Sheehan & Co, CPA, P.C., a Long Island-based Certified Public Accounting Firm, announces that partner John C. DeFalco has successfully completed all the requirements to obtain the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential. The designation is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), to a highly select group of CPAs who have demonstrated advanced financial planning knowledge including tax, estate, retirement and insurance planning.

The PFS credential, established in 1987 by the AICPA, is awarded only to CPAs with extensive training and experience in financial planning. To earn the credential, CPAs must have at least 75 hours of personal financial planning education and 3,000 hours of planning experience within the previous five-year period. They also must pass a comprehensive exam covering eleven topic areas and be a member in good standing with the AICPA, binding them to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and the Statement on Standards in Personal Financial Planning Services.

“Given their formal education and technical training in the areas of accountancy and taxation, CPAs are the most qualified, knowledgeable and objective financial planning professionals,” said Jeannette Koger, the AICPA’s vice president of member specialization and credentialing. “Supplementing this background with the CPA/PFS credential demonstrates a CPA’s commitment to providing the highest level of expert financial planning services. For clients, that translates to financial planning that is CPA strong -- comprehensive financial strategies that put their needs and interests first.”

Many CPA/PFS credential holders regularly appear on lists of top financial planners. In addition to meeting rigorous requirements to join this elite group, John must meet recertification requirements every three years to maintain the credential.

About Sheehan:

Sheehan is a medium-size Certified Public Accounting firm that has evolved to keep pace with the rapid transformation of business and is dedicated to personalized client relationships. With over 50 employees, Sheehan is equipped to service most mid-sized entrepreneurial companies. From two corporate locations on Long Island, Sheehan serves a diverse roster of national and international clients, offering the same state-of-the-art services traditionally found in larger accounting firms. To compliment these services, Sheehan Financial Advisors, LLC “SFA” was formed in 1999 to provide comprehensive planning and wealth management services to our clients. John serves as President of Sheehan Financial Advisors, LLC and is the Tax Practice Leader in the firm.