With over 30 years of experience in finance, Laura Mattia is a fee-only comprehensive financial advisor, a member of NAPFA, and a fiduciary advocate. She believes that all financial advisors should be willing to sign an oath committing to work as a fiduciary 100% of the time.

A former CFO and advisor to top CEOs for their businesses and family offices, Dr. Laura Mattia is passionate about influencing positive change in the financial industry and the need for competent and ethical advice. Dr. Mattia teaches CFPs how to create financial plans as fiduciaries at Texas Tech University and for large national financial service firms, and she recently spent several years creating a new CFP-registered program at the Muma Business College, University of South Florida in Tampa.

Though today Dr. Mattia is a visionary financial advisor, educator, speaker and author, her career journey was a circuitous one. After earning a B.S. in psychology with the intention of pursuing a career in counseling, she went on to obtain an MBA in accounting and finance, later accepting a position in the corporate world. As she tells it, it was this experience that ultimately served as the inspiration for her current area of focus:

“I worked for many years as a corporate executive. I really wanted to work in the helping profession with individuals. Though I had strayed from that dream, as a senior executive I had the opportunity to help management and others with their personal financial questions and became the CFO for a family office serving a well-respected businessman in Manhattan. I found that I enjoyed advising individuals much more than advising on the businesses themselves, so I went back to school and earned my CFP®. Later working as a fiduciary, I realized that an extensive knowledge base is fundamental to knowing what is in the client’s best interest so I continued to study, earning a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, the premier financial planning program in the country.  Now I keep my knowledge sharp by teaching professionals in the industry. I would never consider giving people financial advice, affecting their lives, without this commitment to continuous learning.”

Dr. Mattia is the author of the book  “Gender On Wall Street: Uncovering Opportunities For Women In Financial Services,” published June 2018 by Palgrave Macmillan, and has published many academic and nonacademic financial papers. She is recognized as an expert in the profession and often speaks at conferences held for financial services firms and associations such as; the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and the Financial Therapy Association (FTA).  She is also often quoted in industry periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times and has published numerous articles and academic research in periodicals such as the Journal of Financial Planning and NAPFA Advisor to educate and support financial advisors seeking to elevate the profession.

She is also the creator and the director of the Women’s Money Empowerment program at the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), a not-for-profit and she serves as a board member of the Suncoast Financial Planning Association (FPA). Dr. Mattia feels she is truly fortunate to call Sarasota home and continues to look for opportunities to support the community.

“This is an incredibly dynamic industry. If professionals don’t stay on top of what’s going on by constantly reading and keeping themselves in the loop, they’re not going to feel as confident or be able to help as many people. I’m a lifelong learner; it’s a part of my identity, and it’s what pushes me every day. It’s why I got my Ph.D. People are surprised sometimes at how hard I push, but I really believe that’s what it takes to remain relevant in this field.”

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

• Texas Tech University, Ph.D., Personal Financial Planning  
• Montclair State University, MBA, Accounting and Finance
• Montclair State University, B.S., Psychology
• Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

• CFO - Geller & Company Family Office, NYC
• Vice President of Financial Planning – Cendant Corporation, Parsippany, NJ
• CFO - Telcordia Technologies, Red Bank, NJ
• Group Controller – M&M/Mars Inc., Hacketstown, NJ

AWARDS & HONORS                                                                                                                  

• Suncoast Amazing Women, Suncoast Channel 7
• Women's Choice Award® for Financial Advisors
• Five Star Wealth Manager
• Best 50 Women in Business, NJBIZ
• Women of Influence, Sarasota BIZ Magazine

When she is not working, Dr. Laura enjoys hiking, yoga and meditation.  Her daughter, Ally is attending University of Florida in Gainsville, FL and her other daughter Leamarie attends Pine View School in Osprey, FL.  Her husband, Mark teaches AP Stats at the same school.  The family attends Suncoast Community Church in Sarasota and is actively involved in the community.