A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner is recognized as the standard of excellence in personal financial planning. Becoming a CFP® certificant includes completing a rigorous curriculum of study, minimum of 3 years experience in the field, and pass a comprehensive 2 day exam. To maintain competency, a certificant is required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. A CFP Professional is bound by the CFP CODE OF ETHICS PRINCIPLES. The CFP Board requires it, personal integrity ensures it.

A holistic approach to the financial planning process integrates all areas of your financial life, including investment, tax, insurance, retirement, and estate planning. After a thorough analysis, strategies are designed to address any areas that need improvement. A summary of the analysis and recommendations are provided for your personal records.

As an independent financial planner, I offer a personalized approach. This enables me to put your interests ahead of mine without the influence of product or sale quotas. There are a broad spectrum of products and services available to investors today. You want someone you can trust who is able to help you select the best strategies for you and your family. To avoid feeling overwhelmed with decisions regarding your planning or investments, you may benefit from having a personal financial coach to help you; freeing you up to do what you do best.

LPL Financial (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that the firm should work for the advisor, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader in the markets we serve,* supporting nearly 20,000 financial advisors, and approximately 800 institution-based investment programs and 500 independent RIA firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-centered model and the belief that Americans deserve access to personalized guidance from a financial advisor. At LPL, independence means that advisors have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services, and technology resources that allow them to run their perfect practice. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors, so they can take care of their clients.

*Top RIA custodian (Cerulli Associates, 2020 U.S. RIA Marketplace Report); No. 1 Independent Broker-Dealer in the U.S (Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine 1996-2021); No. 1 provider of third-party brokerage services to banks and credit unions (2020-2021 Kehrer Bielan Research & Consulting Annual TPM Report); Fortune 500 Company as of June 2021. LPL and its affiliated companies provide financial services only from the United States.

All consultations are free of charge and include a complementary financial plan. The majority of clients pay a quarterly fee to have their portfolio managed. A full disclosure of any fees is provided prior to employing any strategy.

My philosophy is to manage your assets in a way that works best for you. Key elements to this philosophy are to develop a diversified portfolio that matches your risk profile, investment objectives and goals. Monitoring your portfolio and keeping you informed will assure we are on the right track together.

I work with individuals, families, and businesses that want to analyze and understand their financial situation, and develop a plan for the future. Also, clients tell me they hire a professional because they may not have the time, desire, or expertise to manage their investments.

After an initial consultation, there may be several meetings in the first few months. During this time, I want to get to know you and understand your situation. Through out the year, we will meet for a mid year check up. At a minimum, you can expect an annual face to face meeting to review your entire plan, and make any needed adjustments. Although, life doesn’t always happen on a schedule. Never hesitate to call or email with any question or concern there may be for you or a member of your family.

Dennis holds the following licenses:

• FINRA Series 7, 24 & 65 held through LPL Financial

• Life and Health Insurance

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

For a complete biography click here.

Yes. Most of my new clients are referred by our existing clients or by a trusted professional advisor, such as a CPA or attorney. To get started with your free consultation, please complete the information on the Contact page, or simply call me at 859-802-3906 to set an appointment.

You receive personalized service. Call Dennis directly at 859-802-3906 or email him at dennis.west@lpl.com. He will respond with in 24 hours, typically within a few hours. However, if you have an immediate need, LPL Financial customer service representatives can be reached at -1-800-558-7567, from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm Eastern Time.

There is no preparation necessary for the first meeting. Most important is to get to know you and understand how we may be able to help. This will also give you an opportunity to get to know us better, as well. However, if you know you have a specific question about something, please bring any statements or documents you would like us to review. Otherwise, for future meetings we will guide you on important items to bring with you.

All clients have the option of viewing their accounts online by clicking Account Access. LPL Financial will mail account statements and performance reports directly. There is also an option to Go-Green by suppressing paper statements and viewing your statements online. With this option you will receive an email when your statement is ready to be viewed.