Richard Jakotowicz
CFA®, CFP®, MSF
Benchmark Financial, LLC
Director of Financial Planning
Richard Jakotowicz
CFA®, CFP®, MSF
Benchmark Financial, LLC
Director of Financial Planning
Who you get your advice from matters. As an independent financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - Richard Jakotowicz, CFA®, CFP®, MSF
Fee-Only financial planner located in Greenville, DE, serving clients locally and across the country
Richard Jakotowicz is a Wilmington, DE fee-only financial planner. At Benchmark Financial our mission is to help you achieve a better quality of life and to protect your wealth for current and future generations. Everything we do - from the way we work to the way we interact with you - is rooted in a few principles. We communicate clearly. We always do what's right rather than what's easy. We will care for you as if you are a member of our family. As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, we are never paid a commission of any kind, and have a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.
Rich Jakotowicz is the Director of Financial Planning at Benchmark where he works with clients to ensure that there are no gaps in their plans and no surprises in their financial lives. With over 20 years of industry experience, Rich has worked with a variety of clients including entrepreneurs, executives, researchers, and teachers. Rich is knowledgeable across a range of financial issues such as investment strategies, tax minimization techniques, retirement and distribution planning, and philanthropic planning. One of the aspects Rich enjoys most is educating others on how to maximize their finances. In addition to working at Benchmark, Rich is also the Director of the Financial Planning and Wealth Management program at the University of Delaware where he teaches courses on financial planning.
After graduating from college, Rich went to work at the JP Morgan Private Bank serving clients who had invested between $10-$25 million with the bank. He worked in various roles such as Margin Specialist, Cashless Options Trader, Investment Specialist, and Wealth Manager. After 10 years at JP Morgan, Rich went to work at TIAA-CREF where he advised on the University of Delaware’s $2 billion retirement plan. After just 6 months, he was offered an opportunity to teach finance at the university. Rich has been teaching financial planning at UD (his alma mater) since 2008. He has consulted for various Investment Advisory Firms to refine their investment strategies.
Rich holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Delaware. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner (CFP®) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Rich is a proud member of the XY Planning Network which fosters the next generation of fee-only fiduciary planners. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, the Society for Financial Services Professionals, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Rich also holds a certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets from Digital Asset Council for Financial Professionals.
Rich lives in Wilmington with his wife, Ann, their two children, Richie and Andrew, and their dog, Buddy. When Rich isn’t creating financial plans, you can find him in Lewes Beach riding his bike and spending time with family and friends. He enjoys traveling, trying different food, meeting new people, and building relationships. Rich is very active at the University of Delaware. He also serves as Board Member and Treasurer for the CFA Society of Philadelphia. Additionally, he serves on the Advisory Board for the St. Anthony’s Grade School in Wilmington. He is passionate about his community and educating the next generation
Richard Jakotowicz 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.
At Benchmark Financial we believe that everyone should have a financial plan that enables them to achieve their goals. We also understand that every person we serve has distinct values and ambitions, which means no two plans are alike.
Benchmark Financial provides our clients with the analysis and solutions to help them make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families. We are a fully independent advisory firm that provides advice that our clients need and a personal relationship that we all want. We have offices in Wilmington DE, Newark DE, and Chadds Ford, PA.
At Benchmark Financial, our mission is to help you achieve your goals and protect your loved ones. To do so, we use a consultative process to create a financial plan that will keep you on track toward reaching your goals. Our process is designed specifically to achieve the following:
Understand your true financial goals and values
Create the best possible plan for achieving those goals
Revisit and adjust “The Plan” as you progress through life
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Richard Jakotowicz 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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Richard Jakotowicz is a CFA® charterholder
The CFA Program is the most respected and recognized investment management designation in the world with less than 200,000 charterholders globally.
This advisor has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation (CFA® charter) by passing all three of the CFA exams and gaining relevant industry experience, demonstrating their mastery of the investment analysis and decision-making skills most needed in the global investment management profession.
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Richard Jakotowicz 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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Benchmark Financial, LLC is an Approved Dimensional Funds AdvisorDimensional believes an advisor can work closely with you to understand your financial needs and provide a range of wealth management services, while encouraging the discipline essential to long-term investment success. Financial advisors who work with Dimensional operate independently from Dimensional and vary in the extent to which they use Dimensional funds.
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Richard Jakotowicz 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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Richard Jakotowicz 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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Richard Jakotowicz Received the 2022 Journal Author Award from the Foundation for Financial Services Professionals
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Richard Jakotowicz is Featured on the So Rude Podcast: "What You Should Be Doing NOW to Prepare for Your Financial Future"
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Richard Jakotowicz is a Financial Planning Instructor at the University of Delaware
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Richard Jakotowicz Serves as Treasurer of the Board for the CFA Society of Philadelphia
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Richard Jakotowicz is a Member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals Delaware Chapter
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Richard Jakotowicz is Quoted in Delaware Online: "Rebuilding America: How to handle your investments, insurance during financial uncertainty"
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Richard Jakotowicz Contributes to the Journal of Financial Planning: "Financial Planning: A Strong Link or Weak Link Profession?"
Contact Richard Jakotowicz
Office Locations:
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3705 Kennett Pike
The Holladay House
Greenville, DE 19807
