Ryan Firth
CPA/PFS, CFP®, CCFC, GFP (USA), RLP®
Mercer Street Company
Founder & President
Ryan Firth
CPA/PFS, CFP®, CCFC, GFP (USA), RLP®
Mercer Street Company
Founder & President
We're not your traditional "financial advisor" or "wealth manager." We can work with you wherever you're at in life, however, we find that our services tend to cater to those living abroad, business owners, young professionals and growing families in the wealth building phase of their lives. Unlike most wealth management firms, we do not have account minimum requirements, and you only pay a fee for the services you want and need. - Ryan Firth, CPA/PFS, CFP®, CCFC, GFP (USA), RLP®
Mercer Street, which was founded by Ryan Firth, is an independent financial planning and investment advisory firm located in Houston, TX, serving families locally and across the country. Services are offered on an hourly basis.
Mercer Street was born from the personal experiences of its founder, Ryan. In the course of two years, Ryan got married, welcomed a new addition to the family, bought his first home, and formed a company. Mercer Street assists professionals and small businesses in managing their financial concerns because we understand that life can get complicated pretty quickly. We're here to help you address the financial complexities in your life; we call it "planning for life."
For better or worse, the rate of technological change is growing exponentially. At Mercer Street, we try to keep up with the latest innovations in financial technology (“fintech”) and apply them to our business practices so that we can serve our clients more efficiently, effectively, and at a competitive price. Although technology is an integral component of serving our clients and managing our practice, we do understand that human interactions are the most important aspect of any service business.
Hi, I'm Ryan Firth. I've spent nearly two decades working as a financial consultant to businesses in various industries--a majority of that time has been in the financial services industry. I now draw upon those professional and personal experiences to help clients address their unique financial concerns.
I was born in Texas, but I've lived in many places during my life. I started my career at Ernst & Young LLP and most recently I was a contract consultant at Sirius Solutions LLLP. I decided to transition to financial planning because I enjoy helping people, as well as all things personal finance-related. The other reason I started Mercer Street Personal Financial Services is because I believe there's an underserved market out there looking for sound, objective advice from a qualified professional who isn't looking to sell you a financial product or will only work with you based on how much money you have to invest. (That was my experience when I was looking for a financial advisor to help me with my personal finances, anyway). A founding principle of the AICPA Statement on Standards in Personal Financial Planning Services and the CPA Code of Professional Conduct is “always acting in the best interest of the client,” an exceptionally important factor in selecting a financial planner.
Here are my designations and associations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Personal Financial Specialist (PFS), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant, Certified College Financial Consultant, Global Financial Planner - USA, Registered Life Planner®. Certificant of AICPA's Blockchain Fundamentals for Accounting and Finance Professionals, Member in good standing of the AICPA's Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Section, Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA), and active member and volunteer with Houston CPA Society's PFP Committee. I received the Houston CPA Society's Rookie of the Year award in 2018 and TXCPA Houston's Significant Contribution by a Member in Industry in 2021 for my contributions to the association. I am also a member of Garrett Planning Network, Global Financial Planning Institute, and PlannerDAO. I am a volunteer with the Foundation for Financial Planning to provide pro bono financial planning services to individuals and families battling cancer.
Here's my educational background: B.S. in Business Administration with an area of emphasis in Finance and M.S. in Accounting, University of Colorado - Boulder
We provide Personal Financial Services (such as financial planning and investment advice), Business Consulting, and Tax Services. We specialize in working with clients who are involved in blockchain technology such as cryptocurrencies.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive, Holistic Financial Planning
- Cash Flow and Debt Management Planning
- Tax Planning
- College Education Planning
- Investment Advice
- Virtual Currencies (a.k.a., Cryptocurrencies)
- Hourly Planning
- Business Consulting
- International and cross-border planning
- Planning for closely held businesses
Ideal Clients
- Professionals Accumulating Wealth
- Business Owners
- Growing Families
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
- Tech Savvy, Early Adopters
- Do-It-Yourselfers (DIY)
- Expatriates
- Individuals and families with high incomes that are looking for strategies to reduce their taxes
- Ultra and high-net-worth families
Working Together
- You Speak 80% of the Time During Our Meetings and We Deeply Listen 100% of the Time
- You're the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and We're Like Your Personal Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
- Clearly Defined Fees and No Product Sales
- Virtual or In-Person Meetings, whichever you prefer
- Create a personalized financial plan together or work on an ad hoc basis, whichever you prefer
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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Ryan Firth is a Certified Public Accountant (Learn More)A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional accountant who has met the education and experience requirements set by their state's Board of Accountancy and has passed the Uniform CPA Exam. CPAs are licensed to provide a wide range of accounting services, including financial statement preparation, tax planning and preparation, auditing, consulting, and other financial advisory services.
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Ryan Firth is a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)The Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential is granted solely to CPAs (Certified Public Accountants) with considerable personal financial planning education and experience. All areas of personal financial planning—including estate, retirement, investments, and insurance—have tax implications, and the PFS professional has the experience, ethics, and expertise to get the job done right.
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Ryan Firth 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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Ryan Firth is a member of the Garrett Planning Network. Click here to learn more.Everyone needs competent, objective financial advice from time to time. The Garrett Planning Network has a nationwide membership with hundreds of independent, Fee-Only financial planners providing advice to people from all walks of life, without minimum account requirements, sales commissions, or long-term commitments. Our members proudly embrace their fiduciary duty, always placing their clients' best interests first.
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Ryan Firth is a Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC)The American Institute of Certified College Financial Consultants (AICCFC) is an organization that was created to offer educational training to CPAs and Financial Planners who wish to learn how they can advise their clients effectively in the areas of college and student loan advising. The AICCFC is the issuer of the premiere designation in college and student loan advising, the Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC) designation.
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Ryan Firth is a Registered Life Planner® (RLP®)A Registered Life Planner® (RLP®) is a Financial Planner who has been fully trained in Life Planning by completing the three step process of becoming an RLP®: Seven Stages of Money Maturity® workshop, 5-Day Life Planning training and the 6 Month Mentorship Program. This method of training is based on the premise that advisors should first discover a client’s most essential goals in life before formulating a financial plan, so a client’s finances fully support those goals. They therefore become your partner in clarifying and achieving your most meaningful and deeply felt aspirations.
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Ryan Firth In the Media
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Ryan Firth is a Guest on Sara Grillo's Podcast: "Blockchain, DAOs, Web 3.0 and other “Star Wars stuff” with crypto financial advisor Ryan Firth"
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Ryan Firth - Cryptocurrencies: What Every Tax Practitioner and Financial Planner Should Know
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Ryan Firth is Quoted on CNN.com: "The best way to cut your stock market losses"
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Ryan Firth is Quoted in US News and World Report: "4 Ways Coverdell ESAs Differ from 529 Plans"
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Ryan Firth is Quoted on FitSmallBusiness.com: "Top 25 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor During Financial Planning"
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Ryan Firth is Quoted on PolicyGenius: "Saving for college: A state-by-state guide to 529 plans"
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Ryan Firth Writes for the Journal of Financial Planning: "Should Cryptoassets Be a Part of a Client’s Portfolio?"
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Ryan Firth Writes for the Journal of Financial Planning: "Cryptocurrencies: Issues and Best Practices"
Contact Ryan Firth
Office Locations:
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6750 West Loop S.
Suite 725
Bellaire, TX 77401
