EPA Financial Services is one of the oldest financial services firms in Ocean County. EPA Financial Services was started in 1977 by Bob Richards and his wife, Jeanne, and together they developed a distinct style of financial services. When they started EPA Financial Services both Bob and Jeanne had envisioned the office to be a family-atmosphere office, where staff and clients alike could feel like they were at home and among people they knew. Since 1977, Bob has developed EPA Financial Services into a financial planning-based practice where the advisors offer a wide range of services, but much of it is based on the principles of financial planning. Along with his daughter Heather, who is also an advisor, Bob enjoys researching investments, the markets, and the economy. Heather now runs EPA Financial Services and continues to have the same vision for EPA Financial as her father and mother had all those years ago.
Heather Richards-Barone
President
Heather grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. She graduated from Toms River High School North in 1991, where she was a two-sport standout as a varsity field hockey goalie and a varsity softball pitcher. Upon graduating from the University of West Chester with a bachelor's degree in education, Heather went on to teach in the Toms River School District for several years.
Heather married her husband, Anthony, in 2002, and they have two incredible sons together, Michael Robert and Anthony James (AJ). AJ attends St. Joseph Grade School and Michael the University of Tampa.
In 2003, Heather came back to work with her mother and father at EPA Financial Services. At first, Heather ran the office as the office manager, and, in 2015, she took over as president of EPA Financial Services. Heather enjoys what she does and loves what each day brings. Heather can be found at the office on the weekends, helping our clients with items that need attention because she loves solving our clients' problems. Heather has proven time and again that she is the best multitasker around.
During her free time, Heather loves researching, playing basketball with her sons, playing with her three dogs (Blueberry and CC, barbets; and Atika, a pug), and spending time with her family. Anthony and Heather are often hosting some sort of celebration or gathering each weekend because they love to have their friends and families all together.
Robert J. Richards, Sr.
CFP®
Bob is a lifelong resident of New Jersey, except for two years on active duty in the U.S. Army in Korea and Fort Meade, Maryland. He has lived with his wife of 53 years, Jeanne, in Toms River since 1974.
Bob attended Woodbridge High School from 1958 to 1962. After that, he was a member of the 200th-anniversary class graduating from Rutgers University in 1966. At the height of the Vietnam War, he entered the Army upon graduating and was sent to Korea, where Jeanne joined him for his service there.
After being honorably discharged, Bob worked for E.R. Squibb and Sons, and Seatrain Lines until 1972. After graduating from Seton Hall University with an MBA, he took a job selling life insurance for Aetna Life and Casualty. In August 1972, he was sent to its first financial planning school and fell in love with the profession, and has devoted his career to helping others realize and achieve their financial goals. Along the way, he attained the prestigious Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation.
In 1982, Bob became one of the first 400 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals in the country (there are now between 80,000 and 100,000 CFP® professionals).
Bob is an avid softball player and travels all around the United States playing the game he has loved since childhood. Although he and his teammates have won several world championships, his highest individual honor was being inducted into the senior softball hall of fame in 2005.
General Information |
Firm Start Year: | 1977 | |
No. of Employees: | 2-4 | |
Name of Broker/Dealer: | COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL NETWORK |
States Licensed in: | NJ, CA, CT, FL, IN, KS, MA, MD, NC, NM, NY, PA, SC, TX, VA |
Number of Years with Current Firm: | 20 |
Work with the following types of clients: | Businesses, Investment Clubs, Individual Investors |
Advisory Services Provided: | Financial Advice & Consulting, Investment Advice & Management, Estate Planning & Trusts, Insurance Products & Annuities, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, 401K Rollovers, Wealth Management, Money Management, Risk Management, Education Funding and Planning, Financial Planning for Individuals, Financial Planning for Businesses, Tax Advice and Services, Portfolio Management |
Services |
Investment Types: | Mutual Funds, Stocks, Alternative Investments, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Insurance, Annuities, Bonds |
Can meet clients in the following ways: | Phone, Our Office, Your Home, Our Offices, Video Conference, Email, Your Office |
Qualifications & Memberships |
Insurance and Annuity Licenses: | Annuity, Variable Annuity, Long Term Care, Variable Life, Life |
Compensation and Fees |
Fee Structure: | Fee-Based |
Minimum Portfolio Size for New Managed Accounts: | $100,000 |
Compensation Methods: | Commissions, Based on Assets |
Education |
Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning - Financial Planning | College for Financial Planning
09/01/2005-8/01/2010 |
Disclosures |
WiserAdvisor provides referrals to financial professionals. WiserAdvisor is not a current client of advisor or advisory services. Financial professionals pay cash compensation for these referrals, which creates the incentive for WiserAdvisor to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest.
Commonwealth Financial Network ADV 2A Additional Detailed Disclosures |
Disclaimer |
The Commonwealth Advisors associated with this profile may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of states in which they are registered. You may review a list of Advisor state registrations by visiting BrokerCheck. Advisors are dually registered as a registered representatives and investment adviser representatives of Commonwealth Financial Network®. In these roles, advisors are able to offer two types of accounts: brokerage accounts and asset management accounts. When serving as your advisor on a brokerage account, advisor is required to act in accordance with the requirements of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI). When serving as your advisor on an asset management account, advisor is required to act in a fiduciary capacity. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
|
Registered Representative:
Yes
Investment Advisor Representative:
Yes
Acknowledged fiduciary:
Yes
Compliance Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
Criminal Disclosures in Last 5 years:
I have a clean record
Mon. | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Tue. | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Wed. | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Thu. | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Fri. | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
We have clients in several states and will meet for periodic reviews each year either in person, over the phone, or zoom. |