Megan Kopka
CFP®
Kopka Financial, LLC.
Financial Advisor
Megan Kopka
CFP®
Kopka Financial, LLC.
Financial Advisor
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Megan Kopka, CFP®
Fee-Only financial planner located in Wilmington, NC, serving clients locally and across the country
Megan Kopka is a Wilmington, NC fee-only financial planner. Kopka Financial, LLC. provides holistic, comprehensive financial planning and investment management to help widows and families with special needs considerations to organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Megan Kopka is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Megan Kopka is a fee-only financial advisor at Kopka Financial, LLC., located in Wilmington, NC
"We give money so by the way we earn it, save it, spend it and invest it.” – Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money
Unlike many advisors, I started in the financial industry like you, as an investor. I remember being advised to open a Roth with those old Series E bonds and then watched our “retirement” quickly double and quadruple in the fast ride up in the dot com tech bubble: I then watched it crash. I waded through statements and thought huh? Why did that happen? The answer was simple: bad advice. I had to retool. I knew I had to save for my retirement. That was a given. But how? I was a math teacher, so the math wasn’t going to stop me. I understood the time value of money calculations. So, I entered the financial industry to problem solve. I loved it. I soaked up knowledge like a sponge. And through my experience as a teacher, I had the ability to explain to my clients what to do with their money, so they understood it. Plus, I get the responsibility of handling other people’s money. It’s huge, and I take that VERY seriously. Suits, ties, and marble floors don’t make you money. Someone who understands finances, can explain finances, and will care about you and look after you, does. And that would be me. Set up a meeting with me. I’ll prove my value to you.
I started in the financial industry in 2007. My experience and in field education began at the grandeur of the large wire houses until my personal life led me to a small, local planning firm and from there, to an elite solo advisor working with high net worth clientele. Industry experience, education, and guidance combined with my naturally curious, resourceful and investigative nature led me to the task of opening my own firm, Kopka Financial. LLC. To best serve my client’s and your needs as a fiduciary, I embrace the truly independent model for today’s fiduciary advisor.
Initially, I sought out training for advising families of children with disabilities as a personal interest, a place I gravitated to as a perpetual volunteer. This training was a natural interest with a sincere way to give back and offer my expertise. Later and not long after working as a special needs advising professional, the training became a personal experience. Living with a person with disabilities is an experience, one which creates a paradigm shift where you may never see the world the same, and that is good. My household, in part, was covered by Medicare and a disability supplement coupled with income supplemented by Social Security Disability Income. This is also something you will not find that many advisors have personal experience with. I bring a lot more to the financial experience as a widow, single woman, solo parent and mother, former caregiver and medical advocate, and business owner.
Additionally, I am a proud member of The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). NAPFA is the country’s leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
Megan Kopka is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors - highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Kopka Financial, LLC offers holistic, comprehensive planning and investment management.
Megan begins client relationships with a comprehensive financial plan. Throughout the planning process, Megan helps you integrate your needs and your goals. She works numerous conversations- surrounding your concerns desires and values- into a plan built by using her expertise, extensive training, and experience.
Megan will work for you, with you in mind. She will help you understand your decisions and make educated decisions with you, in the best way, to move toward your better and more sound future. Megan is there to help you with cumbersome paperwork and understand what you are doing why and how to do it, she will help make certain that recommendations are properly executed. Megan’s goal is to help you understand the concepts that apply to you to understand and experience the successes of making good financial decisions, in your best interest.
Financial Planning is a stand-alone product or an ongoing process that continues through investment management.
Investment management services will be agreed upon and continue after the financial planning process is in the implementation or monitoring phase. Megan does not believe in investing for clients that have not gone through her planning process and will not manage money for anyone that does not have a financial plan. Investment management is a piece of the financial planning process and ongoing monitoring will depend on the level of need, which is customized and varies.
Suddenly Single?
Caregivers; Divorcees and Widows & Widowers: When your marriage is ends people will often tell you not to make any major decisions for a year. This is simply not possible. Do not fall for this trite advice and avoid your finances. Most people tend to avoid financial decisions from time to time. Right now, for you reading this, avoiding finances may be a costly mistake where you could incur penalties or avoid timely decisions creating a good but now lost opportunity. You likely need help- now, not in a year from these events. You will likely need a therapist and a CFP®.
Your income has likely changed (or will); the name on your accounts, home etc. may need attention. Next, your filing status will change; do you know when and how it will impact you? Finally, your point person is gone- they were your “go to”, an accountability partner maybe the breadwinner, the co-parent, power of attorney and they are disabled, sick, moved out or they have died. Whoever and however your partner is or was to you has changed your life and what is the best way to figure “this” all out on your own? In my part, it is to partner with you, research for you, assess your situation and prioritize your needs and action items. I will listen and guide you and rewrite your comprehensive financial plan.
Under stress and tackling a huge project like rewriting (or writing for the first time) your financial plan is daunting. Get a notebook, make a list, and get started. Be mindful, Financial Planning is an entire professional field, I for one, would strongly consider not going it alone and hire a professional. Interview three financial planners, I am happy to be one. Call today to set your complimentary, new client consultation.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
- Widows
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Megan Kopka is a NAPFA-Registered Financial AdvisorThe National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
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Megan Kopka is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional - Click for VerificationCFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
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Megan Kopka is a Member of the XY Planning NetworkThe XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
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Megan Kopka is a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)FPA® is the largest membership organization for CFP® professionals in the U.S. and supports high standards of professional competence, ethical conduct, and clear, complete disclosure when serving clients.
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Megan Kopka is Quoted in Forbes: "Making Trusts for Special Needs Children"
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Megan Kopka Serves as a Co-leader and Founder of the Cape Fear, NC Chapter of the Modern Widows Club
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Megan Kopka is Quoted in InvestmentNews: "Taming your inner bear"
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Megan Kopka is Quoted on WILMA: "Girls Just Wanna to Have Funds"
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Megan Kopka is a Member of Women In Networking
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Megan Kopka is a Member and Past Chair for Wilmington Toastmasters
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Megan Kopka is a Guest on Business Radio X Podcast
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Megan Kopka is a Guest on Discussions from My Deck with Pam from CareFinderz
Contact Megan Kopka
Office Locations:
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124 Walnut St
Wilmington, NC 28401
