Richard Kintzing looks at health and wealth from a unique perspective. As a financial advisor with CFS Financial in Paramus, he helps individuals and businesses understand the “health” of their “wealth.”
“I work with people and businesses organize their financial ‘junk drawer,’” he says. “I take the different products and institutions they use to manage their money and create a ‘Living Balance Sheet’ for them. CFS provides this service free of charge to help our clients get a snapshot view of everything in one place. There’s an app that goes along with it as well, and it’s very useful.”
Managing wealth is actually Richard’s second career. His first was in the health field as an operating room nurse at Valley Hospital. The onset of the pandemic led him to consider a change of professional career. “My wife and I are both registered nurses, and my son was born in March of 2020. It was a nerve-wracking time to be a nurse.”
Several months following the birth of his son, Richard’s mother-in-law posed an interesting question. “She asked me if I had a desire to do something other than nursing,” says Richard. “And immediately, I knew what it was. I was self-taught and self-studied in the field of finance. That’s what I wanted to do. I saw Covid as my opportunity to make a change.”
Rich sought the help of his own trusted financial advisor who helped mentor him, setting him on the path to completing the licensing and compliance requirements to follow his dream. It was an inordinate amount of work, but Rich’s interest and fascination with the field were the catalysts to study and pass the mandatory tests.
“It was a natural transition from nursing to financial advisor for me,” he says. “I’m a people person, and I enjoy working with people. Most folks don’t like talking about their finances—like they don’t like talking about their health, but I think my interpersonal skills help with that.” Rich’s engaging manner and approachability have worked out for him in both professions, and many of his clients are nurses. “I speak their language,” he says.
Rich also has a solid personal and professional involvement in philanthropic work. “I grew up doing a lot of volunteer work at my church in Nyack,” he says. When he began networking to grow his financial advisement clientele, he learned about several non-profit organizations that piqued his interest. “I wanted to help out in my own way,” he says.
He developed a close relationship with TevaLand – a sanctuary farm in Hillburn, New York, where he volunteers as a sponsorship coordinator, providing information on sponsorships and what that means for both individuals and businesses on various levels, including how they may be able to claim sponsorships as tax deductions. “Our recent golf outing was our biggest success this year,” Rich states.
Rich also volunteers with the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), which promotes education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and excellence through community service and volunteerism. He is a member of the board of trustees within AHEPA, which focuses explicitly on cancer research. “This year, we donated $52,500 for cancer research to Rutgers, Fox Chase, and Weill Medical College. The organization donates directly to researchers, and every board member is a volunteer, so the money goes directly to the cause,” he says.
Although Rich has worked very closely with these two organizations, he has a quiet involvement with many. “If there are other charitable things I can sprinkle in here and there, I love to help. My firm, CFS Financial, is also very active. We do a Thanksgiving food drive and a Christmas toy drive with the Salvation Army. CFS also supports the Make a Wish Foundation with a popular golf outing at Knickerbocker CC, which had raised over $2 million over the 27 years for the foundation.”
Interestingly, Rich uses the same diagnostic tools for his financial clients that he used as an OR nurse. “I take a clinical approach--starting with assessment, and then moving on to diagnosis, planning, implementation, and finally, evaluation,” he says. “This diagnostic tool serves both professions well. We see where the inefficiencies are and then address them. It’s amazing how my past and present careers are intertwined.”
Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Certified Financial Services LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. CA Insurance License #4072231. TevaLand, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, Rutgers, Fox Chase, Weill Medical College, Make a Wish Foundation, and Salvation Army are not affiliates or subsidiaries of PAS or Guardian. 2023-166359 exp 12/2025