Meet Dr. Christopher St. John | Carolina Wealth Advisors | Financial Planner Nearby

Dr. Christopher
St. John

CFP®, ChFC©, CASL™, CLU®, CDFA™, EA, CFE, AEP®, CAP®

Christopher St. John began his career in the financial services industry in 1999. Chris graduated with his Bachelors degree in both Accounting and Finance as well as his MBA from Coastal Carolina University. Chris also earned his Master of Science in Financial Services and his Doctor of Philosophy in Financial and Retirement Planning from The American College. Chris holds several professional certifications including: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Financial Consultant®, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™, Chartered Advisor for Senior Living™, Chartered Life Underwriter®, Certified Fraud Examiner, Accredited Estate Planner®, Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy, and he is an Enrolled Agent.

Christopher's passion of helping people coupled with his thirst for knowledge has allowed him to bring forth additional dimensions of value to his clients. In conjunction to working intimately with clients, he continuously strives to promote and maintain the integrity of the financial services industry through various manners. He also contributes to his community in several ways, such as his volunteer work as a financial expert on various local news stations and he has provided key input to state legislators in hopes of providing potential economic alternatives relating to Social Security reform. Additionally, he is a former professor at Horry Georgetown Technical College and previously served on the Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc.'s Strategic Advisory Council. Christopher is also actively involved with Coastal Carolina University serving on the four separate boards including: The Coastal Education Foundation, The Wall College Board of Visitors, the Chair of the Finance and Economics Advisory Board, and the Treasurer and Secretary of Chanticleer Athletic Foundation. Christopher also enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, golf, his guitar and, going fishing. He has four children: Rachel, Patrick, Connor and Morgan and is married to his long-time sweetheart, Heather.

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, (CFP®) mark identifies individuals who are devoted to a high level of professionalism in providing financial planning advice. Much more then an educational designation, the CFP® certification is a professional certification that helps to set apart those serious about a career in financial planning. Certification requirements include initial and ongoing education, examination, experience, and ethics components. Mr. St. John pursued this professional designation because of the importance of offering his clients the highest level of knowledge and professionalism that someone in the financial industry can provide. The rigorous standards surrounding the CFP certification exemplify Chris’s level of dedication and passion for his profession.

The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) program focuses on the complete financial planning process as an organized way to collect and analyze information on a client’s total financial situation. ChFCs can identify and establish specific financial goals and then formulate, implement and monitor a comprehensive plan to achieve those goals. Individuals who earn a ChFC® can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics including financial planning, wealth accumulation and estate planning, income taxation, life and health insurance, business taxation and planning, investments and retirement planning.

A Chartered Advisor for Senior Living™ (CASL™) is a financial services professional who is qualified to work with mature clients in preparing for retirement specializing in areas of pension funds such as 401k’s, 403b’s, IRA’s, Social Security, planning for long-term healthcare needs, developing estate planning strategies, and helping with life course transitional phases including family relationships and living arrangements.

The Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) when earned demonstrates the financial professional’s expertise in areas of life insurance and estate planning. Individuals who earn a CLU® can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics including protection of family current and future income, determine appropriate levels of risk to assume, and can help better manage personal, corporate, and estate taxes.

As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA™) Chris can help clients along with their attorneys to better understand how financial decisions made today can impact the clients’ financial future by addressing topics such as: properties, debts, retirement assets, tax issues, businesses, insurance, and income and expenses by completing a thorough analysis of both the short-term and long-term financial effects.

An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a person who has earned the privilege of preparing and filing of tax documents, representing taxpayers before the IRS and communicating with the IRS.

Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) have the ability to: Examine data and records to detect and trace fraudulent transactions; interview suspects to obtain information and confessions; write investigation reports, advise clients as to their findings and testify at trial; be well-versed in the law as it relates to fraud and fraud investigations; and understand the underlying factors that motivate individuals to commit fraud.

The Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation is a graduate level specialization in estate planning, obtained in addition to already recognized professional credentials within the various disciplines of estate planning. The AEP® designation is available to attorneys (JD), Chartered Life Underwriters® (CLU®), Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultants® (ChFC®), and Certified Trust and Financial Advisors (CTFA). It is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) to recognize estate planning professionals who meet stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education, professional reputation, and character. An AEP® designation holder must embrace the team concept of estate planning and adhere to the NAEPC Code of Ethics.

The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) provides you with the knowledge and tools you need to help clients articulate and advance their highest aspirations for self, family, and society. CAP® holders become members of a growing network of top planners who are working to make our towns and cities better places to live for generations to come. Courses provide an insight into the process of philanthropic planning, including, but not limited to, tax, tools and techniques.