New financial representatives, regardless of their prior experience, receive support from industry veterans working for the company to build a meaningful career. “We are very careful in our employee selection process and are passionate about helping new hires find success in this business,” said Ferrara. “As a 50-year-old company, we have a deep network of relationships they can tap into as they build their practice.”
Ferrara believes change will continue to characterize the financial services industry, and with change, new
opportunities will emerge to help people achieve financial independence. “The industry is shifting on many fronts, from new regulations to new technology. We have proven our ability to adapt to changing times by employing the same creative approach we take with our clients; and we look forward with excitement to what the next 50 years will bring.”
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