John L. Nielsen, MBA
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

John Nielsen, CFP© is founder and President of Retirement Planning Associates, and has been providing personal financial planning and investment management services since 1983. Mr. Nielsen’s primary objective is to provide his clients with the information, techniques, strategies, and personal guidance necessary to organize their financial affairs, create a realistic set of goals, and formulate an effective financial plan. Mr. Nielsen recognizes the importance of long-term relationships and enjoys working with his client's existing professionals (CPA, Attorney, insurance agent) to maximize their potential for financial success.

Education and Professional Credentials
Mr. Nielsen received his Bachelors of Science (BS) degree in Personal Financial Planning from Brigham Young University, and his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Taxation and Personal Financial Planning from Golden Gate University. Both BYU and GGU are pioneers in the area of personal financial planning and were the first in the U.S. to offer degrees in personal financial planning. Mr. Nielsen earned the designation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner in 1983 and is a Registered Principal and Investment Advisory Representative of Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC. 

Professional activities
Mr. Nielsen is an active member of the Financial Planning Association; serving as a past member of the local Board of Directors. Since 1983 he has been actively involved in educating the public on financial planning, investment management, and estate planning topics; having taught courses at university extension centers, multi-national corporations, local adult education centers, and many community organizations.

Family
John has been married to Denise for 28 years and they are the parents of seven wonderful children, ages 11 to 24. Denise is from Memphis and John is a Southern California native. They live in semi-rural Santa Rosa Valley, California.

Personal activities
The Nielsen family is also actively involved with local, state, and national political campaigns. In addition to politics, Denise and John enjoy spending time with their kids who live in various parts of the USA. John loves anything to do with the outdoors and has a passion for hiking and long-distance backpacking in the High Sierra. He has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for more than 20 years in a variety of positions working with the younger Boy Scouts along with the older Varsity Scouts, and Venturing programs. He also enjoys his involvement with the ANASAZI Foundation, an outdoor behavioral healthcare program for adolescents and young adults.

John has been in the financial services industry since 1983 and holds Series 24,7,63 & 65 securities registrations. He also holds a life and disability license (CA Insurance Lic. #0636162) and a long-term care certification.