Multi-Disciplinary Planning
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Michael is a principal of The Sterling Group, an independent financial planning and investment advisory firm in Pasadena, California. Michael specializes in working with professionals, owners of closely held business, and those clients with estate or other complicated financial issues. Michael assists his clients in defining and implementing their financial, philanthropic and multi-generational planning strategies.
Michael has been a financial advisor since 1989, and earned his law degree (J.D.) from Southwestern University School of Law, in Los Angeles, California, with an emphasis in the fields of tax and estate planning. He has extensive training in the charitable gift planning and philanthropic fields. He received his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation in 1993. Prior to becoming a financial advisor, Michael earned his Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management, in Glendale, Arizona. His undergraduate work was also in finance. He earned a B.S. degree from Kettering University, in Michigan. In addition to the CFP® designation and law credentials, Michael holds the following FINRA registrations with LPL Financial; Series 7 general securities, Series 24 managing principal, and the Series 63 state securities. He also holds his various state Life and Disability Insurance licenses. Michael is a registered Principal with, and securities are offered through, LPL Financial.
Michael has been a featured columnist in the medical periodicals Ophthalmology Today, Endovascular Today, and Cataract & Reflective Surgery. He has been quoted in numerous publications including the Chicago Tribune, Wealth Manager, and the Los Angeles Times; he has also spoken to groups such as the National Financial Planning association, The Pasadena Society of CPA’s numerous service organizations and local TV stations such as KCAL & KNBC.
Michael is actively involved with Hillsides, a local children’s charity in Pasadena, where he is a former board member and recently served on the Executive Search Committee. He is an active member of the Estate Planning Council of the Huntington Hospital, and is active in professional organizations including the local chapter of the Financial Planning Association and the Associates of CalTech and The Athenaeum. He is also a member of St. Phillip’s church in Pasadena.
Michael has been a resident of Pasadena since 1989. He and his wife, Ellen, have two sons. His interests include golf, skiing and tennis.
