Richard C. Chambers   Financial Planning's Highest Standard

The financial planning process includes getting to know your own unique circumstances and devising a financial plan that matches those circumstances. Rich can review your key financial concerns including: investments retirement planning income property (residential) living trusts & estate planning tax-free saving for college expenses home purchase & mortgage financing employee stock purchase plan & stock options life planning using the Kinder EVOKE™ method

Rich has over 30 years of experience investing in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and rental real estate. In 1996, he began managing accounts for others. After registering as an investment adviser in 1999, he began charging a fee for managing client accounts.

Rich was employed in engineering positions with IBM, Data General, VisiCorp, and until May 1999, 3Com Corporation as a software-engineering manager. He holds a patent on wireless communications obtained while at 3Com. In 1999 he joined a large Palo Alto fee-only financial planning firm where he served as a Financial Planner and Director of Information Technology. He holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and a graduate degree in Business. 

Rich offers coordinated financial planning and investment management by retainer. The retainer fee is based on the client's net worth since this method of compensation removes almost all conflicts of interest. For those interested in investments only, Rich offers Managed Account and Cookbook investment plans.

• Managed Account Investment Plan - Rich does all the implementation, record keeping, and performance reporting. Investable assets must be at least $1,000,000 and the fee is 0.8%.

• Cookbook Investment Plan - Rich assists you in the design and implementation of the portfolio. You do all the transactions and record keeping. Investable assets must be at least $1,000,000 and the fee is 0.27%.

• All portfolios primarily use passive (index) investments based on Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) equity mutual funds.

• The Kinder Institute of Life Planning www.kinderinstitute.com

• The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), a nationwide association of comprehensive, Fee-Only financial planners. Membership in NAPFA requires peer review of a comprehensive financial plan and requires fiduciary responsibility for all clients.

• The Paladin National Registry of Financial Professionals www.paladinregistry.com

• The Financial Planning Association (FPA), a national organization dedicated to ongoing training and expertise in the financial planning field

• The Financial Planning Forum in Menlo Park

• The Financial Planning Guild of Silicon Valley

In 2006 and 2007 Rich trained with the Kinder Institute earning the Registered Life Planner^® certification. The Kinder Institute is an international organization focusing on the most meaningful – even profound – goals of a person’s life. The Kinder EVOKE™ Method, a life-centered approach to Financial Planning, provides a supportive financial framework for living the most meaningful and rewarding life you can imagine.

In 1999 he became Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) practitioner. CFPs have the background and proven ability to provide consultation in the important areas of your financial life. CFP practitioners are required to sign an ethics agreement and to satisfy ongoing education requirements to maintain the certification. Please refer to the CFP Board of Standards website or request the Why You Should Choose a Certified Financial Planner brochure for a detailed explanation of the certification requirements for the Certified Financial Planner registered service marks.

His investment specialty is creation of an efficient, well diversified portfolio based on a passive strategy that offers a successful investment experience. Since 1997, ICM has published the Investor’s Cookbook.

In 2002, 2003, and 2004 Rich taught the Employee Benefits & Retirement Planning course in the at UCSC extension. The class is part of the Personal Financial Planning certificate program and is part of the Certified Financial Planner^® curriculum.

• Forbes, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, National Public Radio, The Christian Science Monitor, YourMoney, Financial Advisor, and many others. See the complete list.

CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP with flame logo are marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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