John D. Parry

CPA/PFS

John retired in April 2018, concluding a distinguished 41 year career.

John's greatest satisfaction as a CPA and financial advisor is to help families and business owners with forward-looking strategies.

Since his very first day of practice, his goal remains helping people plan for tomorrow over dwelling on the historical focus that tax compliance and financial reporting emphasize. As a CPA, however, there are limitations to the degree of financial advice that an accountant can appropriately offer, so John eagerly sought Series 65 licensure to allow him to provide holistic financial and investment advice. He guides people through planning and decision-making that positions them for the futures they desire. And with his substantial knowledge of tax law, he carefully coordinates income tax requirements with investment strategies.

The people whose future incomes John can most positively impact are those who work with him at least a year before they receive a large distribution such as a pension, proceeds from a business sale, inheritance, or other settlement. Even better, John can help people who are several years out from retirement (5-10 is good) by advising which company pension options to consider to most effectively prepare for the years ahead.

In his years of practice, John's greatest disappointments are situations in which he knows that he could have made a difference if he'd met someone earlier, for example:

• A widow came in after she had invested her inheritance in an expensive annuity resulting in preventable tax consequences that significantly depleted her net worth.
• A business owner with most of his net worth tied up in closely-held companies didn't recognize that this lack of diversification created greater risk and also had significant tax implications.

Sticky situations are John's forte. Whether it's working with surviving spouses who have never controlled the finances and now face big decisions, or helping business owners plan succession and let go of the “baby” that is their life's work—not to mention the family dynamics involved—John is a caring advisor who understands how deeply personal money matters can be.

John's career began when he chose to forego electrical engineering and follow in his father's footsteps as a CPA. Joining his dad's practice out of college in 1977, he learned from a true master of customer service and community involvement. He saw how much difference a personal and business financial advisor can make in people's lives, and he committed to do the same. Not limited to local work, John has also been involved in underwriting and due-diligence for loans that were rolled into bonds for some of Wall Street's largest financial firms. He has unique knowledge of publicly traded financial products that he brings to the table when helping local families make their investment choices.

Committed to his family and community, John enjoys spending time with his wife, Renee, their five children, and their grandchildren; playing golf; and volunteering with charities and youth organizations.

Credentials